Henry 1 was the son of William the Conqueror, he was born at Selby, Yorkshire, England. His education was considered so excellent that he was nicknamed Beauclec.
He received on his fathers death L5,000, but no land, and kept in a position of inferiority by his elder brothers, Robert of Normandy and William Rufus of England.
On the latter's death in 1100, Robert being absent, Henry seized the royal treasury, and the nobles chose him as king. He at once issured a charter of liberties of great importance, conciliating his English subjects in order to gain their support in his struggles with the Norman nobles, whose power he steadily opposed. This charter later served as the basis for the Magna Carta.
In 1106 he defeated Robert at Tinchebrai, France, captured and imprisoned him, and took possession of Normandy. Robert remained in prison until his death in 1134.
In England Henry ruled well, though sternly: it was characteristic of his love of money that the Royal Exchequer was organized during his reign.
In 1100 he married the Anglo-Scottish Princess Edith, renamed Matilda, but he had many mistresses and illegitimate children.
Matilda died in 1118, and three years later Henry married Adelaide, daughter of Godfrey, Count of Louvian.
He was devoted to hunting, a sound soldier, and master of astute and often dishonest diplomacy. He died near Gisors, France, 1 Dec. 1135.
