Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameHenry I , King of England
BirthSep 1068, Selby, North Yorkshire, England
Death1 Dec 1135, Angers, Normandy, France
BurialReading Abbey, Berkshire, England
MotherMatilda of Flanders (1031-1083)
Misc. Notes
NickNames:
Beauclerc

Titles:
King of England (1100 - 1135)
Duke of Normandy (1106 - 1135)

King Henry was styled as, "Dei Gratia Rex Anglorum."

Called Henry Beauclerc because of his scholarly interests, he was the fourth son of William the Conqueror. He reigned as King of England from 1100 to 1135, succeeding his brother, William II Rufus. Henry also was known by the nickname "Lion of Justice", due to the refinements which he brought about in the rudimentary administrative and legislative machinery of the time.

He seized power after the death of William II, which occurred (conveniently) during the absence of his older brother Robert Curthose on the Crusades.

His reign is noted for his opportunistic political skills, the aforementioned improvements in the machinery of government, the integration of the divided Anglo-Saxon and Normans within his kingdom, his reuniting of the dominions of his father, and his controversial (although well-founded) decision to name his daughter as his heir.

It is probable that Henry was the first king of the Norman royal line to speak Saxon.

Died from a "surfeit of lampreys," as the chronicles said, although most historians believe that he died from food poisoning.

Henry was the founder of Reading Abbey, where he was buried.
Spouses
Birth1079, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Death1 May 1118, Westminster, London, England
BurialWestminster Abbey, London, England
Marriage11 Nov 1100, Westminster Abbey, London, England
Birth1103
Death23 Apr 1151, Abbey of Affligem, Germany
FatherGodfrey I of Leuven (~1060-1139)
Marriage29 Jan 1121
ChildrenJoan (Elizabeth) (~1095-)
Last Modified 25 Feb 2006Created 12 Oct 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh
Created Thursday, October 12, 2023 by Mike Perry

using Reunion for Macintosh