Henry I (c. 1068 – 1 December 1135), also known as Henry Beauclerc, was King of England from 1100 until he died in 1135. Henry, the fourth son of William the Conqueror, was educated in liberal arts and Latin. On William’s death in 1087, Henry’s older brothers, Robert Curthose and William Rufus inherited England and Normandy, respectively, but Henry was left with no land. He purchased the County of Cotentin in western Normandy, France, from Robert, but his brothers deposed him in 1091. He gradually rebuilt his power base in Cotentin and allied with William Rufus against Robert.
Henry, I was crowned three days after his brother died, against the possibility that his eldest brother Robert may claim the English throne on his imminent return from the Crusade in Jerusalem.
After the battle of Tinchebrai in 1106, Normandy, Henry completed his conquest of Normandy from Robert, who then spent the last 28 years of his life as his brother’s prisoner in various castles in England and Wales.
Henry was considered decisive and energetic. He centralised the administration of England and Normandy to the royal court, using ‘viceroys’ in Normandy and a group of trusted advisers in England to act on his behalf when he was absent across the Channel.
The official records of the exchequer (the Pipe Roll of 1130, the first exchequer account to survive) show that Henry was successful when he sought to increase royal revenues. Through his marriage to Matilda of Scotland, he established peaceful relations with Scotland.
Henry’s name ‘Beauclerc’ denoted his advanced education as the youngest son. His parents did not expect him to rule and possibly expected that he would become a bishop.
In 1120, his legitimate sons William and Richard drowned in the White Ship, which sank in the English Channel. Now he had a succession problem, as Henry never allowed his numerous illegitimate children to expect succession to either England or Normandy.
Henry had a legitimate daughter Matilda (widow of Emperor Henry V, who subsequently married Geoffrey Count of Anjou). In January 1127, Henry coerced the barons of both England and Normandy to swear allegiance to her. Many later broke their vow amid doubts about having a female ruler.
When Henry died in 1135, allegedly from eating too many lampreys (a fish), his nephew, Stephen of Blois, son of William the Conqueror’s daughter Adela, usurped the throne. He crossed rapidly from Normandy and had himself crowned at Westminster within the month.
“Powerful people cannot afford to educate the people they oppress. Because once you are truly educated, you will not ask for power you will take it”
John Henrick Clark
Cathedral Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC BY-SA 3.0″Coin Source: www.VCoins.com
Disclaimer: True Race Facts have made the long overdue honest determination that the King was dark brown, aka BLACK of the Hebrew, Shemitic negro race. Based on his facial phenotype, lips and thick braided hairstyle. Authentic original coins are the most accurate determination to identify the King because he would have approved the coins before they were hammered and issued. There are many ancient FAKE coins on the market, so beware when looking at coins. The deceivers made it their mission to cover up the dark ages, so even history should now be considered pseudo-history.
