General Notes

2  SOUR S002120
3  DATA
4  TEXT Date of Import: Apr 17, 2001
[Fortescue.ged]
HISTBORN IN 1068, HENRY WAS THE FOURTH SON OF WILLIAM THE CONQUERER AND MA
TILDA .  NICKNAMED BEAUCLERC (FINE SCHOLAR) FOR HIS ABOVE AVERAGE EDUCATIO
N.  HE MARR IED EDITH (EADGYTH), WHO TOOK THE NAME MATILDA, DAUGHTER OF MA
LCOLM III.  HENRY HAD THELONGEST REIGN OF THE NORMAN KINGS OF ENGLAN
D, 35 YEARS.
HISTTHE FIRST YEARS OF HENRY'S REIGN WERE SPENT SUBDUING NORMANDY.  HIS FA
THER DIVIDED HIS KI NGDOM AMONG HENRY'S OLDER BROTHERS, GIVING ENGLA
ND TO WILLIAM AND NORMANDY TO R OBERT.  HENRY INHERITED NO LAND BUT DID RE
CEIVE 5000 POUNDS IN SILVER.  HEPLAYE D BOTH SIDES IN HIS BROTHERS QUARRE
L, LEADING BOTH TO MISTRUST HENRY, AND SIGNE D A PACT BARRING HENRY FROM T
HE CROWN.  HENRY'S HOPES ROSE WHEN ROBERT WENT WIT H THE CRUSADES.  HEN
RY WAS IN THE WOODS HUNTING ON AUGUST 2, 1100, WHEN WILLIAM DIED.  HENRY M
OVED QUICKLY AND WAS CROWNED ON AUGUST 5, 1100.  ROBERT WAS CAPTU RED UP
ON HIS RETURN FROM THE HOLY LAND AND SPENT THE REMAINING 28 YEARS OF HIS L
IFE AS HENRY'S PRISONER.
HISTTHE FINAL YEARS OF HENRY'S REIGN WERE CONCENTRAT ED ON WAR WITH FRANC
E, AND CONCERNS OVER SUCCESSION AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS SON WILLIAM IN 112
0, LEAVING HIS DAUGHTER MATILDA AS THE ONLY SURVIVING HEIR.  SHE WAS RECAL
LED TO THE ENGLISH COURTAFTER THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, EMPEROR HEN
RY V OF GERMANY, IN 1125.  HE FORCED THE NOBLES TO ACCEPT HER AS QUEEN UP
ON HIS DE ATH.  SHE WAS THEN FORCED TO MARRY THE 16 YEAR OLD GEOFFREY OF A
NJOU (FOUNDER O F THE PLANTAGENET DYNASTY) TO CONTINUETHE ANGEVIN ALLIANC
E.  THE MARRIAGE WAS U NPOPULAR AMONG THE NORMAN BARONS, AND HENRY WAS FOR
CED TO ACQUIRE ANOTHER OATH OF ALLEGIANCE FROM THEM.