Henry I of England

Henry I (c. 1068–1 December 1135), later called Beauclerc, was king of England from 1100 and youngest son of William the Conqueror. On 2 August 1100 his brother William Rufus was killed by an arrow while hunting; Henry seized the Winchester treasury and was crowned three days later, issuing a charter ending his brother's abuses.

Robert Curthose invaded in 1101 and withdrew after negotiations, but in 1105–1106 Henry conquered Normandy and captured him at Tinchebray, holding him for life. In England he built a royal exchequer and itinerant justices; contemporaries thought him harsh but effective.

His only legitimate son William drowned in the White Ship disaster of 1120. Henry named Matilda heir and married her to Geoffrey of Anjou, but died on 1 December 1135 at Lyons-la-Forêt, reportedly from a surfeit of lampreys. His nephew Stephen seized the crown, and the civil war called the Anarchy followed.