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King Henry IThe youngest son of the famed William the Conqueror became king of England following the death of his elder brother, William Rufus. He then defeated his brother Robert Curthose in battle to secure the title of Duke of Normandy. As the son of a conquering foreign dynasty, the new king sought to secure his claim to the throne of England by marrying Mathilda of Scotland, one of the last remaining heirs of the old House of Wessex that had ruled England prior to the Norman Conquest. He is the father of Maud and William Ætheling through this marriage, and also has many illegitimate children.
Henry is a strong ruler both in battle and in government. Along with advisors such as Bishop Roger of Salisbury, he has made efforts to improve the legal system, build the wealth of the crown, and continue the integration of the old Anglo-Saxon dynasty with its new and powerful Norman replacement. He resents having to surrender certain things to the Church, and this leads to a drawn out battle with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm. Always at the fore of Henry’s thoughts is his power struggle with the king of France, who claims lordship over the duchy of Normandy. Imbued with a strong sense of purpose and destiny, King Henry is ever motivated by his quest to secure the Norman dynasty for future generations. He dotes on his son William, while planning a marriage for Maud that will build an alliance with the powerful Holy Roman Empire. Yet, his personal life reveals some failings, as he is a regular philanderer. Though he spends little time with Maud, he is nevertheless a major figure in her life. |