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Henry I was born in the year 1068---a factor he himself regarded as highly significant, for he was the only son of the Conqueror born afterthe conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to thethrone. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to adegree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he wasprone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personallypunishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of histown.
At the death of William the Conqueror, Henry was left no lands, merely 5,000 pounds of silver. With these he bought lands from his elder brotherRobert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again afew years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother WilliamRufus.
Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of theirking. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the importantde Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus onhis last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death wasthe result of Henry's plotting.
Certainly he moved fast to take advantage of it; leaving Rufus's body unattended in the woods, he swooped down on Winchester to take control ofthe treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by theBishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that hiselder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, andclaimed, with good reason, to be the true heir.
Henry showed great good sense in his first actions as King. He arrested Ranulph Flambard, William's tax-gatherer, and recalled Anselm, the exiledArchbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promisedspeedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of theConqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he marriedthe sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line ofWessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English inthis action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one couldclaim that he did not aim to please.
In 1101 Robert Curthose invaded, but Henry met him at Alton, and persuaded him to go away again by promising him an annuity of £2,000. Hehad no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem wastemporarily solved.
He now felt strong enough to move against dissident barons who might give trouble in the future. Chief amongst these was the vicious Robert ofBellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as adangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in theking's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would beconvicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced intorebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated andsent scuttling back to Normandy.
In Normandy Robert Curthose began to wreak his wrath on all connected with his brother, thus giving Henry an excellent chance to retaliate withcharges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5,before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at thehour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No onehad expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the stateof shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert wasimprisoned (in some comfort, it be said); he lived on for 28 more years,ending up in Cardiff castle whiling away the long hours learning Welsh.His son William Clito remained a free agent, to plague Henry for most ofthe rest of his reign.
In England the struggle with Anselm over the homage of bishops ran its course until the settlement of 1107. In matters of secular governmentlife was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger ofSalisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, akeen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men ofpromise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators,and established new routines and forms of organisation within which theycould work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of thePipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace,and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships withhis barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilfuladministration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliablerevenue this way than by the crude extortion his brother had used.
In 1120 came the tragedy of the White Ship. The court was returning to England, and the finest ship in the land was filled with its young men,including Henry's son and heir William. Riotously drunk, they tried to gofaster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except abutcher of Rouen were lost, and England was without an heir.
Henry's only legitimate child was Matilda, but she was married to the Emperor Henry V of Germany, and so could not succeed. But in 1125 herhusband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swearfealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler.Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditionalenemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-wedshad a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty oncemore, and the fact that they did so is testimoney of his controllingpower. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a sonwhom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until hisgrandson was old enough to rule, all would be well.
But in 1135, against doctor's orders, he ate a hearty meal of lampreys, got acute indigestion, which turned into fever, and died. He was buriedat his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which therewas an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in theMiddle Ages, John Fines, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995]
Henry I was born in the year 1068---a factor he himself regarded as highly significant, for he was the only son of the Conqueror born afterthe conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to thethrone. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to adegree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he wasprone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personallypunishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of histown.
At the death of William the Conqueror, Henry was left no lands, merely 5,000 pounds of silver. With these he bought lands from his elder brotherRobert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again afew years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother WilliamRufus.
Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of theirking. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the importantde Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus onhis last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death wasthe result of Henry's plotting.
Certainly he moved fast to take advantage of it; leaving Rufus's body unattended in the woods, he swooped down on Winchester to take control ofthe treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by theBishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that hiselder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, andclaimed, with good reason, to be the true heir.
Henry showed great good sense in his first actions as King. He arrested Ranulph Flambard, William's tax-gatherer, and recalled Anselm, the exiledArchbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promisedspeedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of theConqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he marriedthe sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line ofWessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English inthis action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one couldclaim that he did not aim to please.
In 1101 Robert Curthose invaded, but Henry met him at Alton, and persuaded him to go away again by promising him an annuity of £2,000. Hehad no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem wastemporarily solved.
He now felt strong enough to move against dissident barons who might give trouble in the future. Chief amongst these was the vicious Robert ofBellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as adangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in theking's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would beconvicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced intorebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated andsent scuttling back to Normandy.
In Normandy Robert Curthose began to wreak his wrath on all connected with his brother, thus giving Henry an excellent chance to retaliate withcharges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5,before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at thehour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No onehad expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the stateof shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert wasimprisoned (in some comfort, it be said); he lived on for 28 more years,ending up in Cardiff castle whiling away the long hours learning Welsh.His son William Clito remained a free agent, to plague Henry for most ofthe rest of his reign.
In England the struggle with Anselm over the homage of bishops ran its course until the settlement of 1107. In matters of secular governmentlife was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger ofSalisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, akeen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men ofpromise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators,and established new routines and forms of organisation within which theycould work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of thePipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace,and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships withhis barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilfuladministration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliablerevenue this way than by the crude extortion his brother had used.
In 1120 came the tragedy of the White Ship. The court was returning to England, and the finest ship in the land was filled with its young men,including Henry's son and heir William. Riotously drunk, they tried to gofaster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except abutcher of Rouen were lost, and England was without an heir.
Henry's only legitimate child was Matilda, but she was married to the Emperor Henry V of Germany, and so could not succeed. But in 1125 herhusband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swearfealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler.Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditionalenemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-wedshad a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty oncemore, and the fact that they did so is testimoney of his controllingpower. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a sonwhom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until hisgrandson was old enough to rule, all would be well.
But in 1135, against doctor's orders, he ate a hearty meal of lampreys, got acute indigestion, which turned into fever, and died. He was buriedat his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which therewas an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in theMiddle Ages, John Fines, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995]
Sources: RC 89, 165; K and Q of Britain; Kraentzler 1062, 1067, 1143b, 1145,
1342, 1346, 1350, 1374; Coe; Norr; Butler; Complete Peerage; A. Roots 1-23,
121-25, 124A, 149, 195; Cadfael Country by Rob Talbot and Robin Whiteman (2nd
section in The Benediction of Brother Cadfael); Royal Descents; AIS; Magna
Charta Sureties 161-9.
Henry I was the first king of England to use and grant a coat of arms.
He was King of England from 1100-1135 and Duke of Normandy from 1100-1135.
He had 20 to 22 natural children. Those not in the system, all by unknown
mothers, are: Gilbert; William de Tracy; (Eustacie ?), a daughter who married
William Goet III, Lord of Montminerael; Maud, became Abbess of Montvilliers and
is sometimes confused with Isabel; a daughter, perhaps identical to another
natural daughter listed in system or above, whom Henry tried to marry to
William de Warenne; and (Emme?), living in 1157, married Guy IV, Sieur de
Laval.
K-1350: Henry I, King of England, born about 1068, Selby, Yorkshire; died
1 Dec. 1135, Angers, M-Lr, France.
Cadfael Country: Henry, youngest son, seized the throne of England when his
brother, William Rufus, was killed in a hunting accident in 1100. Robert, the
eldest son and rightful heir to the crown, was in Jerusalem in connection with
the First Crusade. (Unknow why Robert was not king instead of Rufus).
"Although Robert returned to Normandy in September 1100, it was not until
the following year that he attempted an invasion. When he landed with a
considerable force at Portsmouth in July 1101, many of the great Norman barons
in England rallied to his side, including the powerful Earl Robert de Belleme,
son of Earl Roger de Montgomery, founder of Shrewsbury Abbey.
"The two armies met at Alton, near Winchester. But (battle was avoided, and)
a treaty was successfully negotiated, allowing Henry to keep the crown of
England in return for paying his brother, Robert of Normandy, a pension of
2,000 pounds a year. Henry also agreed to renounce any claims to lands in
Normandy, excepting the fortress of Domfront.
"Once the danger was over, however, and Robert had returned to Normandy,
Henry set about strengthening his realm by removing any further threat of
either rebellion or invasion. One by one he confiscated the lands of the
prominent Normans who had opposed him, including the powerful Robert de
Belleme, who was banished from the kingdon, having forfeited his earldom and
had his strongholds in the Welsh Marches seized.
"But Henry was not content just to assert his royal authority; he was also
set on taking Normandy from his brother. In 1106, at the battle of Tinchebrai,
Robert was captured and imprisoned for the remaining 28 years of his life. With
the incarceration of his brother, Henry had removed the main threat to his
authority and power, yet the wars in Normandy dragged on intermittently for
years." He lost his only legitimate male heir, William, when the White Ship
sank, and he named his daughter Matilda/Maud as his successor.
[See Cadfael Country, pages 150-158 for details of the struggle for the
crown between Stephen of Blois and Matilda].
Roots: Henry I, Beauclerc, King of England, 1100-1135; born 1 Dec. 1135.
Sureties: Henry I Beauclerc, King of England, 1100-1135.
AIS: King Henry I of England, born 1068, Selby, York,England; died 1 Dec.
1135 in England. Married Matilda 11 Nov. 1100.
*******
He was King of England from 1100-1125, and Duke of Normandy from 1106-1135.
SOURCES:
1. Williamson, David. _Debrett's Kings & Queens of Britain_. New York:
Dorset Press, 1992.
2. Norr, Vernon M. _Some Early English Pedigrees_. Published privately.
3. Weis, Frederick Lewis. _Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists_. 6th Ed.
Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1988.
4. Taute, Anne. "Kings and Queens of Great Britain" chart. All Editions.
5. Cannon, John, and Griffiths, Ralph. "The Oxford Illustrated History of
the British Monarchy_. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press,
1988.
6. Mercer, Derrik (ed.). _Chronicle of the Royal Family_. Chronicle
Communications, Ltd: Jacques Legrand, Publisher, 1991.
7. Louda, Jiri, and Maclagan, Michael. Lines of Succession: Heraldry of the
Royal Families of Europe. London: McDonald & Co (Publishers) Ltd, 1991.
8. Ancestral File.
Henry I was born in the year 1068---a factor he himself regarded as highly significant, for he was the only son of the Conqueror born afterthe conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to thethrone. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to adegree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he wasprone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personallypunishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of histown.
At the death of William the Conqueror, Henry was left no lands, merely 5,000 pounds of silver. With these he bought lands from his elder brotherRobert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again afew years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother WilliamRufus.
Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of theirking. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the importantde Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus onhis last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death wasthe result of Henry's plotting.
Certainly he moved fast to take advantage of it; leaving Rufus's body unattended in the woods, he swooped down on Winchester to take control ofthe treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by theBishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that hiselder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, andclaimed, with good reason, to be the true heir.
Henry showed great good sense in his first actions as King. He arrested Ranulph Flambard, William's tax-gatherer, and recalled Anselm, the exiledArchbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promisedspeedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of theConqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he marriedthe sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line ofWessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English inthis action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one couldclaim that he did not aim to please.
In 1101 Robert Curthose invaded, but Henry met him at Alton, and persuaded him to go away again by promising him an annuity of £2,000. Hehad no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem wastemporarily solved.
He now felt strong enough to move against dissident barons who might give trouble in the future. Chief amongst these was the vicious Robert ofBellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as adangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in theking's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would beconvicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced intorebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated andsent scuttling back to Normandy.
In Normandy Robert Curthose began to wreak his wrath on all connected with his brother, thus giving Henry an excellent chance to retaliate withcharges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5,before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at thehour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No onehad expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the stateof shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert wasimprisoned (in some comfort, it be said); he lived on for 28 more years,ending up in Cardiff castle whiling away the long hours learning Welsh.His son William Clito remained a free agent, to plague Henry for most ofthe rest of his reign.
In England the struggle with Anselm over the homage of bishops ran its course until the settlement of 1107. In matters of secular governmentlife was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger ofSalisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, akeen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men ofpromise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators,and established new routines and forms of organisation within which theycould work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of thePipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace,and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships withhis barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilfuladministration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliablerevenue this way than by the crude extortion his brother had used.
In 1120 came the tragedy of the White Ship. The court was returning to England, and the finest ship in the land was filled with its young men,including Henry's son and heir William. Riotously drunk, they tried to gofaster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except abutcher of Rouen were lost, and England was without an heir.
Henry's only legitimate child was Matilda, but she was married to the Emperor Henry V of Germany, and so could not succeed. But in 1125 herhusband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swearfealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler.Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditionalenemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-wedshad a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty oncemore, and the fact that they did so is testimoney of his controllingpower. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a sonwhom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until hisgrandson was old enough to rule, all would be well.
But in 1135, against doctor's orders, he ate a hearty meal of lampreys, got acute indigestion, which turned into fever, and died. He was buriedat his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which therewas an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in theMiddle Ages, John Fines, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995]
This information is assumed correct, but may contain erroneous links. Please don't assume it to be the absolute truth. I've tried to doublecheck most of the work to assure myself of its accuracy...but you cannever be 100% sure. Thank you, and enjoy.
Henry of England was surnamed 'Beauclerc' or Good Scholar. He is buried in the Abbey of Reading, which he had founded. He was given an excellenteducation, including England law and language.
As a younger son he was not expected to inherit the crown. Of his elder brothers, William had received England and Robert became Duke ofNormandy. When William died in 1100, Robert was on a Crusade, so Henryseized the crown. He was crowned on 6 August 1100 at Westminister Abbyin London. He issued a charter by which he promised to restore the 'lawsof Edward', exchange customary fees for the unlimited demands of hisfather and brother on the barons, stop the plundering of the church, andforce the barons to do justice to their tenants.
By marrying a descendant of the Anglo-Saxon Kings, he completed his policy of allying himself with the native English. In both England andNormandy, he was more popular with the non-feudal classes than with thebarons. English levies helped him repel an invasion of Robert and hisvictory at Tinchebrai was regarded as an English victory in revenge forHastings. Several times he was successful in putting down rebellions andconspiracies in Normandy.
In 1106 he captured Robert and held him captive until he died. Thus he was Duke of Normandy from 1106 to 1135. He proved to be a hard butjust ruler. He died at age 67, apparently of ptomaine poisoning from ameal of lampreys.Helped unite the Saxons and Normans in England.
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