Henry I of England

Henry I was born in c. 1068 presumably in Selby in Yorkshire to William I of England and Matilda of Flanders among at least nine children.

His father, also known as William the Conqueror, a descendant of Rollo, was the Duke of Normandy since 1035 whose successful invasion of England in 1066 led him to become the first Norman King of England, William I. Henry I’s mother was granddaughter of Robert II of France.

Out of his three brothers Robert Curthose, William Rufus and Richard, the latter died early.

While historian Judith Green mentions that he spent his early years in the Duchy, according to historians Warren Hollister and Kathleen Thompson, he mostly spent his growing years in England.

Hollister also suggested that presumably the King's chancellor at Salisbury Cathedral, Bishop Osmund, was partly responsible for educating Henry I as the latter remained in the bishop’s company consistently from around 1080 to 1086. It is considered that Henry I was educated in Latin and the liberal arts.

After the death of William I on September 9, 1087 his eldest son Robert Curthose inherited his patrimonial lands of Normandy and third son William Rufus (William II) inherited England that he acquired through war. &Henry I received a lump sum amount generally reported as £5,000 as inheritance sans any land from his father, however was in expectation to receive his mother’s lands in Buckinghamshire and Gloucestershire.

Robert expected to receive both Duchy and England. Both Robert and William Rufus were fundamentally in disagreement with the inheritance and while the latter was crowned King of England as William II in September 1087, relation between both the brothers strained. &The ensuing years witnessed on-and-off clashes between Robert and William II including the rebellion of 1088 led by William I’s half-brothers Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain in favour of Robert against William II.

Robert’s plan of invading England was slowly losing its ground and he was suggesting Henry I to lend him some of the inherited money. An agreement between the two saw Henry I purchase the County of Cotentin in western Normandy from Robert in 1088. However in 1091 he was deposed by Robert and William II.

With time Henry who also went into war with his brothers strengthened his power base in western Normandy. He started distributing lands and castles to his supporters by 1094 and gradually such endeavour of Henry against Robert started getting support from William II, who started aiding him with money.

On August 2, 1100, while on a hunting expedition in the New Forest accompanied by Henry, Norman nobles and huntsmen, William II was killed by an arrow that was presumably shot by Baron Walter Tirel. Following such incident Henry captured Winchester Castle and seized the royal treasury.

After seizing the English throne, his coronation ceremony was conducted swiftly by Maurice, the Bishop of London on August 5, 1100. He issued a Charter of Liberties in line with the English convention which included several commitments. His promises included ending the policies taken by William II with regard to the Church which the clergy considered harsh and restricting the wrongful use of property rights of the barons among others.

He modestly rewarded many of his existing supporters and took steps to build support and thus strengthened his new government. He made the chancellor of William II, William Giffard, the Bishop of Winchester, while imminent sheriffs namely Robert Fitzhamon, Haimo Dapifer and Urse d'Abetot carried on with their respective roles in his administration.