Which religious figure is cited as supporting William Rufus?

• A. Archbishop Lanfranc
• B. Pope Urban II
• C. Archbishop Anselm
• D. Saint Peter

Answer: (A)

Archbishop Lanfranc is the figure who supports William Rufus. After the Norman conquest, the English church leaned on Canterbury to back the new royal regime, and Lanfranc used his position to align church policy with royal authority. He reorganized the English church, ensured bishops pledged loyalty to the crown, and helped legitimize the king’s rule by presenting a united front between church and state. This made William Rufus’s succession more secure in the eyes of both clergy and lay people. In contrast, Archbishop Anselm later became famous for clashes with the crown over church autonomy, the pope’s role in appointments, and investiture; the pope himself wasn’t a direct domestic ally in William Rufus’s day; and Saint Peter, while central to Christian tradition, isn’t a contemporary political figure backing the king.