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Henry I , King of England was also found as King Henry I England and as Henry I "Beauclerc", King of England.2,3,4 |
| Birth |
September 1068 |
Henry I was born in September 1068 in Yorkshire, England.5,6,7
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1087 |
In 1087 his father, William the Conqueror,
died and Henry's older brother, William II became king. Henry I was the
youngest son of William the Conqueror. Henry was granted 5000 pounds of
silver when William I died. He spent several years shifting loyalties
from one brother to the other. This led to the brothers signing a
mutual accession treaty to keep Henry from ever holding the crown. When
brother Robert left on the crusade, Henry realized that brother William's death would result in his gaining the throne. William would
later die on a hunting trip, but Henry's involvement is uncertain.
Within 3 days of William's death he was crowned king. Robert
headed back to Normandy to reclaim it from Henry, but by 1106 Henry had
regained Normandy and Robert spent the rest of his life in prison.2,8
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It is said that he was as able as his brother,
Rufus, but with a keen sense of justice. The royal administrative corps
really came into its own in his reign. The first seven years of Henry's
rule was spent in protecting England and then conquering Normandy from
his eldest brother, Duke Robert. He ruled with an iron fist like his
father and looked secure both in England and on the Continent until
1120 when his only legitimate son and heir
was killed in a naval tragedy. He settled the Welsh rebellion of his
brother's reign and fortified Wales with many castles. The end of his
reign was dominated by a succession crisis where Henry forced his
barons to support his daughter, Matilda, as heir.9
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6 August 1100
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When King William "Rufus" was killed Henry took advantage of his older
brother Robert's absence and obtained his own election to the English
kingship by the witan, or council. He was crowned on 6 August 1100 at
London, England three days after the death of William. He subsequently
secured his position with the nobles and with the Church by issuing a
Charter of Liberties, the basis for the later Magna Charta; by
reinstating Anselm to the archbishopric of Canterbury, and by marrying
an Anglo-Scottish princess, Matilda or Maud of Scotland.2,5,4
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| Marriage #1 |
11 August 1100 |
Henry I, 31 married Matilda Edith Cean-Mohr, daughter of Malcolm III MacDuncan Cean-mohr and Margaret Atheling Princess of England, 11 August 1100 in London, England.10,1, 5,11
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It is said that he was as able as his brother, Rufus, but with a keen
sense of justice. The royal administrative corps really came into its
own in his reign. The first seven years of Henry's rule was spent in
protecting England and then conquering Normandy from his eldest
brother, Duke Robert. He ruled with an iron fist like his father and
looked secure both in England and on the Continent until 1120 when his
only legitimate son
and heir was killed in a naval tragedy. He settled the Welsh rebellion
of his brother's reign and fortified Wales with many castles. The end
of his reign was dominated by a succession crisis where Henry forced
his barons to support his daughter, Matilda, as heir.9
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During his reign, the church protested the king
selling appointments to the clergy as a means of gaining money. Henry
didn't do much about it until the pope threatened to excommunicate him
in 1105. Following this, Henry agreed to stop selling the appointments,
but still managed to maintain a deciding voice in the clerical
appointments.
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Henry was known as Beauclerk due to his ability to read fluently.
This ability had not been witnessed in a King of England since Alfred
the Great. His other sobriquet of 'Lion of Justice' derives from his
formation of basic laws to govern England. These laws were harshly
enforced. Henry is said to have been very alike to his brother, William
Rufus in that he was avaricious, lustful and cruel. He was a
calculating man and his marriage to Matilda, the daughter of King
Malcolm III of Scotland virtually allayed any fears of an invasion from
north of the border.12
How he had time to rule England is a bit of a poser. He is
purported to have had 29 children by as many as eight different women.
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William d'Albini was "butler to the King" that was to Henry I Beauclerc, Lord Buckingham of England.13
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| Acceded |
1106 |
He became the Duke of Normandy in 1106 and he
imprisoned his brother, the former Duke for the rest of his life
following the Battle of Tinchobrai .5,14
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The reign of Henry I is notable for important
legal and administrative reforms, and for the final resolution of the
investiture controversy. Abroad, he waged several campaigns in order to
consolidate and expand his continental possessions. Was so hated by his
brothers that they vowed to disinherit him. In 1106 he captured Robert
and held him till he died.5,9
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Henry was associated with Edith Sigulfson though not married.5
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Henry was associated with Isabel de Beaumont de Meullant though not married. They had at least two children. Alice is sometimes said to be one of her children rather than Sybil's.15,16
Wife Matilda of Scotland died 1 May 1118.
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| Marriage #2 |
29 January 1122 |
Henry I , King of England, 53 years old, married Adelicia , daughter of Godfrey the Bearded "Barbutus" Duc of Lorraine and Ida de Namur,
29 January 1122 in Windsor, Berkshire, England. This is likely the
correct date, tho' there is some evidence that the year may be 1120/21.
There is no evidence that they had any children in the fifteen years of their marriage.
Adeliza of Louvain had the Castle and Honour of Arundel settled on her
as her dowry by King Henry I of England, her first husband. He had
married her after the disaster of "The White Ship" when the king's only legitimate son was drowned, leaving him with his only legitimate daughter, the Empress Matilda.5,17,18
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| Death |
1 December 1135 |
Henry I died on 1 December 1135 at Near Gisors,
at Roeun, at age 67. It is reported that he died as the result of
overeating Lamphreys at Lihun Castle, Roeun, Normandy.!!3,5
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| Burial |
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Henry I , King of England was buried at Berkshire, England.5,10
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1136 |
When Henry I resolved to settle the crown on his
daughter Matilda, Stephen de Blois with other nobles swore fealty to
her, but on Henry's death claimed the crown. Attempting to strenghten
his position with the help of mercenaries, Steven made more enemies
than friends by the favours he heaped on some of the great lords. King
David of Scotland invaded the north on Matilda's behalf and retained
Cumberland. The first powerful enemy King Stephen made was Robert, Earl
of Gloucester, an illegitimate son of Henry I; next he quarrelled with
the clergy. The realm then fell into sheer anarchy; the barons
plundered and burned at their pleasure.19
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Henry was married twice.
He had children by his first wife, not by his second. Henry had 29
known children by his wife, Matilda and at least 6 concumbines. Many of
the birth dates of these children are not known. The paramour of the
longest standing was Sybil Corbet. By her, he he is purported to have
had 17 children, tho' some of these could have been by other women. He
made it quite clear that his illigitimate off spring had NO claim to
the throne of England.14
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Henry I , King of England 25th Great grandfather actually multiple relationships, both Eastman and Morin lines