The Children of Adam and Eve

The third Norman king of England, also duke of Normandy. Because his
father, who died in 1087, left him no land, Henry made several
unsuccessful attempts to gain territories on the Continent. On the Death
of his Brother William II in 1100, Henry took advantage of the absence of
another Brother Robert, who had a prior claim to the throne to seize the
royal treasury and have himself crowned king at Westminster. Henry
subsequently secured his position with the nobles and with the Church by
issuing a cHarter of liberties that acknowledged the feudal rights of the
nobles and the rights of the Church. In 1101 Robert, who was duke of
Normandy, invaded England, but Henry persuaded him to withdraw by
promising him a pension and military aid on the Continent. In 1102 Henry
put Down a revolt of nobles, who subsequently took refuge in Normandy,
where they were aided by Robert. By defeating Robert at Tinchebray,
France, in 1106, Henry won Normandy. During the rest of his reign,
However, he constantly had to put Down uprisings that threatened his rule
in Normandy. The conflict between Henry and Anselm, Archbishop of
Canterbury, over the question of lay investiture (the appointment of
Church officials by the king), was settled in 1107 by a compromise that
left the king with substantial control in the matter.

Because he had no surviving male heir, Henry was forced to designate his
daughter Matilda as his heiress. After his Death Henry's nephew, Stephen
of Blois, usurped the throne, plunging the country into a protracted civil
war that ended only with the accession of Matilda's son, Henry II, in
1154. He also had a Child who died Young. He was called "the Lion of
Justice".