Henry I (1068/9-1135), King of England and Lord of Normandy
He inquired into everything, and retained all he heard in his tenacious memory. He wished to know all the business of officials and dignitaries; and, since he was an assiduous ruler, he kept an eye on all the happenings in England and Normandy. (Ordericus Vitalis, Historia Ecclesiastica)
Youngest son of William the Conqueror, he was the first Norman King born in England. He was very well educated, later ages nicknamed him Beauclerc. He succeeded his brother William Rufus
(who died suddenly) as King in 1100, by quickly moving to put himself on the throne. He strengthened his position by issuing a Charter of Liberties before his coronation and winning the support of the English people and peace with Scotland by marrying a Saxon princess, Matilda, daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland. A major quarrel soon developed with St
Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, over the investiture of bishops, which Henry wanted to claim was his right to control. When Henry backed down to
Anselm in 1106 this ensured that Henry could be sure he had enough support to defeat his elder brother, Robert, in battle and gain control of Normandy. This placed Henry more securely on the throne and he imprisoned Robert for the rest of his life.
An able administrator, he extended royal patronage and established a system of travelling judges, enforcing harsh laws, and a professional bureaucracy, setting up the Exchequer to deal with the crown's financial matters. Henry kept England at peace for thirty-three years, but he was frequently at war in Normandy and France. Henry had some twenty-four known bastards but his only legitimate son, William, was drowned in 1120, in the White Ship disaster. This death motivated Henry’s pious act in establishing Reading Abbey in 1121. As one of the wealthiest abbeys in the country with extensive lands and famous relics it made Reading of great importance
throughout the medieval period, bringing many people to the town. Henry died in 1135 after eating a meal of lampreys and was wrapped in a bull hide and carried in state from France to be buried in Reading in a silver coffin. His attempts to secure the succession for his daughter, the Empress Matilda, were, after his
death, to lead to Civil war, in which Reading was involved as a castle was built here.
Link to the Dictionary of National Biography (only from a Library terminal). King Henry I
Find out about the importance of the Abbey to Reading at Reading
Museum's website
See a reconstruction of Henry’s burial at the Abbey from a picture at
Reading Museum
Other External Links to more information:
Henry I - Biography from the BBC
Official Royal Biography of Henry I
Royal Berkshire History Biography
Pictures of King Henry from the National Portrait Gallery
The Charter Of Liberties:
Issued by Henry before his coronation, it was a vital development in British constitutional history showing that the King was also bound by law.
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