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<small>For other rulers by the name of Henry I, see [[Henry I (disambiguation)]].</small>

<small>For other rulers by the name of Henry I, see [[Henry I (disambiguation)]].</small>

King '''Henry I''' of [[England]] (1068 - 1st December 1135) was born in 1068 and reigned from 1100 until his death in 1135. He was the third son of [[William the Conqueror|William I]] (the Conqueror) and younger brother of [[William Rufus|William II]] (Rufus), whom he succeeded. He was also Duke of [[Normandy]] from 1106 to 1135.  

King '''Henry I''' of [[England]], also known as '''Henry Beauclerc''' (1068/1069 - 1st December 1135) was born in 1068 and reigned from 1100 until his death in 1135. He was the third son of [[William the Conqueror|William I]] (the Conqueror) and younger brother of [[William Rufus|William II]] (Rufus), whom he succeeded. He was also Duke of [[Normandy]] from 1106 to 1135.  

Henry took swift advantage of his brother's death from an arrow wound whilst hunting in the [[New Forest]] and his eldest brother [[Robert Curthose|Robert's]] absence on the [[First Crusade]] to secure the Treasury at [[Winchester]], and have himself crowned at London within 3 days of the event.  At his coronation he proclaimed a [[1100 Charter of Liberties|charter]] promising just rule. Shortly after he gained support amongst the English when he married Matilda of [[Scotland]], who was directly descended from [[Anglo-Saxon]] royalty.

Henry took swift advantage of his brother's death from an arrow wound whilst hunting in the [[New Forest]] and his eldest brother [[Robert Curthose|Robert's]] absence on the [[First Crusade]] to secure the Treasury at [[Winchester]], and have himself crowned at London within 3 days of the event.  At his coronation he proclaimed a [[1100 Charter of Liberties|charter]] promising just rule. Shortly after he gained support amongst the English when he married Matilda of [[Scotland]], who was directly descended from [[Anglo-Saxon]] royalty.

The early years of his reign saw him defending his realm against the returned Robert, and in 1106 he defeated Robert in Normandy, imprisoned him, and reunited England and Normandy under the one rule as his father had done. He was to spend a great part of his reign defending  Normandy against France, and the machinations of certain of his [[barons]], however England was generally peaceful for the rest of his reign.

The early years of his reign saw him defending his realm against the returned Robert, and in 1106 he defeated Robert in Normandy, imprisoned him, and reunited England and Normandy under the one rule as his father had done. He was to spend a great part of his reign defending  Normandy against France, and the machinations of certain of his [[barons]], however England was generally peaceful for the rest of his reign.

His reign is considered successful within certain limits, as he was the founder of the English judicial system, and centralised and simplified the financial workings of the Crown by the formation of the “Exchequer”, a term still in use today as the nation's treasury. However, the death of his son at sea in 1128 meant he had no male heir, and the last years of his life were spent attempting to have his daughter, [[Matilda]], accepted as his successor. He married her to Geoffrey of [[Anjou]] in 1128, accepting the end of the Norman dynasty in a vain attempt to avert the civil war that was to follow.

His reign is considered successful within certain limits, as he was the founder of the English judicial system, and centralised and simplified the financial workings of the Crown by the formation of the “Exchequer”, a term still in use today as the nation's treasury. However, the death of his son, William Adelin,  at sea on November 25, 1120 meant he had no male heir, and the last years of his life were spent attempting to have his daughter, [[Matilda]], accepted as his successor. He married her to Geoffrey of [[Anjou]] in 1128, accepting the end of the Norman dynasty in a vain attempt to avert the civil war that was to follow.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*  Bartlett, Robert. ''England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings, 1075-1225'' (2002) [https://www.amazon.com/England-Norman-Angevin-1075-1225-History/dp/0199251010/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210320497&sr=1-5 excerpt and text search]

*  Bartlett, Robert. ''England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings, 1075-1225'' (2002) [https://www.amazon.com/England-Norman-Angevin-1075-1225-History/dp/0199251010/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210320497&sr=1-5 excerpt and text search]