Henry I: The Forgotten Powerhouse King of England

When people think of England’s medieval monarchs, names like William the Conqueror or Richard the Lionheart tend to steal the spotlight. But tucked between the Norman conquest and the age of chivalry is a king who deserves far more credit than he gets—Henry I, the youngest son of William the Conqueror, and a ruler whose clever mind and iron will shaped the English monarchy for generations.

An AI rendering of what Henry I looked like based on historical descriptions of his appearance.

Born in 1068, Henry was never supposed to be king. As the fourth and youngest son, he was given an education rather than land, earning the nickname "Henry Beauclerc" for his scholarly nature. Fluent in Latin and educated in law and governance, Henry brought something to the throne that many kings lacked—brains.

He claimed the crown in 1100 under somewhat suspicious circumstances. His brother, King William II, had died in a mysterious hunting accident in the New Forest—some say it was just bad luck; others whisper of an inside job. Either way, Henry didn’t waste time. He seized the royal treasury at Winchester and had himself crowned just days later.

One of his first acts as king was to issue the Charter of Liberties, a document many historians consider the spiritual predecessor of Magna Carta. It promised to reform abuses of power by the crown and the barons alike, and while its effects were mixed, it showed Henry understood the power of public support.

Henry I was also a ruthless political player. He outmaneuvered his older brother Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy, defeating him in battle and imprisoning him for life. By doing so, Henry reunited England and Normandy under one ruler—something even William the Conqueror hadn't fully achieved.

Despite his achievements, Henry’s reign was marred by tragedy. His only legitimate son and heir, William Adelin, died in the infamous White Ship disaster of 1120, drowning in the English Channel with many of England's noble youth. The loss devastated Henry, but more importantly, it plunged the kingdom into a succession crisis.

Determined to keep control, Henry made his daughter Matilda his heir—a bold and controversial move at a time when women were not seen as viable monarchs. His barons swore to support her, but after his death in 1135, most of them reneged, plunging England into a civil war known as The Anarchy.

Henry I died in Normandy after allegedly eating too many lampreys—a kind of eel, which he adored despite doctors’ warnings. He ruled for 35 years, longer than any king since the Conquest, and his legacy lived on through administrative reforms, the strengthening of royal justice, and his granddaughter Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful women in medieval Europe.

Though often overshadowed, Henry I was a king of calculation, strategy, and resilience. He didn’t win fame through war or romance—but through sheer willpower and governance, he shaped the England we know today. Maybe it’s time we remembered him not as the “forgotten son,” but as one of England’s most capable rulers.