General Notes

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1 NAME Henry I "Beauclerc" King Of /ENGLAND/

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  NAME Henry I "Beauclerc" King Of /ENGLAND/

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  NAME Henry I "Beauclerc" King Of /ENGLAND/

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1  NAME Henry I King of /England/
1  NAME /Henry/ I
1  BIRT
2  DATE 1068
1 DEAT
2  DATE 1135


BIOGRAPHY: Henry was in reality a usurper. He impris oned his older brother, Robert in Cardiff Castle in Wales, and it is said he ha d Robert's eyes put out. Henry reigned thirty-five years, not only over England , but over one third of France. In 1120 the White Ship went down on a hidden ro ck in the English Channel with the Crown Prince on board and it is said Henry I is never known to have smiled again. He had only one child left, Maude-Matilda , then a widow of the German Emperor Henry V. For political reasons she was nex t married to Geoffrey of Anjou, a boy of sixteen, ten years her junior. After t he death of Henry I there was civil war between Matilda and her nephew Stephen, who got the throne for nineteen years. At one point in this contest Matilda ha d to escape from the Robert Doyley tower of Oxford Castle by sliding down a rop e with gloved hands, the rope held by her favorite knight, Alain. She, with a f ew others dressed in white to avoid detection, crossed in the snowy night over the frozen Thames. The condition of the English people was deplorable during th e reign of Henry I, owing to the blood-curdling cruelty of the Barons. Henry es tablished a vigorous police system to check this, and tried to stop counterfeit ing the money by mutilations. He oppressed his people by taxation.

BIOGRAPH Y: Henry I was born in the year 1068---a factor he himself regarded as highly s ignificant, for he was the only son of the Conqueror born after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attr active proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, fo r example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the w alls of his town.

BIOGRAPHY: At the death of William the Conqueror, Henry wa s left no lands, merely 5,000 pounds of silver. With these he bought lands from his elder brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken ba ck again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother Willi am Rufus.

BIOGRAPHY: Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the import ant De Clare family. He and some of the De Clares were with William Rufus on hi s last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the resu lt of Henry's plotting.

BIOGRAPHY: Certainly he moved fast to take advantage of it; leaving Rufus's body unattended in the woods, he swooped down on Winche ster to take control of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, bei ng crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realis es that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, a nd claimed, with good reason, to be the true heir.

BIOGRAPHY: Henry showed g reat good sense in his first actions as King. He arrested Ranulph Flambard, Wil liam's tax-gatherer, and recalled Anselm, the exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, h e issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, an d a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the momen t his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was desc ended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think hi m too pro-English in this action, he canged her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim that he did not aim to please.

BIOGRAPHY: In 1101 Robert Cur those invaded, but Henry met him at Alton, and persuaded him to go away again b y promising him an annuity of £2,000. He had no intention of keeping up the pay ments, but the problem was temporarily solved.

BIOGRAPHY: He now felt strong enough to move against dissident barons who migh[silveriemoon[8]124.FTW]

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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 after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of his town.

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 brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother William Rufus.

Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the important de Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus on his last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the 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 of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, and claimed, 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 exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English in this action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim 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. He had no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem was temporarily 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 of Bellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as a dangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in the king's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would be convicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced into rebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated and sent 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 with charges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5, before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at the hour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No one had expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the state of shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert was imprisoned (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 of the 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 government life was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger of Salisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, a keen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men of promise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators, and established new routines and forms of organisation within which they could work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of the Pipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace, and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships with his barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilful administration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliable revenue 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 go faster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except a butcher 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 her husband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swear fealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler. Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditional enemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-weds had a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131 Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty once more, and the fact that they did so is testimoney of his controlling power. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a son whom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until his grandson 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 buried at his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which there was an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in the Middle Ages, John Fines, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995][jweber4.FTW]

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 after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of his town.

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 brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother William Rufus.

Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the important de Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus on his last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the 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 of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, and claimed, 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 exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English in this action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim 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. He had no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem was temporarily 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 of Bellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as a dangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in the king's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would be convicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced into rebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated and sent 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 with charges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5, before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at the hour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No one had expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the state of shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert was imprisoned (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 of the 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 government life was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger of Salisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, a keen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men of promise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators, and established new routines and forms of organisation within which they could work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of the Pipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace, and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships with his barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilful administration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliable revenue 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 go faster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except a butcher 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 her husband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swear fealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler. Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditional enemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-weds had a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131 Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty once more, and the fact that they did so is testimoney of his controlling power. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a son whom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until his grandson 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 buried at his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which there was an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in the Middle Ages, John Fines, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995][jweber3.FTW]

[jweber2.FTW]

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 after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of his town.

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 brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother William Rufus.

Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the important de Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus on his last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the 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 of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, and claimed, 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 exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English in this action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim 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. He had no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem was temporarily 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 of Bellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as a dangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in the king's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would be convicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced into rebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated and sent 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 with charges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5, before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at the hour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No one had expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the state of shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert was imprisoned (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 of the 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 government life was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger of Salisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, a keen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men of promise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators, and established new routines and forms of organisation within which they could work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of the Pipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace, and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships with his barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilful administration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliable revenue 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 go faster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except a butcher 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 her husband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swear fealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler. Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditional enemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-weds had a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131 Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty once more, and the fact that they did so is testimoney of his controlling power. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a son whom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until his grandson 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 buried at his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which there was an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in the Middle Ages, John Fines, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995][dblocher[1].FTW]

[dblocher3.FTW]

From Encylcopedia Britannica Onlines, article entitled Henry I

"Also, HENRY BEAUCLERC (GOOD SCHOLAR), French HENRI BEAUCLERC youngest and ablest of William I the Conqueror's sons, who as king of England (1100-35) strengthened the crown's executive powers and, like his father, also ruled Normandy (from1106)."

"Henry I was a skillful, intelligent monarch who achieved peace in England, relative stability in Normandy, and notable administrative advances on both sides of the Channel. Under Henry, the Anglo-Norman state his father had created was reunited. Royal justices began making systematic tours of the English shires, but, although his administrative policies were highly efficient, they were not infrequently regarded as oppressive. His reign marked a significant advance from the informal, personal monarchy of former times toward the bureaucratized state that lay in the future. It also marked a shift from the wide-ranging imperialism of earlier Norman leaders to consolidation and internal development. In the generations before Henry's accession, Norman dukes, magnates, and adventurers had conquered southern Italy, Sicily, Antioch, and England. Henry won his major battles but preferred diplomacy or bribery to the risks of the battlefield. Subduing Normandy in 1106, he contented himself with keeping domestic peace, defending his Anglo-Norman state against rebellion and invasion, and making alliances with neighbouring princes."
King Henry I

  By: Ryan Engler

  The death of King Henry I in 1135 put Henry II on the path to the throne of England. Henry II lavish youth kept him sheltered from society only allowing him to have a couple friends. One of his life long friends soon became a burden because of differences in opinions about religion. Henry's intelligence and persistency from birth led him to be crowned King of England. The appointment of Thomas Becket to Archbishop by Henry II started the trend of conflict between the two over the separation of church and state. Henry II, the first of the Plantagents was the son of Geoffrey Plantagent and Matilda, daughter of Henry I. In 1152 Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine, the ex-wife of Louis VII of France. With this marriage, Henry gained considerable amounts of land in France. In 1153 Henry returned to England   after his stay in France and forced Stephens to name him the heir of the throne. Henry immediately appointed his long-term friend Thomas Becket, English Chancellor, to be Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket accepted the job of Archbishop in 1162 but he did it with some reluctance. Becket's unkind heart soon became a thorn in Henry's side.(Hay 107) By 1163, Becket had already defied Henry in one of his decisions. He challenged his former friend in his vehement to dismantle the ecclesiastical courts. Becket became an ardent defender of the interests of the church. Becket's hard-nosed attitude towards defending the Church of England showed just how important the church was to England. "The affairs between Henry and Becket became a highly colored by their personal relationships."("Henry II")
  Their life long friendship was the only thing that kept the two on the same side. Another strong disagreement came between the two on the status of "criminous clerics." These were members of the clergy who had committed civil crimes. The crimes ranged from theft to assault and even murder. This became a total embarrassment to the church. Henry sought to have the members tried in the royal court, as would others who committed such crimes. Becket insisted that they only be tried in the clerical courts. The disagreement became a heated battle between the two. Becket stood firm on his belief that the matter should not be brought to a higher court. The situation would only bring even more embarrassment to the Church of England if the members were crucified in the public courts.(Bowden 78) The situation became such a heated battle between the two that in 1164 Becket sought refuge in France. During Becket's exile, Henry began to straighten up the country and straighten up the courts system. Henry also marched in and conquered Brittany without much opposition. During this time great reforms were made to the English law system. Henry used his intelligence and energy to make lasting changes in England. Several important legal reforms were made to the English Common Law. Henry continued to freely change and control the church without any opposition. Through the auspices of Pope Cutittus III, King and Archbishop were reconciled in 1170 and Becket was allowed to return to England. No sooner than he returned the two found themselves bickering over their different ideas. Neither of the two would yield their principals to each other. While Henry was away in Normandy word of Becket's actions were relayed to Henry. This outraged Henry that Becket could take advantage of him not being in the country. While on a walk with his noble knights Henry allegedly said, "will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"(Henry II) Becket, again proved to be a burden to Henry. In response to Henry's remarks about Becket, four knights sought to find Becket back in Canterbury. The knights had taken Henry's words literally and traveled to Canterbury with the intentions of killing Becket, doing Henry a favor. Becket was openly slain by the four knights when he was kneeling at an evening prayer. Everyone's attention focused on Henry who was criticized for the murder. Henry was saddened and mourned when he learned of Becket's death. Henry claimed to be heartbroken and felt he needed forgiveness.(England during crusades) The knights pointed the ordering of the   killing towards Henry as they tried to divert the attention. Henry's words were taken literally by the knights and they acted upon their own judgement.
  Although evidence also pointed towards Henry, he was absolved of the crime by Pope Alexander III in 1172. Not long after Henry took a pilgrimage to the tomb of Thomas Becket in Canterbury. He did this to show his forgiveness to everyone and to clear his own inner conflicts. After Henry's struggles to clear his guilt over Becket's death he began to fall apart. Henry's sons began to fight over who would be heir to the throne. Henry favored John to heir the throne although John and Richard both rebelled to gain the respect they felt they deserved. In the later years, it proved to be Phillip II of France who proved to be the cunning opponent. Henry's last years were spent trying to hold on to what he had proudly built up. At Henrys death he was forced to name Richard the heir to the throne, and Richard was probably the least liked son.(Hay 175) The conflict over the separation of Church and State between Henry and Becket kept Henry's power over England in balance. Henry's ability to deal with the situation showed his intelligence and power.  At Becket's death over the separation of Church and State proved that the monarch was the ultimate ruler over the land. King Henry II was burdened to his death over a guilt driven consci


This page is just a start. Not all information has bee varified.

1100-1135

King Henry I of England, surnamed Beauclerc.  He was buried in the Abbey of Reading, which he had founded. He was given an excellent education, including the English law and language. As a younger son he was not expected to inherit the crown.  Of his elder brothers, William received England and Robert became Duke of Normandy.  When William died, in 1100, Robert was on a Crusade and Henry seized the crown.  He issued a charter by which he promised to restore the "laws of Edward," exchange customary fees for the unlimited demands of his father and brother on the barons, stop the plundering of the church, and force 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 and Normandy he was more popular with the non-feudal classes than with the barons.  English levies helped him repel an invasion of Robert and his victory at Tinchebrai was regarded as an English victory in revenge for Hastings.  Several times he was successful in putting down rebellions and conspiracies in Normandy.  The chief institution created during his reign was that of the exchequer. Source: Royal Gen.  In 1106 he captured Robert and held him until he died. Thus he was also Duke of Normandy from 1106 to 1135.  Henry proved to be a hard but just ruler.  He apparently died from overeating lampreys!

He was crowned 6 Aug 1100, at Westminster by Maurice, Bishop of London. He was the last male heir of the Norman line. He was called "Beauclerc" (or " Good Scholar"). He died at age 67, of ptomaine poisoning from a meal of lampreys.

!Pedigrees of some Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants - Langston-Buck The Plantagenet Chronicles, ed. by Dr. Elizabeth Hallam, p. 60.
!The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy by Cannon and Griffith.

BIRTH: Also given as 1070.
******************
Royal Lineage
Henry I, called Beauclerc, seems to have made a much better king than his elder brother William.  During his reign (1100-1135) the royal administration was expanded and the rule of law solidified. The Court of the Exchequer was formed to handle financial matters. It took its name from the checkered cloth or table on which the accounts were handled. One of the ways Henry raised money was by selling charters to towns. Charters were a special grant that enabled towns to build walls, raise local taxes and elect their own local administrators.  During Henry's reign a new wave of monastic settlements began, beginning in 1128 when the Cistercians arrived from France. Many of the great monasteries, now ruined, are from this time period. One of the easiest ways of identifying buildings from this early Norman period is by the shape of their window, door, and arch openings, which are smoothly rounded.  The language of the court, schools, the law, and the aristocracy was Norman French. It was not until the loss of Normandy in 1204 that the Normans began to learn English and a melding of the two languages began.
**************
Jim Weber
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 after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of his town.

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 brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother William Rufus.

Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the important de Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus on his last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the 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 of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, and claimed, 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 exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English in this action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim 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. He had no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem was temporarily 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 of Bellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as a dangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in the king's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would be convicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced into rebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated and sent 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 with charges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5, before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at the hour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No one had expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the state of shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert was imprisoned (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 of the 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 government life was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger of Salisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, a keen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men of promise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators, and established new routines and forms of organisation within which they could work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of the Pipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace, and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships with his barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilful administration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliable revenue 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 go faster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except a butcher 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 her husband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swear fealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler. Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditional enemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-weds had a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131 Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty once more, and the fact that they did so is testimony of his controlling power. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a son whom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until his grandson 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 buried at his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which there was an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in the Middle 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 after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of his town.

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 brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother William Rufus.

Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the important de Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus on his last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the 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 of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, and claimed, 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 exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English in this action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim 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. He had no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem was temporarily 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 of BellIme, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as a dangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in the king's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would be convicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced into rebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated and sent 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 with charges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5, before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at the hour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No one had expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the state of shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert was imprisoned (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 of the 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 government life was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger of Salisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, a keen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men of promise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators, and established new routines and forms of organisation within which they could work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of the Pipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace, and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships with his barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilful administration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliable revenue 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 go faster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except a butcher 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 her husband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swear fealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler. Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditional enemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-weds had a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131 Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty once more, and the fact that they did so is testimoney of his controlling power. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a son whom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until his grandson 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 buried at his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which there was an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in the Middle Ages, John Fines, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995]

1100-1135

King Henry I of England, surnamed Beauclerc.  He was buried in the Abbey of Reading, which he had founded. He was given an excellent education, including the English law and language. As a younger son he was not expected to inherit the crown.  Of his elder brothers, William received England and Robert became Duke of Normandy.  When William died, in 1100, Robert was on a Crusade and Henry seized the crown.  He issued a charter by which he promised to restore the "laws of Edward," exchange customary fees for the unlimited demands of his father and brother on the barons, stop the plundering of the church, and force 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 and Normandy he was more popular with the non-feudal classes than with the barons.  English levies helped him repel an invasion of Robert and his victory at Tinchebrai was regarded as an English victory in revenge for Hastings.  Several times he was successful in putting down rebellions and conspiracies in Normandy.  The chief institution created during his reign was that of the exchequer. Source: Royal Gen.  In 1106 he captured Robert and held him until he died. Thus he was also Duke of Normandy from 1106 to 1135.  Henry proved to be a hard but just ruler.  He apparently died from overeating lampreys!

He was crowned 6 Aug 1100, at Westminster by Maurice, Bishop of London. He was the last male heir of the Norman line. He was called "Beauclerc" (or " Good Scholar"). He died at age 67, of ptomaine poisoning from a meal of lampreys.

!Pedigrees of some Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants - Langston-Buck The Plantagenet Chronicles, ed. by Dr. Elizabeth Hallam, p. 60.
!The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy by Cannon and Griffith.

BIRTH: Also given as 1070.
******************
Royal Lineage
Henry I, called Beauclerc, seems to have made a much better king than his elder brother William.  During his reign (1100-1135) the royal administration was expanded and the rule of law solidified. The Court of the Exchequer was formed to handle financial matters. It took its name from the checkered cloth or table on which the accounts were handled. One of the ways Henry raised money was by selling charters to towns. Charters were a special grant that enabled towns to build walls, raise local taxes and elect their own local administrators.  During Henry's reign a new wave of monastic settlements began, beginning in 1128 when the Cistercians arrived from France. Many of the great monasteries, now ruined, are from this time period. One of the easiest ways of identifying buildings from this early Norman period is by the shape of their window, door, and arch openings, which are smoothly rounded.  The language of the court, schools, the law, and the aristocracy was Norman French. It was not until the loss of Normandy in 1204 that the Normans began to learn English and a melding of the two languages began.
**************
Jim Weber
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 after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of his town.

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 brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother William Rufus.

Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the important de Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus on his last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the 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 of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, and claimed, 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 exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English in this action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim 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. He had no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem was temporarily 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 of Bellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as a dangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in the king's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would be convicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced into rebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated and sent 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 with charges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5, before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at the hour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No one had expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the state of shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert was imprisoned (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 of the 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 government life was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger of Salisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, a keen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men of promise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators, and established new routines and forms of organisation within which they could work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of the Pipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace, and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships with his barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilful administration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliable revenue 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 go faster and faster, when suddenly the ship foundered. All hands except a butcher 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 her husband died, and Henry brought her home and forced the barons to swear fealty to her---though they did not like the prospect of a woman ruler. Henry then married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, the Normans' traditional enemy, and the barons were less happy---especially when the newly-weds had a terrible row, and Geoffrey ordered her out of his lands. In 1131 Henry, absolutely determined, forced the barons to swear fealty once more, and the fact that they did so is testimony of his controlling power. Matilda and Geoffrey were reunited, and in 1133 she produced a son whom she named for his grandfather. If only Henry could live on until his grandson 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 buried at his abbey in Reading---some said in a silver coffin, for which there was an unsuccessful search at the Dissolution. [Source: Who's Who in the Middle Ages, John Fines, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995]

[2013555.ftw]

1  NAME Henry I King of /England/
1  NAME /Henry/ I
1  BIRT
2  DATE 1068
1 DEAT
2  DATE 1135


BIOGRAPHY: Henry was in reality a usurper. He impris oned his older brother, Robert in Cardiff Castle in Wales, and it is said he ha d Robert's eyes put out. Henry reigned thirty-five years, not only over England , but over one third of France. In 1120 the White Ship went down on a hidden ro ck in the English Channel with the Crown Prince on board and it is said Henry I is never known to have smiled again. He had only one child left, Maude-Matilda , then a widow of the German Emperor Henry V. For political reasons she was nex t married to Geoffrey of Anjou, a boy of sixteen, ten years her junior. After t he death of Henry I there was civil war between Matilda and her nephew Stephen, who got the throne for nineteen years. At one point in this contest Matilda ha d to escape from the Robert Doyley tower of Oxford Castle by sliding down a rop e with gloved hands, the rope held by her favorite knight, Alain. She, with a f ew others dressed in white to avoid detection, crossed in the snowy night over the frozen Thames. The condition of the English people was deplorable during th e reign of Henry I, owing to the blood-curdling cruelty of the Barons. Henry es tablished a vigorous police system to check this, and tried to stop counterfeit ing the money by mutilations. He oppressed his people by taxation.

BIOGRAPH Y: Henry I was born in the year 1068---a factor he himself regarded as highly s ignificant, for he was the only son of the Conqueror born after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attr active proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, fo r example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the w alls of his town.

BIOGRAPHY: At the death of William the Conqueror, Henry wa s left no lands, merely 5,000 pounds of silver. With these he bought lands from his elder brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken ba ck again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother Willi am Rufus.

BIOGRAPHY: Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the import ant De Clare family. He and some of the De Clares were with William Rufus on hi s last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the resu lt of Henry's plotting.

BIOGRAPHY: Certainly he moved fast to take advantage of it; leaving Rufus's body unattended in the woods, he swooped down on Winche ster to take control of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, bei ng crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realis es that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, a nd claimed, with good reason, to be the true heir.

BIOGRAPHY: Henry showed g reat good sense in his first actions as King. He arrested Ranulph Flambard, Wil liam's tax-gatherer, and recalled Anselm, the exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, h e issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, an d a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the momen t his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was desc ended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think hi m too pro-English in this action, he canged her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim that he did not aim to please.

BIOGRAPHY: In 1101 Robert Cur those invaded, but Henry met him at Alton, and persuaded him to go away again b y promising him an annuity of £2,000. He had no intention of keeping up the pay ments, but the problem was temporarily solved.

BIOGRAPHY: He now felt strong enough to move against dissident barons who migh[silveriemoon[8]124.FTW]

[silveriemoon[7]120.FTW]

[silveriemoon[3]117.FTW]

[silveriemoon[4]114.FTW]

[silveriemoon[2]106.FTW]

[jweber8.FTW]

[792232[3]4.FTW]

[jweber7.FTW]

[jweber6.FTW]

[jweber5.FTW]

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 after the conquest of England, and to Henry this meant he was heir to the throne. He was not an attractive proposition: he was dissolute to a degree, producing at least a score of bastards; but far worse he was prone to sadistic cruelty---on one occasion, for example, personally punishing a rebellious burgher by throwing him from the walls of his town.

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 brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, only to see them taken back again a few years later by Robert, in unholy alliance with his brother William Rufus.

Henry could do little to avenge such treatment, but in England he found numerous barons who were tired of the exactions and ambitions of their king. He formed alliances with some of these, notably with the important de Clare family. He and some of the de Clares were with William Rufus on his last hunting expedition, and it is thought that the king's death was the 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 of the treasury. Two days later he was in Westminster, being crowned by the Bishop of London. His speed is understandable when one realises that his elder brother, Robert [Curthose], was returning from the crusade, and claimed, 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 exiled Archbishop. Furthermore, he issued a Charter of Liberties which promised speedy redress of grievances, and a return to the good government of the Conqueror. Putting aside for the moment his many mistresses, he married the sister of the King of Scots, who was descended from the royal line of Wessex; and lest the Norman barons should think him too pro-English in this action, he changed her name from Edith to Matilda. No one could claim 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. He had no intention of keeping up the payments, but the problem was temporarily 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 of Bellême, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry had known for many years as a dangerous troublemaker. He set up a number of charges against him in the king's court, making it plain that if he appeared for trial he would be convicted and imprisoned. Thus Robert and his colleagues were forced into rebellion at a time not of their own choosing, were easily defeated and sent 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 with charges of misgovernment and invade. He made two expeditions in 1104-5, before the great expedition of 1106 on which Robert was defeated at the hour-long battle of Tinchebrai, on the anniversary of Hastings. No one had expected such an easy victory, but Henry took advantage of the state of shock resulting from the battle to annex Normandy. Robert was imprisoned (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 of the 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 government life was more simple: Henry had found a brilliant administrator, Roger of Salisbury, to act as Justiciar for him. Roger had an inventive mind, a keen grasp of affairs, and the ability to single out young men of promise. He quickly built up a highly efficient team of administrators, and established new routines and forms of organisation within which they could work. To him we owe the Exchequer and its recording system of the Pipe Rolls, the circuits of royal justiciars spreading the king's peace, and the attempts at codification of law. Henry's good relationships with his barons, and with the burgeoning new towns owed much to skilful administration. Certainly he was able to gain a larger and more reliable revenue 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,
grandson was old enough to rule, all would be well.

Name Prefix:<NPFX> King of England Nickname:<NICK> "Beauclerc" Ancestral FileNumber:<AFN> 8XJ0-6V
!"The Oxford History of Britain" by Kenneth Morgan, 1984, pp.113-149. "Royal Ancestors" by Michel Call, 1989, Chart # 11301. "The Kings and Queens of England" by Nicholas Best, 1995, p.13. "Western Europe in theMiddle Ages, 300-1475" by Tierney, 1978, pp.295-98. (King 1100-1135)

Linein Record @I2102@ (RIN 2100) from GEDCOM file not recognized: OBJE OBJE: D:\PhotoMAX\Photos\Henry I of England.JPG

   Sources: RC 89, 165; K and Q of Britain; Kraentzler 1062, 1067, 1143b,1145, 1342, 1346, 1350, 1374; Coe; Norr; Butler; Complete Peerage; A. Roots1-23, 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 from1100-1135.
   He had 20 to 22 natural children. Those not in the system, all byunknown mothers, are: Gilbert; William de Tracy; (Eustacie &#00063;), a daughter whomarried William Goet III, Lord of Montminerael; Maud, became Abbess ofMontvilliers and is sometimes confused with Isabel; a daughter, perhaps identical toanother natural daughter listed in system or above, whom Henry tried to marry to William de Warenne; and (Emme&#00063;), 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 Englandwhen 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 connectionwith the First Crusade. (Unknow why Robert was not king instead of Rufus).
   "Although Robert returned to Normandy in September 1100, it was notuntil the following year that he attempted an invasion. When he landed with a considerable force at Portsmouth in July 1101, many of the great Normanbarons in England rallied to his side, including the powerful Earl Robert deBelleme, son of Earl Roger de Montgomery, founder of Shrewsbury Abbey.
   "The two armies met at Alton, near Winchester. But (battle wasavoided, and) a treaty was successfully negotiated, allowing Henry to keep the crown of England in return for paying his brother, Robert of Normandy, a pensionof 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 toNormandy, 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 earldomand had his strongholds in the Welsh Marches seized.
   "But Henry was not content just to assert his royal authority; he wasalso set on taking Normandy from his brother. In 1106, at the battle ofTinchebrai, Robert was captured and imprisoned for the remaining 28 years of hislife. With the incarceration of his brother, Henry had removed the main threat tohis authority and power, yet the wars in Normandy dragged on intermittentlyfor years." He lost his only legitimate male heir, William, when the WhiteShip sank, and he named his daughter Matilda/Maud as his successor.
   [See Cadfael Country, pages 150-158 for details of the struggle forthe 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 1Dec. 1135 in England. Married Matilda 11 Nov. 1100.

                                    ******* He was King of England from 1100-1125, and Duke of Normandy from1106-1135.

SOURCES:
  1.  Williamson, David.  _Debrett's Kings & Queens of Britain_.  NewYork:
      Dorset Press, 1992.
  2.  Norr, Vernon M.  _Some Early English Pedigrees_.  Publishedprivately.
  3.  Weis, Frederick Lewis.  _Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists_.  6thEd.
      Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1988.
  4.  Taute, Anne.  "Kings and Queens of Great Britain" chart.  AllEditions.
  5.  Cannon, John, and Griffiths, Ralph.  "The Oxford IllustratedHistory of
      the British Monarchy_.  Oxford and New York: Oxford UniversityPress,
      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: Heraldryof the
      Royal Families of Europe.  London: McDonald & Co (Publishers) Ltd,1991.
  8.  Ancestral File.

[anc.regfilmer.FTW]

1  NOTE His reign is notable for important legal and administrativereforms, and for the final resolution of the investiture controversy. Abroad, hewaged several campaigns in order to consolidate and expand his continentalpossessions. Was so hated by his brothers that they vowed to disinherit him.In 1106 he captured Robert and held him til he died. He proved to be a hardbut just ruler. He aparently died from over eating Lampreys!

2  SOUR S03228 3  DATA 4  TEXT Date of Import: Jul 14, 2000

King of England (1100-1135)

From Encylcopedia Britannica Onlines, article entitled Henry I

"Also, HENRY BEAUCLERC (GOOD SCHOLAR), French HENRI BEAUCLERC youngestand ablest of William I the Conqueror's sons, who as king of England(1100-35) strengthened the crown's executive powers and, like hisfather, also ruled Normandy (from1106)."

"Henry I was a skillful, intelligent monarch who achieved peace inEngland, relative stability in Normandy, and notable administrativeadvances on both sides of the Channel. Under Henry, the Anglo-Normanstate his father had created was reunited. Royal justices began makingsystematic tours of the English shires, but, although hisadministrative policies were highly efficient, they were notinfrequently regarded as oppressive. His reign marked a significantadvance from the informal, personal monarchy of former times towardthe bureaucratized state that lay in the future. It also marked ashift from the wide-ranging imperialism of earlier Norman leaders toconsolidation and internal development. In the generations beforeHenry's accession, Norman dukes, magnates, and adventurers hadconquered southern Italy, Sicily, Antioch, and England. Henry won hismajor battles but preferred diplomacy or bribery to the risks of thebattlefield. Subduing Normandy in 1106, he contented himself withkeeping domestic peace, defending his Anglo-Norman state againstrebellion and invasion, and making alliances with neighbouringprinces."

  King Henry I

  By: Ryan Engler

  The death of King Henry I in 1135 put Henry II on the path to thethrone of England. Henry II lavish youth kept him sheltered fromsociety only allowing him to have a couple friends. One of his lifelong friends soon became a burden because of differences in opinionsabout religion. Henry's intelligence and persistency from birth ledhim to be crowned King of England. The appointment of Thomas Becket toArchbishop by Henry II started the trend of conflict between the twoover the separation of church and state. Henry II, the first of thePlantagents was the son of Geoffrey Plantagent and Matilda, daughterof Henry I. In 1152 Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine, the ex-wife ofLouis VII of France. With this marriage, Henry gained considerableamounts of land in France. In 1153 Henry returned to England   afterhis stay in France and forced Stephens to name him the heir of thethrone. Henry immediately appointed his long-term friend ThomasBecket, English Chancellor, to be Archbishop of Canterbury. Becketaccepted the job of Archbishop in 1162 but he did it with somereluctance. Becket's unkind heart soon became a thorn in Henry'sside.(Hay 107) By 1163, Becket had already defied Henry in one of hisdecisions. He challenged his former friend in his vehement todismantle the ecclesiastical courts. Becket became an ardent defenderof the interests of the church. Becket's hard-nosed attitude towardsdefending the Church of England showed just how important the churchwas to England. "The affairs between Henry and Becket became a highlycolored by their personal relationships."("Henry II")
  Their life long friendship was the only thing that kept the two onthe same side. Another strong disagreement came between the two on thestatus of "criminous clerics." These were members of the clergy whohad committed civil crimes. The crimes ranged from theft to assaultand even murder. This became a total embarrassment to the church.Henry sought to have the members tried in the royal court, as wouldothers who committed such crimes. Becket insisted that they only betried in the clerical courts. The disagreement became a heated battlebetween the two. Becket stood firm on his belief that the mattershould not be brought to a higher court. The situation would onlybring even more embarrassment to the Church of England if the memberswere crucified in the public courts.(Bowden 78) The situation becamesuch a heated battle between the two that in 1164 Becket sought refugein France. During Becket's exile, Henry began to straighten up thecountry and straighten up the courts system. Henry also marched in andconquered Brittany without much opposition. During this time greatreforms were made to the English law system. Henry used hisintelligence and energy to make lasting changes in England. Severalimportant legal reforms were made to the English Common Law. Henrycontinued to freely change and control the church without anyopposition. Through the auspices of Pope Cutittus III, King andArchbishop were reconciled in 1170 and Becket was allowed to return toEngland. No sooner than he returned the two found themselves bickeringover their different ideas. Neither of the two would yield theirprincipals to each other. While Henry was away in Normandy word ofBecket's actions were relayed to Henry. This outraged Henry thatBecket could take advantage of him not being in the country. While ona walk with his noble knights Henry allegedly said, "will no one ridme of this turbulent priest&#00063;"(Henry II) Becket, again proved to be aburden to Henry. In response to Henry's remarks about Becket, fourknights sought to find Becket back in Canterbury. The knights hadtaken Henry's words literally and traveled to Canterbury with theintentions of killing Becket, doing Henry a favor. Becket was openlyslain by the four knights when he was kneeling at an evening prayer.Everyone's attention focused on Henry who was criticized for themurder. Henry was saddened and mourned when he learned of Becket'sdeath. Henry claimed to be heartbroken and felt he neededforgiveness.(England during crusades) The knights pointed the orderingof the   killing towards Henry as they tried to divert the attention.Henry's words were taken literally by the knights and they acted upontheir own judgement.
  Although evidence also pointed towards Henry, he was absolved of thecrime by Pope Alexander III in 1172. Not long after Henry took apilgrimage to the tomb of Thomas Becket in Canterbury. He did this toshow his forgiveness to everyone and to clear his own inner conflicts.After Henry's struggles to clear his guilt over Becket's death hebegan to fall apart. Henry's sons began to fight over who would beheir to the throne. Henry favored John to heir the throne althoughJohn and Richard both rebelled to gain the respect they felt theydeserved. In the later years, it proved to be Phillip II of France whoproved to be the cunning opponent. Henry's last years were spenttrying to hold on to what he had proudly built up. At Henrys death hewas forced to name Richard the heir to the throne, and Richard wasprobably the least liked son.(Hay 175) The conflict over theseparation of Church and State between Henry and Becket kept Henry'spower over England in balance. Henry's ability to deal with thesituation showed his intelligence and power.  At Becket's death overthe separation of Church and State proved that the monarch was theultimate ruler over the land. King Henry II was burdened to his deathover a guilt driven conscience.

The vast majority of the information presented is obtained from online sources.  While I believe it to be accurate, caution must be taken to always be careful of its validity.
Please do contact me if you find errors or have questions.