Henry I (4 May 1008 – 4 August 1060) wasKing of the Franks from 1031 to 1060. Theroyal demesne of France reached its smallest size during his reign, and for this reason he is often seen as emblematic of the weakness of theearly Capetians. This is not entirely agreed upon, however, as other historians regard him as a strong but realistic king, who was forced to conduct a policy mindful of the limitations of the French monarchy.
A member of theHouse of Capet, Henry was born inReims, the son of KingRobert II (972–1031) andConstance of Arles (986–1034).[1] In the early-Capetian tradition, he was crowned at theCathedral of Reims on 14 May 1027,[2] while his father still lived. He had little influence and power until he became sole ruler on his father's death four years later.
The reign of Henry I, like those of his predecessors, was marked by territorial struggles. Initially, he joined his younger brotherRobert, with the support of their mother, in a revolt against his father (1025). His mother, however, supported Robert as heir to the old king, on whose death Henry was left to deal with his rebel sibling.[3] In 1032, he placated his brother by giving him theDuchy of Burgundy[3] as anappanage, which their father Robert II originally gave to Henry in 1016.[4]
In an early strategic move, Henry came to the rescue of his very young nephew-in-law to be, the newly appointed Duke William ofNormandy (who would go on to becomeWilliam the Conqueror), to suppress a revolt by William's vassals. In 1047, Henry secured the duchy for William in their decisive victory over the vassals at theBattle of Val-ès-Dunes nearCaen;[5] however, Henry would later support the barons against William until his own death in 1060.[6]
In 1054, William married Henry’s nieceMatilda, daughter of thecount of Flanders, whom Henry viewed as a threat to his throne.[7] In 1054, and again in August 1057, Henry invaded Normandy, but lost twice at the battles ofMortemer andVaraville.[7]
Henry had three meetings withHenry III, Holy Roman Emperor—all atIvois. In early 1043, they met to discuss the marriage of the emperor withAgnes of Poitou, the daughter of Henry's vassal.[8] In October 1048, the two Henries met again and signed a treaty of friendship.[9] Their final meeting took place in May 1056 and concerned disputes overTheobald III and theCounty of Blois.[9] The debate over the county became so heated that Henry accused the emperor of breach of contract and subsequently left.[9] In 1058, Henry was selling bishoprics and abbacies, ignoring the accusations of simony and tyranny by the Papal legateCardinal Humbert.[10] In 1060, Henry rebuilt theSaint-Martin-des-Champs Priory just outsideParis. Despite the royal acquisition of a part of theCounty of Sens in 1055, the transfer of Burgundy to his brotherRobert in 1032[11] meant that Henry I's twenty-nine-year reign saw feudal power in France reach its pinnacle.
^Zeilinger, Ingrid (16 January 2021)."Sie ist die Dorfpatronin von Puch" [She is the village patroness of Puch].Münchner Merkur. Serie: Straßen und ihre Namenspatrone (in German). Retrieved14 November 2021.
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Zey, Claudia (2008). "Frauen und Tochter der salischen Herrsher, Zum Wandel salischer Hieratspolitik in der Krise". In Struve, Tilman (ed.).Die Salier, das Reich und der Niederrhein (in German). Bohlau Verlag GmbH & Cie.
