Henry I (c. 1068 – 1135) was King of England from 1100 to 1135. After
his father, William the Conqueror, died in 1087, Henry's older brothers,
Robert and William, inherited Normandy and England respectively, while
Henry was landless. He seized the English throne after William's death
in 1100, and Robert invaded England to claim it. A settlement was made
that confirmed Henry as king, but the peace was short-lived; Henry
invaded Normandy and defeated Robert. Henry's control of Normandy was
challenged by William Clito, Robert's son, and a rebellion resulted.
Peace was concluded following Henry's victory at the Battle of Bremule.
Considered by contemporaries to be a harsh but effective ruler, Henry
drew on the existing Anglo-Saxon system of justice in England and added
the exchequer and judges. Normandy was increasingly governed in the same
manner. He encouraged the ecclesiastical reforms initiated by Pope
Gregory VII, but became involved in a dispute with Archbishop Anselm of
Canterbury. Henry's only legitimate son, William Adelin, drowned in the
White Ship disaster, causing a succession crisis. Henry declared his
daughter, Matilda, as his heir and married her to Geoffrey Plantagenet.
After his death, however, Henry was succeeded by his nephew, Stephen,
resulting in a civil war known as the Anarchy.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_I_of_England>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
641 or 642:
King Penda of Mercia defeated and killed King Oswald of
Northumbria at the Battle of Maserfield, traditionally believed to have
been fought in Oswestry, Shropshire, England.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Maserfield>
1583:
Explorer Humphrey Gilbert established the first English colony
in North America at what is now St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador,
Canada.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s,_Newfoundland_and_Labrador>
1925:
The Welsh political party Plaid Cymru was founded with the
goals of promoting the Welsh language and the political independence of
the Welsh nation.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Plaid_Cymru>
1962:
Actress and model Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home in
Brentwood, Los Angeles, an event that has become the center of one of
the most debated conspiracy theories.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe>
1995:
During Operation Storm, Croatian forces recovered the town of
Knin from the Republic of Serbian Krajina.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Storm>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
descanso:
A cross placed at the site of a violent, unexpected death, in memoriam.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/descanso>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
A small but brilliant advance made today by someone’s
awareness may for the moment reach a very small audience, but insofar as
it’s valid and beautiful, it will make its way and become part of the
whole world of consciousness.
--Conrad Aiken
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Conrad_Aiken>