Henry (I, King of England 1100-1135)
Claiming the throne
Coronation Charter
2. If any of my barons or earls shall die, his heir shall redeem the land in a just and lawful manor rather than having to pay for it. Similarly the men of barons shall redeem their land from their lords in a just and lawful manor.
3. Any of my barons or earls who wish to give in marriage their daughter, sister, or other family member must ask for my permission but I will not seek payment of refuse any marriage unless it is to one of my enemies. If one of my barons dies leaving a daughter as heir I will dispose of her in marriage according to the counsel given by my barons. If the wife of one of my barons shall survive her husband and be without children she will have her dower portion and not force her to marry.
4. If a wife survives with young children she will not be forced to marry and will keep her dowry as long as she keeps her body pure. My barons shall likewise act in the same manor towards their tenants.
5. I forbid the taking of the common seigniorage from the towns and the cities as it was not done in the time of King Edward. Anyone found with illegal money will be punished.
6. I forgive all pleas and debts which were owing to my brother except those owing lawfully to me and except those which are the inheritance of others. If anyone has pledged anything for his inheritance I will remit it and also remit all reliefs which were promised for direct inheritance.
7. If any of my barons shall become ill and give away or bequeath his money I will see that it is done so according to his wishes. But if by illness or violence he is unable to do so his widow, children, relative or one of his true men shall make the division for the sake of his soul as shall seem best to them.
8. If any of my barons or men commits a crime he shall not be forced to pay a fine at the king's mercy as it was in the time of my father and brother but he shall make a payment according to the extent of the crime as it was done before the time of my father and brother. But for a serious crime he shall be justly punished.
9. I forgive all fines of murders committed before I was crowned king and those committed in the future shall be paid justly according to the laws of King Edward.
10. By the common counsel of my barons I have retained ownership of the forests as my father did.
11. The knights, who in return for their estates perform military service, shall hold their demesne land free from payments so that, released from the great burden, they can furnish themselves with horses and arms and be prepared to defend the kingdom.
12. I impose a strict peace on the country and order that the peace be kept.
13. I restore to you the laws of King Edward and those amendments made by my father with the consent of my barons.
14. If anyone, since the death of my brother King William has taken my property or the property of another they should return it quickly without fine but if they keep it they will have to pay a heavy fine.
As King of England
Conflict at home
Normandy
Succession worries
Related Episodes
Stephen's succession to the throne (click here)
Test Your Knowledge
How much do you know?
Event Location Map (click image to explore)
Spouses (Mistresses)
Children
Siblings
Parents
Contemporary People/Rulers
Family Tree Details
Henry (I, King of England 1100-1135) (b.1068 - d.1135) +Matilda Edith (of Scotland) (b.1080? - d.1118) | = William (Adelin) (b.1103 - d.1120) | = Matilda (Empress Maud) (b.1102 - d.1167) | +Henry (V of Germany) (b.1081 - d.1124) | +Geoffrey (Plantagenet, 'The Fair', Count of Anjou) (b.1113 - d.1151) | = Henry (II, King of England 1154-1189) (b.1133 - d.1189) | | +Eleanor (of Aquitaine) (b.1122 - d.1204) | | | = William (b.1153 - d.1156) | | | = Henry ('the Young King') (b.1155 - d.1183) | | | = Matilda (of England) (b.1156 - d.1189) | | | = Richard (I, King of England 1189-1199) (b.1157 - d.1199) | | | = Geoffrey (Duke of Brittany) (b.1158 - d.1186) | | | = Eleanor (of England) (b.1162 - d.1214) | | | = Joan (of England, Queen of Sicily) (b.1165 - d.1199) | | | = John (King of England 1199-1216) (b.1167 - d.1216) | | +Illegitimate (Henry II) | | = Plantagenet, Geoffrey (Archbishop of York) | | = Longsword, William | = Geoffrey (VI of Anjou) | = William (Count of Paitin) (b.1136 - d.1164) +Adeliza (of Louvain) (b.1103 - d.1151) +Corbet, Sybilla (Lady of Alcester) = Sybilla (of Normandy) (b.1092? - d.1122) +Alexander (I, King of Scotland 1107-1124) (b.1077 - d.1124)Mistresses are shown in italic
See Also
People
Places
Other
Explore the White Tower
Explore four floors of the keep at the Tower of London.
More Details >>
Medieval Town - Early Access
Explore the medieval town.
TimeRef Medieval Shield Designer
Design you own Medieval Shield.
Shield Designer >>
Medieval Village - Early Access
Explore the medieval village.
Medieval Abbey - Early Access
Explore the medieval abbey.
Medieval Theatre - Early Access
Explore the medieval theatre.
Timeline
Henry, the future king of England, was born at Selby in Yorkshire. [1]
Henry I granted the ownership of Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight to Richard de Redvers a Norman nobleman.
Henry I had no quarrels with Anselm, the exiled archbishop, and invited him to return from exile and take back his position at Canterbury.
William Rufus was killed while hunting in the New Forest. He was succeeded by Prince Henry, his younger brother, who became King Henry I. [2]
King Henry I was crowned king at Westminster Abbey. [3]
King Henry I of England married Matilda of Scotland, daughter of Malcolm III and sister of Edgar, the King of the Scots. The ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey. [2]
After Arundel Castle fell to the besiegers, the ownership of the castle passed to the King. [4]
Ranulf Flambard escaped from the Tower of London and fled to Normandy. There he joined Robert II of Normandy who had just returned from the Crusades. Flambard and Robert planned to take the English throne away from his younger brother Henry I.
Henry I appointed Roger, a Norman Monk, as Chancellor. While in Caen Henry and his elder brother William (Rufus) had entered a church and requested the priest say mass. The priest impressed the two with his efficiency that they made him their chaplain. Roger then became chancellor and later Bishop of Salisbury. Roger helped build many churches and castles. [2]
Robert Duke of Normandy landed at Portsmouth with an army and marched up to Alton on the way to London. Here he and King Henry I signed the Treaty of Alton where Robert gave up his claim to the throne of England in return for 3 thousand marks a year. The treaty also ensured that Robert's supporters would not be punished.
Henry I brought several charges against Robert of Belleme. Robert resisted Henry but finally surrendered at Shrewsbury Castle. Robert was exiled. [5]
The castle at Bridgnorth was surrendered to King Henry I. [4]
Robert of Normandy visited King Henry and told him that he did not need to pay Normandy the three thousand marks a year which he should have done bound by Treaty of Alton. [5]
Cattle as well as corn and fruit crops did badly this year. [5]
Disagreements began to arise between Henry I and Archbishop Anselm over the appointment of bishops and abbots into important Church positions. Anselm believed that it was a matter for the Church to decide and should not be controlled by the King. No concession could be agreed upon and once again Anselm went into exile as the King confiscated the lands that the archbishop owned.
Matilda of Scotland, the wife of King Henry I of England gave birth to their first son William Adelin at Winchester. They already had a daughter called Matilda.
King Henry I entered Normandy to take power from this brother Robert whose incapacity to manage the affairs of the region could have had grave consequences. Robert fought back forcing Henry to return to England but not before Henry had gained Caen and Bayeux.
Under threat of excommunication Henry I met Archbishop Anselm at Laigle in Normandy to settle the disputes that had led to the Archbishop's exile from England. An agreement was reached and Aneslm returned to england in the following year.
King Henry I attacked his brother Robert at the battle of Tinchebrai. This time with a much larger force Henry defeated and captured Robert along with William, the Count of Mortain. Henry locked Robert in Cardiff castle where he remained until he died in 1135. Also captured was Edgar the Atheling who had sided with Robert. Edgar was released as King Henry did not think he was a threat.
King Henry I had improvements made at Windsor Castle, including a chapel, so that he could use the castle as his formal residence. [6]
Geoffrey Plantagenet, the son of Fulk V, the count of Anjou was born. Geoffrey would marry Matilda, the daughter of Henry I, King of England. [7]
Unable to get King Henry to abandon the castle at Gisors, King Louis VI signed a treaty giving Henry control over Brittany and Maine. [8]
Matilda, the daughter of Henry I is married to Emperor Henry V.
King Henry I was in Normandy attempting to put down a rebellion led by William Clito, the son of Robert Curthose, Henry's elder brother who was being held captive in Cardiff Castle. [8]
Queen Matilda died at the Palace of Westminster where for the last 12 years of her life she had been neglected by her husband King Henry I.
Kenilworth Castle's history began when Henry I gave a portion of the Stoneleigh estate to Geoffrey de Clinton his chamberlain. de Clinton built a motte and bailey on the land and formed a lake to provide better defences. [9]
The son of Henry I was drowned attempting a crossing from Normandy to England. It should have been a straight forward sea crossing from Normandy to England and the weather was good, but the young prince and his young friends had delayed the sailing with their merrymaking in Normandy. The crew of the White Ship were supplied with beer and as a result were in no state to handle the ship safely. The ship hit rocks and began to sink. Prince William was initially rescued and placed in a small boat but on his orders he tried to rescue his sister and the boat was overwhelmed by others hoping to be saved. The small boat tipped over and the prince was drowned.
Henry I founded the abbey at Reading. The Cluniac Order of monks populated the abbey. When he died, Henry's remains were buried at the Abbey. [10]
Henry I married Adeliza of Louvain at Windsor Castle. Adeliza was his second wife. They did not have any children. [11]
Shortly after her marriage to King Henry, Adeliza's coronation was performed at Westminster Abbey.
King Henry visited Norwich for the first time and grants the city a citizens charter giving teh inhabitants the same rights as London. [12]
King Henry I of England organised the construction of a large keep at the castle at Caen.
King Henry I of England organised the construction of a large square keep at the castle at Falaise.
Henry and a large number of his court spent Christmas as his palace at Dunstable. Here he entertained the Earl of Anjou. [13]
King Henry I arranged the marriage between his nephew, Stephen of Blois and Matilda, the daughter and heiress of Eustace III, the Count of Boulogne. This gave Stephen control of the county of Boulogne and also lands in England that had belonged to Count Eustace II. Matilda was descended from both Malcolm III of Scotland and Edmund Ironside. [14]
The tower-keep at Rochester Castle was built soon after 1126 by the Archbishop of Canterbury with the permission of King Henry I. [4]
Henry I brought his nephew, Henry of Blois, from Normandy to take the position of abbot at Glastonbury Abbey. [15]
King Henry held a council at Woodstock. [16]
Henry I granted a charter for an annual fair to be held at Glastonbury known as the Tor Fair. The reaffirmed the right for the existing fair to be held there. [17]
King Henry I of England arranged the marriage of his daughter Matilda to Geoffrey, the son of Fulk V of Anjou. This was done to ensure an alliance between England and Anjou and to prevent Fulk allying himself with Louis VI of France. A previous marriage proposal between Henry's son William and Fulk's daughter came to nothing when William was drowned during a sea crossing from Normandy to England in 1120. Matilda had been married to Henry V of Germany, but he died in 1125 and Matilda had returned to England. [18]
With Matilda the rightful heir to the English throne, Henry I had the barons swear allegiance to her to ensure she became Queen of England when he died. [19]
Henry I arranged a marriage between his daughter Matilda and the son of Fulk V of Anjou, Geoffrey Plantagenet. He had previously arranged a marriage between his son William Adelin to Fulk's daughter also called Matilda, but William had died when the 'White Ship' sank returning the Prince from Normandy. Geoffrey and Matilda were married in St. Julien's Cathedral in Le Mans, Maine (France).
On the same day that Henry I attended the consecration of Rochester Cathedral, a fire took hold in the city and damaged the newly finished building.
The construction of a new choir was started at Canterbury Cathedral in 1093 by Prior Ernulf and completed by Prior Conrad was dedicated in the presence of Henry I, David of Scotland and many English Earls. [20]
Henry spent Christmas at Woodstock. [16]
Henry I spent Christmas at his palace at Dunstable.
Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror's eldest son, died in captivity in Cardiff Castle where he had been locked up since being defeated by his brother in 1106. Robert was buried in Gloucester Cathedral where there is an effigy of him still.
King Henry I died. He was in Normandy at one of his hunting lodges and had eaten lampreys, a food that he knew was not good for him. He felt unwell for several days and the illness got worse and he passed away. Before he died he gave instructions that he should be buried at Reading Abbey. It is not clear who Henry nominated to be the next ruler of England just before his death. [19]
In Normandy, was Henry's nephew Stephen, a Norman like the barons. Matilda, on the other hand, was considered English by the barons because her mother was an English woman. Matilda was also married to a Frenchman, Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, and enemy of Normandy. If Matilda became Queen it was possible that Geoffrey would become King of England after her death. Once Stephen heard the news of his uncle's death he swiftly set out for England accompanied by a small band of supporters. After failed attempts to land on the south coast he came ashore in London where he was warmly welcomed. [3]
The funeral of King Henry I of England took place at Reading Abbey, a Clunic house that he had founded in 1121 and where he had specified he wanted to be buried. King Stephen attended the proceedings.
On this day in history:
TimeRef Shield Designer
Use this medieval shield designer to create your coat of arms. Click the image below to start your design.
3D Virtual Reconstructions
Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.
Learn More
More medieval people
Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.
Page Navigation
Selection of references used:
Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.
Motte & Bailey
Stone Keep
Siege Engines
Tower House
Middleham Castle
Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.
Instructions
A Medieval Mystery
There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.
1: Location
Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.
2: Alignment
Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.
3: Size
Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?
Mystery Details
Medieval Heraldry
Learn about medieval shield design.
Details
Design your own medieval Coat of Arms.
Design your shield
Adventure Game - Early Access
Early Access to the TimeRef card-based Adventure Game.