Henry I

Tyerman, C, Who’s Who in Early Medieval England, (Shepheard-Walwyn, 1996), pp. 69 – 84

•  Demanding – prompted awe, respect and nostalgia.
•  Basis for propaganda and Henry II’s rule
•  Cost was great – ruined houses, destroyed dynastic rivals, taxes for his subjects.
•  Harsh his actions may have been but he was appears to have understood the cost of success and the fragility of his achievement. – suffered nightmares and worried about being murdered in his own bed.
• Given £5000 but no property on his father’s death – had to make his own way.
• 1091 – brother’s against him  - 1096 – re-established his relationship with Rufus.
• ‘Henry had gained experience of war, diplomacy and the subtler political arts of managing men, winning people to his causes, exploiting the weaknesses of rivals and calculating his own long term advantage.’
•  Able to pick men to serve him
• Capacity for affection
• Conspiracy to murder Rufus? – historians don’t think so but it did give him the advantage – showed how fast he was at acting and energy
• Married – Edith (Matilda) in 1100 – 3 functions – heirs, united the new dynasty with the old, secured the Scottish Frontier.
• Had many affairs – ‘driven not by lust but his desire for children’ - many bastard children
• Biggest weapon – fear. 

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Again, this is just to fill in the gaps. If this was taught, then a contrasting profile could be made about William II and Henry I. maybe some kind of dating advert or some such format for the students to do.