Assassination: The Royal Family's 1000-Year Curse by David Maislish Read Free Book Online Page A

1135
     
    Henry seized the throne in 1100 on the death of his brother, William II. It was at a time when the oldest son of the Conqueror, Duke Robert, was travelling in Europe, coming home from crusade.
    Having missed out again, Robert decided on invasion. He landed with his army near Portsmouth; but Henry bought him off, and Robert returned to Normandy. It was not long before the two brothers were once more at war. On the fortieth anniversary of his father’s landing in England, Henry conquered Normandy. The victory was well received by the English, and many saw it as a reversal of the humiliation of Hastings.
    Despite defeat, Robert was still a threat, so Henry had him locked up, first in Devizes Castle and then in Cardiff Castle. He remained there for the rest of his life.
    Henry had solidified his position by marrying Edith, daughter of the King of Scotland and niece of Edgar the Atheling. That marriage, together with the fact that Henry had been born in England, helped to establish him as an English king in the eyes of many of the Anglo-Saxons. Even better,
HENRY I and MATILDA
HENRY I and MATILDA
     
    EDMUND IRONSIDE (r. 1016)
Agatha =========Edward Edmund of Hungary the Exile
    Edgar Margaret ====== King the
Atheling Malcolm III of Scotland Christina WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR (r. 1066-87)
Robert Richard WILLIAM II six (r. 1087-1100) daughters
    several children Matilda ============================ HENRY (Edith) (r. 1100-35)
    Henry’s children would be the great-great-grandchildren of King Edmund Ironside. However, the marriage itself was a rather loose arrangement, as Henry is believed to have fathered more than 20 illegitimate children.
    Being the youngest son, Henry had been destined to become a bishop, so he received a far better education than any of his brothers. That enabled him to introduce many judicial and financial reforms. Nevertheless, to his subjects Henry’s reputation was that of a ruthless and cruel man. The greatest illustration of his cruelty is provided by the tale of Eustace de Pacy and Ralph Harnec, two feuding nobles who had exchanged children as hostages for good behaviour. Eustace decided to continue with the feud, so he blinded Harnec’s son. Harnec complained to Henry. Having considered the matter, Henry announced that Harnec was now entitled to blind Eustace’s two daughters – this, despite the fact that those two girls were Henry’s own grandchildren, Eustace having married Henry’s illegitimate daughter, Juliane. After the two children had been blinded, the furious Juliane demanded to see her father. Henry agreed, he had no difficulty in justifying his decision, it seemed perfectly reasonable.
    Juliane stormed into the hall in the Castle of Breteuil, carrying a crossbow. She lifted it, aimed at Henry and let fly; but with Juliane struggling to hold the heavy weapon steady, the arrow missed. Immediately seized and imprisoned, Juliane climbed out of a window, jumped into the moat and escaped. In later years, Juliane and Henry agreed to put it all behind them, and they were reconciled.
    In 1119, Louis VI of France invaded Normandy, determined to seize it for William the son of the imprisoned Duke Robert (that son being called ‘the Clito’ – the Latin equivalent of Atheling). He met Henry at the Battle of Bremule. Victory was Henry’s; but even as the French were retreating, one of the Clito’s supporters, a Norman knight named William Crispin, spotted Henry who had dismounted. Crispin ran at Henry, raised his sword and aimed a blow at the King’s head. But the sword hit the collar of Henry’s hauberk (chainmail shirt) and drew no blood. Before Crispin could attack again, Roger of Clare struck him down and took him prisoner.
    Having dealt with the French, Henry suppressed troublesome nobles in England and then came to an arrangement with the Church. He had now done everything possible to secure his position as king. His remaining concern was to ensure the succession for one of his