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 Abt 1068 - 1135 (67 years)
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| Name |
Henry I "Beauclerc" |
| Title |
King of England |
| Birth |
Abt Sep 1068 |
Selby, Yorkshire, England  [1, 2] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
1 Dec 1135 |
Lyons-la-Foret, Normandy, France [1] |
| Burial |
Reading Abbey, Berkshire, England |
| Person ID |
I8349 |
Bob Juch's Tree |
| Last Modified |
31 Dec 2022 |
| Father |
William I "The Conqueror", King of England, b. 14 Oct 1024, Falaise, Normandy, France d. 9 Sep 1087, Priory of St. Gervais, Rouen, France (Age 62 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Mother |
of Flanders Matilda, b. 24 Nov 1031, Flanders, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France d. 2 Nov 1083, Caen, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France (Age 51 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Marriage |
1053 |
Cathedral of Notre Dame d'Eu, Normandy, France |
| Family ID |
F4311 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 1 |
Adeliza de Leuven, b. Abt 1094, Affligem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium d. 23 Apr 1151, Affligem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium (Age 57 years) |
| Marriage |
2 Feb 1121 |
Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England [1, 2] |
| Family ID |
F3246 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
31 Dec 2022 |
| Family 3 |
Nest verch Rhys, b. Abt 1073, Dynevor, Llandyfeisant, Caemarvonshire, Wales d. Abt 1163 (Age 90 years) |
| Marriage |
Abt 1090 |
| Children |
| | 1. Henry FitzHenry, b. Abt 1103, of Narberth and Pebidiog, Wales d. 1157, Anglesey, Wales (Age 54 years) [natural] |
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| Family ID |
F3248 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
31 Dec 2022 |
| Family 4 |
Sibyl Corbet, b. Abt 1077, Alcester, Warwickshire, England d. Aft 1157 (Age > 81 years) |
| Marriage |
Abt 1089 |
| Children |
| | 1. 1st Earl of Gloucester Robert de Caen, b. Abt 1090, Caen, Normandy, France d. 31 Oct 1147, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England (Age 57 years) [natural] |
| | 2. Joan (Elizabeth), b. 1092/1136 d. 1175/1227 (Age 91 years) [natural] |
| | 3. Princess of England Elizabeth, b. 1095, England [natural] |
| | 4. Princess of England Maud, b. 1102, England d. 10 Sep 1166, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France (Age 64 years) [natural] |
| | 5. Princess of England Sibylla, b. Abt 1097, Domfront, Normandy, France d. 12 Jul 1122, Island of the Woman, Loch Tay, Scotland (Age 25 years) [natural] |
| | 6. 1st Earl of Cornwall Reginald de Dunstanville, b. Abt 1100, Dunstanville, Kent, England d. 1 Jul 1175, Chertsey, Sussex, England (Age 75 years) [natural] |
| | 7. Lord of Bradninch William de Tracy, b. Aft 1090, Bradninch, Devonshire, England d. Aft 1135 (Age > 45 years) [natural] |
| | 8. Princess of England Alice, b. Abt 1099, Selby, Yorkshire, England d. 1141, Montmorency, Val d'Oise, France (Age 42 years) [natural] |
| | 9. Constance FitzHenry, b. Abt 1100, England [natural] |
| | 10. Eustacia de Normandy, b. Abt 1085, Normandy, France [natural] |
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| Family ID |
F3249 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
31 Dec 2022 |
| Family 6 |
Edith FitzForne, b. Abt 1072, Greystoke, Cumberland, England d. 1152, Oseney Abby, Oxfordshire, England (Age 80 years) |
| Marriage |
Abt 1089 |
| Children |
| | 1. Robert FitzEdith, b. Abt 1098, England d. 1172 (Age 74 years) [natural] |
| | 2. Matilda, b. Abt 1090 d. 25 Nov 1120, Drowned in wreck of the White Ship near Barfleur, Manche, France (Age 30 years) [natural] |
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| Family ID |
F3251 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
31 Dec 2022 |
| Family 7 |
Princess of Scotland Matilda (Edith) mac Maíl Coluim, b. Abt 1080, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland d. 1 May 1118, Westminster Palace, London, Middlesex, England (Age 38 years) |
| Marriage |
11 Nov 1100 |
Westminster Abbey, London, Middlesex, England [3] |
| Children |
| | 1. Princess of England Matilda Normandy, b. 5 Aug 1102, London, Middlesex, England d. 10 Sep 1167 (Age 65 years) [natural] |
| | 2. Duke of Normandy William (Ætheling) Adelin, b. Bef 5 Aug 1103, Winchester Castle, Hampshire, England d. 25 Nov 1120, White Ship, English Channel near Barfleur, Normandy (Age > 17 years) [natural] |
| | 3. Richard, b. Abt 1105 d. 25 Nov 1120 (Age 15 years) [natural] |
| | 4. Euphamia, b. Jul 1101, Winchester, England d. 1102/1195 (Age 93 years) [natural] |
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| Family ID |
F3252 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
31 Dec 2022 |
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| Event Map |
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 | Birth - Abt Sep 1068 - Selby, Yorkshire, England |
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| Notes |
- Henry I (of England) (1068-1135), third Norman king of England (1100-1135), fourth son of William the Conqueror. Henry was born in Selby. Because his father, who died in 1087, left him no land, Henry made several unsuccessful attempts to gain territories on the Continent. On the death of his brother William II in 1100, Henry took advantage of the absence of another brother-Robert, who had a prior claim to the throne-to seize the royal treasury and have himself crowned king at Westminster. Henry subsequently secured his position with the nobles and with the church by issuing a charter of liberties that acknowledged the feudal rights of the nobles and the rights of the church. In 1101 Robert, who was duke of Normandy, invaded England, but Henry persuaded him to withdraw by promising him a pension and military aid on the Continent. In 1102 Henry put down a revolt of nobles, who subsequently took refuge in Normandy (Normandie), where they were aided by Robert. By defeating Robert at Tinchebray, France, in 1106, Henry won Normandy. During the rest of his reign, however, he constantly had to put down uprisings that threatened his rule in Normandy. The conflict between Henry and Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, over the question of lay investiture (the appointment of church officials by the king), was settled in 1107 by a compromise that left the king with substantial control in the matter.
Because he had no surviving male heir, Henry was forced to designate his daughter Matilda as his heiress. After his death on December 1, 1135, at Lyons-la-Faret, Normandy, however, Henry's nephew, Stephen of Blois, usurped the throne, plunging the country into a protracted civil war that ended only with the accession of Matilda's son, Henry II, in 1154.
"Henry I (of England)," Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia copyright 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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 realizes 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 2000 pounds. 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 Belleme, 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 organization 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 and 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 realizes 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 pounds. 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 BellÃssme, Earl of Shrewsbury, whom Henry hhhhhad known for manyy yearrssss asss aaa 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 organization 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]
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| Sources |
- [S227] Encyclopedia Britannica, Henry I.
- [S222] Frederick Lewis Weis, additions by Walter Lee Shippard Jr., Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists, 7th Edition, 1-23.
- [S211] Frederick Lewis Weis, additions by Walter Lee Sheppard Jr., The Magna Charta Sureties 1215, line 161.
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