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Agatha Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 1064 in , , Normandie, France. She died before 1086 in , , Calvados, France. She was buried in , Bayeux, Calvados, France. Parents: Guillaume I "Le Conquberant" de NORMANDIE and Matilda Countess of Flanders Queen of ENGLAND.

Alfgifu (Aelflaed) Queen of ENGLAND.^73,74

Spouse: Ethelred II "The Unready" King of ENGLAND. Ethelred II "The Unready" King of ENGLAND and Alfgifu (Aelflaed) Queen of ENGLAND were married. Children were: Edmund II "Ironsides" King of ENGLAND, Elfgifu Princess of ENGLAND.

Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND^{46,47,144,534,535} was born in 849 in of, Wantage, Berkshire, England.^144,536 He Acceded to the throne in 871⁵³⁵ He died on 26 Oct 901 in , Winchester, Hampshire, England.

ALFRED 'THE GREAT' (r. 871-899)

Born at Wantage, Berkshire, in 849, Alfred was the fifth son of Aethelwulf, king of the West Saxons. At their father's behest and by mutual agreement, Alfred's elder brothers succeeded to the kingship in turn, rather than endanger the kingdom by passing it to under-age children at a time when the country was threatened by worsening Viking raids from Denmark.

Since the 790s, the Vikings had been using fast mobile armies, numbering thousands of men embarked in shallow-draught longships, to raid the coasts and inland waters of England for plunder. Such raids were evolving into permanent Danish settlements; in 867, the Vikings seized York and established their own kingdom in the southern part of Northumbria. The Vikings overcame two other major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, East Anglia and Mercia, and their kings were either tortured to death or fled. Finally, in 870 the Danes attacked the only remaining independent Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Wessex, whose forces were commanded by King Aethelred and his younger brother Alfred. At the battle of Ashdown in 871, Alfred routed the Viking army in a fiercely fought uphill assault. However, further defeats followed for Wessex and Alfred's brother died.

As king of Wessex at the age of 21, Alfred (reigned 871-99) was a strongminded but highly strung battle veteran at the head of remaining resistance to the Vikings in southern England. In early 878, the Danes led by King Guthrum seized Chippenham in Wiltshire in a lightning strike and used it as a secure base from which to devastate Wessex. Local people either surrendered or escaped (Hampshire people fled to the Isle of Wight), and the West Saxons were reduced to hit and run attacks seizing provisions when they could. With only his royal bodyguard, a small army of thegns (the king's followers) and Aethelnoth earldorman of Somerset as his ally, Alfred withdrew to the Somerset tidal marshes in which he had probably hunted as a youth. (It was during this time that Alfred, in his preoccupation with the defence of his kingdom, allegedly burned some cakes which he had been asked to look after; the incident was a legend dating from early twelfth century chroniclers.)

A resourceful fighter, Alfred reassessed his strategy and adopted the Danes' tactics by building a fortified base at Athelney in the Somerset marshes and summoning a mobile army of men from Wiltshire, Somerset and part of Hampshire to pursue guerrilla warfare against the Danes. In May 878, Alfred's army defeated the Danes at the battle of Edington. According to his contemporary biographer Bishop Asser, 'Alfred attacked the whole pagan army fighting ferociously in dense order, and by divine will eventually won the victory, made great slaughter among them, and pursued them to their fortress (Chippenham) ... After fourteen days the pagans were brought to the extreme depths of despair by hunger, cold and fear, and they sought peace'. This unexpected victory proved to be the turning point in Wessex's battle for survival.

Realising that he could not drive the Danes out of the rest of England, Alfred concluded peace with them in the treaty of Wedmore. King Guthrum was converted to Christianity with Alfred as godfather and many of the Danes returned to East Anglia where they settled as farmers. In 886, Alfred negotiated a partition treaty with the Danes, in which a frontier was demarcated along the Roman Watling Street and northern and eastern England came under the jurisdiction of the Danes - an area known as 'Danelaw'. Alfred therefore gained control of areas of West Mercia and Kent which had been beyond the boundaries of Wessex. To consolidate alliances against the Danes, Alfred married one of his daughters, Aethelflaed, to the ealdorman of Mercia -Alfred himself had married Eahlswith, a Mercian noblewoman - and another daughter, Aelfthryth, to the count of Flanders, a strong naval power at a time when the Vikings were settling in eastern England.

The Danish threat remained, and Alfred reorganised the Wessex defences in recognition that efficient defence and economic prosperity were interdependent. First, he organised his army (the thegns, and the existing militia known as the fyrd) on a rota basis, so he could raise a 'rapid reaction force' to deal with raiders whilst still enabling his thegns and peasants to tend their farms.

Second, Alfred started a building programme of well-defended settlements across southern England. These were fortified market places ('borough' comes from the Old English burh, meaning fortress); by deliberate royal planning, settlers received plots and in return manned the defences in times of war. (Such plots in London under Alfred's rule in the 880s shaped the streetplan which still exists today between Cheapside and the Thames.) This obligation required careful recording in what became known as 'the Burghal Hidage', which gave details of the building and manning of Wessex and Mercian burhs according to their size, the length of their ramparts and the number of men needed to garrison them. Centred round Alfred's royal palace in Winchester, this network of burhs with strongpoints on the main river routes was such that no part of Wessex was more than 20 miles from the refuge of one of these settlements. Together with a navy of new fast ships built on Alfred's orders, southern England now had a defence in depth against Danish raiders.

Alfred's concept of kingship extended beyond the administration of the tribal kingdom of Wessex into a broader context. A religiously devout and pragmatic man who learnt Latin in his late thirties, he recognised that the general deterioration in learning and religion caused by the Vikings' destruction of monasteries (the centres of the rudimentary education network) had serious implications for rulership. For example, the poor standards in Latin had led to a decline in the use of the charter as an instrument of royal government to disseminate the king's instructions and legislation. In one of his prefaces, Alfred wrote 'so general was its [Latin] decay in England that there were very few on this side of the Humber who could understand their rituals in English or translate a letter from Latin into English ... so few that I cannot remember a single one south of the Thames when I came to the throne.'

To improve literacy, Alfred arranged, and took part in, the translation (by scholars from Mercia) from Latin into Anglo-Saxon of a handful of books he thought it 'most needful for men to know, and to bring it to pass ... if we have the peace, that all the youth now in England ... may be devoted to learning'. These books covered history, philosophy and Gregory the Great's 'Pastoral Care' (a handbook for bishops), and copies of these books were sent to all the bishops of the kingdom. Alfred was patron of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (which was copied and supplemented up to 1154), a patriotic history of the English from the Wessex viewpoint designed to inspire its readers and celebrate Alfred and his monarchy.

Like other West Saxon kings, Alfred established a legal code; he assembled the laws of Offa and other predecessors, and of the kingdoms of Mercia and Kent, adding his own administrative regulations to form a definitive body of Anglo-Saxon law. 'I ... collected these together and ordered to be written many of them which our forefathers observed, those which I liked; and many of those which I did not like I rejected with the advice of my councillors ... For I dared not presume to set in writing at all many of my own, because it was unknown to me what would please those who should come after us ... Then I ... showed those to all my councillors, and they then said that they were all pleased to observe them' (Laws of Alfred, c.885-99).

By the 890s, Alfred's charters and coinage (which he had also reformed, extending its minting to the burhs he had founded) referred to him as 'king of the English', and Welsh kings sought alliances with him. Alfred died in 899, aged 50, and was buried in Winchester, the burial place of the West Saxon royal family.

By stopping the Viking advance and consolidating his territorial gains, Alfred had started the process by which his successors eventually extended their power over the other Anglo-Saxon kings; the ultimate unification of Anglo-Saxon England was to be led by Wessex. It is for his valiant defence of his kingdom against a stronger enemy, for securing peace with the Vikings and for his farsighted reforms in the reconstruction of Wessex and beyond, that Alfred - alone of all the English kings and queens - is known as 'the Great'. Parents: Ethelwulf King of WESSEX and Osburh Queen of WESSEX.

Spouse: Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND. Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND and Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND were married in 868. Children were: Ethelwerd Prince of ENGLAND, Ethelfleda Princess of ENGLAND, Edmund Prince of ENGLAND, Ethelgiva Princess of ENGLAND, Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND, Elfridam (Alfthryth) Princess of ENGLAND.

Alice Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born on 12 Mar 1279 in Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. She died in 1291. Died unmarried. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Alphonso Prince of ENGLAND^6,46 was born on 24 Nov 1273.⁵³⁷ He was born on 24 Nov 1273 in , Bayonne, Basses-Pyrenees, France. He died on 19 Aug 1284.⁵³⁷

Earl of Chester Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Beatrice Princess of ENGLAND^6,46 was born on 25 Jun 1242 in , Bordeaux, Gascogne, France. She died on 24 Mar 1274/75 in , , Bretagne, France. She was buried in Grey Friars, London, Middlesex, England. BEATRICE (or BÉATRICE) OF ENGLANDxe “England, Beatrice of”, married JEAN DE BRETAGNExe “Bretagne”, Knt., Duke of Brittanyxe “Brittany”, Earl of Richmondxe “Richmond” Parents: Henry III PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore (Lbeonor) Countess of PROVENCE.

Beatrice Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born in 1286 in , Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Berengaria Princess of ENGLAND^6,46 was born in 1276 in , Kennington, Berkshire, England. She died between 1277 and 1279. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Blanche Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born in 1290 in Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Catherine Princess of ENGLAND^6,46 was born on 25 Nov 1253 in Westminster, London, Middlesex, England. She died between 3 May 1256 and 1258 in , Westminster, Middlesex, England. She was buried in , Westminster, Middlesex, England. Parents: Henry III PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore (Lbeonor) Countess of PROVENCE.

Cecilia Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 1055 in , , Normandie, France. She died on 30 Jul 1126 in , Caen, Calvados, France. Parents: Guillaume I "Le Conquberant" de NORMANDIE and Matilda Countess of Flanders Queen of ENGLAND.

Constance Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 1061 in , , Normandie, France. She died on 13 Aug 1090 in , , , England. She was buried in St Edmondsbury, Suffolk, England. Parents: Guillaume I "Le Conquberant" de NORMANDIE and Matilda Countess of Flanders Queen of ENGLAND.

Ealdgyth Queen of ENGLAND⁷³ was born about 1034 in of, , Mersea, England. She died after 1086. Parents: Alfgar III Earl of MERCIA and Elfgifu Princess of ENGLAND.

Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND^46,144,535 was born about 852 in Mersea, Essex, England. She died on 5 Dec 905. Parents: Ethelred "Mucil" Eald of The GAINAI and Eadburh FADBURN.

Spouse: Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND. Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND and Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND were married in 868. Children were: Ethelwerd Prince of ENGLAND, Ethelfleda Princess of ENGLAND, Edmund Prince of ENGLAND, Ethelgiva Princess of ENGLAND, Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND, Elfridam (Alfthryth) Princess of ENGLAND.

Edgar King of ENGLAND^25,144 was born in 944 in , , Wessex, England. He died on 8 Jul 975 in Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset, England.

EDGAR (r. 959-975)

Edgar, king in Mercia and the Danelaw from 957, succeeded his brother as king of the English on Edwy's death in 959 - a death which probably prevented civil war breaking out between the two brothers. Edgar was a firm and capable ruler whose power was acknowledged by other rulers in Britain, as well as by Welsh and Scottish kings. Edgar's late coronation in 973 at Bath was the first to be recorded in some detail; his queen Aelfthryth was the first consort to be crowned queen of England.

Edgar was the patron of a great monastic revival which owed much to his association with Archbishop Dunstan. New bishoprics were created, Benedictine monasteries were reformed and old monastic sites were re-endowed with royal grants, some of which were of land recovered from the Vikings.

In the 970s and in the absence of Viking attacks, Edgar - a stern judge - issued laws which for the first time dealt with Northumbria (parts of which were in the Danelaw) as well as Wessex and Mercia. Edgar's coinage was uniform throughout the kingdom. A more united kingdom based on royal justice and order was emerging; the Monastic Agreement (c.970) praised Edgar as 'the glorious, by the grace of Christ illustrious king of the English and of the other peoples dwelling within the bounds of the island of Britain'. After his death on 8 July 975, Edgar was buried at Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset. Parents: Edmund I "the Magnificent" King of MERCIA and Elgiva.

Spouse: Elfrida EALDORMAN. Children were: Ethelred II "The Unready" King of ENGLAND.

Editha Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 910 in of, , Wessex, England. She died on 21 Jan 947. Parents: Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND.

Edmund "Crouchback" Prince of ENGLAND^6,46,538 was born on 16 Jan 1244/45 in , London, Middlesex, England.^133,143,538 He died on 5 Jun 1296 in , Bayonne, Pyrennes-Atlantiques, France.^133,143,538 He was buried in Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Middlesex, England.

EDMUND OF ENGLAND, Knt., Steward of England, Keeper of the Isle of Lundy, Lieutenant of Aquitaine, 4th and youngest but 2nd” surviving son, born at London 16 Jan. 1244/5. In 1254 Albert, the papal legate, on behalf of the Pope offered him the Kingdom of Sicily. In 1255 the Bishop of Bologna vested him with the IKingdom of Sicily and Apulia. However, peace being made between the Pope and Manfred, son of Frederick, King of Apulia, allowed Manfred to retain Apulia. In 1265 he was granted the honours of Leicester, Leicestershite and Embleton, Northumberland forfeited by Simon de Montfort, whereby he became Earl of Leicester. In 1266 he was granted the honour of Derby, forfeited by Robert de Ferrers, formerly Earl of Derby. The same year he took part in the siege of Kenilworth Castle. In 1267 he was granted the honour, castle, and manor of Monmouth, the castles of Grosmont, Skenfrith, and Whitecastle, and the honour, county, castle, and town of Lancaster, whereby he became Earl of Lancaster. He married (1st) at Westminster Abbey 7 April 1269 ANTELINE DE FORZ, occasionally styled Countess of Aumale, daughter of William de Forz, titular Count of Aumale, Lord of Holderness, by his 2nd wife, Isabel, Countess of Devon, elder daughter of Baldwin de Reviers, 7th Earl of Devon. She was born at Burstwick, Yorkshire 20 Jan. 1258/9 and was heiress sometime prior to 1269 to her brother, Thomas de Forz. They had no issue. Edmund was in the East on crusade to the Holy Land in 1271-2. His wife, Aveline, died at Stockwell, Surrey 10 Nov. 1274, and was buried at Westminster Abbey. He married (2nd) at Paris, France shortly before 18 Jan. 1275/6 (by dispensation dated 26 Sept. 1275, they being related in the 3rd and 4sh degrees of kindred) BLANCHE OF ARTOLS, widow of Enrique (or Henri) I el Gordo, King of Navarre, Count of Champagne and Brie (died 22 July 1274) [see NAVARRE 6 for issue of this marriage], and daughter of Robert I, Count of Artois (descendant of King Henry IL), by Mathilde, daughter of Henri II, Duke of Brabant [see NAVARRE 5 for her ancestry]. They had three sons, Thomas, Knt. [Earl of Lancaster, Leicester, and Derby], Henry, Knt. [Earl of Lancaster and Leicester], and John [seigneur of Beaufort and Nogentl'Artaud], and one daughter, Mary. He did homage to the Duke of Burgundy at Bar-sur-Seine 3 Feb. 1275/6, as Count of Champagne and Brie in right of his wife. He likewise did homage to Guillaume, Bishop of Auxerre, at Pont-desNatiaux 3 Nov. 1281. In 1277 he was made Commander in Wales, and began building the castle of Aberystwyth. In 1279 he and John of Brittany, Earl of Richmond, were sent to France to demand the county of Ponthieu from King Philippe, which came by inheritance to his sister-in-law, Queen Eleanor of Castile. In 1282 he was among the royal forces who defeated and killed Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, at Builth. In 1291 he had a grant of the county of Ponthieu during the minority of the King's son, Edward. In 1293 he and his wife founded the convent of Nuns Minoresses in London. He was summoned to Parliament 24 June 1295, by writ directed Bdmundo contiti Lancastr'. In 1296 he sailed to Gascony on an expedition with Henry, Earl of Lincoln. SIR EDMUND OF ENGLAND, Earl of Lancaster, died at Bayonne 5 June 1296, and was buried at Westminster Abbey. His widow, Blanche, died at Paris, France 2 May 1302. [Note: John Hardyng writing in the early 1400's dispelled the myth that Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, was “hunchbacked” or in any way deformed. He said this allegation was derived by an untrue chronicle fabricated byJobn of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, in the reign of King Richard II who “hoped to make his son Henry king, when he saw he [Henry] might not be chosen as Richard's heir apparent” (see C. Given-Wilson Chronicles of the Revolution 1399-1400 (1993): 193-195 for further particulars)]. Parents: Henry III PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore (Lbeonor) Countess of PROVENCE.

Spouse: Blanche of ARTOIS. Edmund "Crouchback" Prince of ENGLAND and Blanche of ARTOIS were married before 18 Jan 1275/76 in Paris, Seine, France.^133,143 Children were: Henry of LANCASTER 3rd Earl of Lancaster.

Edmund II "Ironsides" King of ENGLAND¹⁴⁴ was born in 989 in , , Wessex, England.¹⁴⁵ He died on 30 Nov 1016 in London, Middlesex, England.^145,146 Murdered by Edric Streon, Earl of Mercia, husband of Edgyth, daughter of Ethelred II the Unready He was buried in Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset, England.

EDMUND II IRONSIDE (r. Apr - Nov 1016)

Edmund Ironside was the son of Ethelred 'The Unready' and his first wife, Elfgifu. He made himself ruler in the Danelaw, independent of his father. Canute later defeated him at Ashingdon in Essex, striking a treaty of peace which allowed Edmund to rule in Wessex and Canute to take the rest. Edmund died in 1016. Parents: Ethelred II "The Unready" King of ENGLAND and Alfgifu (Aelflaed) Queen of ENGLAND.

Spouse: Elfgifu (Ealgyth) of MERCIA. Edmund II "Ironsides" King of ENGLAND and Elfgifu (Ealgyth) of MERCIA were married. Children were: Edward "the Exile" ATHELING.

Edmund Prince of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 873 in , , Wessex, England. Parents: Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND and Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND.

Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND²⁵ was born about 871 in , , Wessex, England.¹⁴⁴ He Acceded to the throne in 899⁵³⁵ He died on 17 Jul 925 in , Farrington, Berkshire, England.¹⁴⁴

EDWARD 'THE ELDER' (r. 899-924)

Well-trained by Alfred, his son Edward 'the Elder' (reigned 899-924) was a bold soldier who defeated the Danes in Northumbria at Tettenhall in 910 and was acknowledged by the Viking kingdom of York. The kings of Strathclyde and the Scots submitted to Edward in 921. By military success and patient planning, Edward spread English influence and control. Much of this was due to his alliance with his formidable sister Aethelflaed, who was married to the ruler of Mercia and seems to have governed that kingdom after her husband's death.

Edward was able to establish an administration for the kingdom of England, whilst obtaining the allegiance of Danes, Scots and Britons. Edward died in 924, and he was buried in the New Minster which he had had completed at Winchester. Edward was twice married, but it is possible that his eldest son Athelstan was the son of a mistress. Parents: Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND and Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND.

Spouse: Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND. Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND were married.¹⁴⁴ Children were: Edwin Prince of ENGLAND, Ethelwerd Or Elfwerd Prince of ENGLAND, Ogive of FRANCE, Ethile (Eadhilde) Princess of ENGLAND, Elfleda Princess of ENGLAND, Ethelhilda Princess of ENGLAND, Editha Princess of ENGLAND, Elgiva Princess of ENGLAND.

Spouse: Edgiva EALDORMAN. Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Edgiva EALDORMAN were married.¹⁴⁴ Children were: Edmund I "the Magnificent" King of MERCIA, Edred King of MERCIA.

Edward II King of ENGLAND^6,46,391 was born on 25 Apr 1284 in Caernarvon Castle, Caernarvon, Caernarvonshire, Wales. He died on 21 Sep 1327 in Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England. He was buried on 20 Dec 1327 in Cathedral, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. EDWARD II (r. 1307-1327)

Edward II had few of the qualities that made a successful medieval king. Edward surrounded himself with favourites (the best known being a Gascon, Piers Gaveston), and the barons, feeling excluded from power, rebelled. Throughout his reign, different baronial groups struggled to gain power and control the King. The nobles' ordinances of 1311, which attempted to limit royal control of finance and appointments, were counteracted by Edward. Large debts (many inherited) and the Scots' victory at Bannockburn by Robert the Bruce in 1314 made Edward more unpopular.

Edward's victory in a civil war (1321-2) and such measures as the 1326 ordinance (a protectionist measure which set up compulsory markets or staples in 14 English, Welsh and Irish towns for the wool trade) did not lead to any compromise between the King and the nobles. Finally, in 1326, Edward's wife, Isabella of France, led an invasion against her husband. In 1327 Edward was made to renounce the throne in favour of his son Edward (the first time that an anointed king of England had been dethroned since Ethelred in 1013). Edward II was later murdered at Berkeley Castle.

Do you remember the prince in the film Braveheart who was gay? Well, he went on to become Edward II of England. He was born in 1284 in Caernarfon, Wales, son of Edward I, otherwise known as Edward Longshanks, and Eleanor of Castille. As Edward Longshanks had murdered the last Welsh Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the baby Edward was made the new Prince of Wales. He was also the Earl of Hereford and Duke of Lancaster.

Now, Edward Longshanks was a bit of a nasty man, even by English Royalty standards, and this might have had something to do with the way his son turned out. Edward I was tough and warrior-like, while Edward II was the complete opposite. Edward II was betrothed at a very early age to the six-year-old heiress to the Scottish throne, but she died in a shipwreck on the way to the wedding. Having failed to unite England and Scotland through marriage, Edward I did it by force: which is where the story of Braveheart really starts.

Eventually Edward II was married at the age of 24 to Isabella of France, but even on his wedding night he preferred to sleep on the couch of his homosexual favourite, Piers Gaveston. Gaveston was exiled and eventually murdered - there's no proof that Longshanks ever threw him out of the window as portrayed in the film - and Isabella went on to bear two sons and two daughters. Again there is no historical proof that she ever met William Wallace, let alone slept with him.

Edward II was a very weak king who tended to rule by resorting to executing anyone who tried to stand against him. He wasted a lot of money on his homosexual lovers and was very unpopular. As a soldier, he failed to stop Robert The Bruce from regaining power in Scotland and was defeated at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314, ensuring Scottish independence until the Act of Union in 1707.

In 1324, war broke out with France1, and Isabella and their child Edward2 were sent to France to negotiate peace with her brother, the King. Instead, she met up with Roger Mortimer, one of Edward's expelled Barons, and they began an open affair. Isabella and Roger managed to raise an army and invaded England in 1326, capturing and imprisoning Edward in Bristol Castle.

The people of Bristol wouldn't put up with Edward, so he was moved to Berkeley Castle3, a small castle in Gloucestershire, England, under cover of darkness in April 1327.

Many attempts were made to kill him without violence. At Berkeley he was thrown into a waste pit and forced to eat rotten food and drink foul water. Dead animals were even thrown into the pit, but he still did not die.

In September 1327, a Knight named Gurney joined Lord Maltravers as gaoler. They inserted a straight cow horn with the point removed into Edward's anus, then a red hot iron was pushed through the cow horn and into the body, burning out his entrails. This killed him while leaving no marks on his body, making it appear as if he had died of natural causes. The crime might have gone unnoticed if they had not murdered him in an outbuilding: as it was, his screams could be heard all over the village. When the crime was investigated, Thomas Berkeley produced an alibi that he was ill and staying five miles away at Wotton Under Edge. He was acquitted. In the 1600s, a historian found papers revealing that Thomas Berkeley did not attend Bradley Court, Wotton Under Edge until a week after Edward's murder. No one was ever found guilty, mainly due to Thomas Berkeley concealing Gurney and exiling him to Beverston.

Sir Richard Baker wrote about Edward I in A Chronicle to the Kings of England:

'His great unfortunateness was in his greatest blessing: for of four sons which he had by his Queen Eleanor, three of them died in his own lifetime, who were worthy to have outlived him; and the fourth outlived him, who was worthy never to have been born.'

In his dying moments, Edward II probably wished he had never been born too.

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1 As it so frequently did in those days, before the European Union made it possible for the countries to annoy one another almost as much without anyone having to die for one's country.
2 The Plantagenets are not famed for their originality in naming their children.
3 It is in a sleepy village and is still owned by the Berkeley family. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Edwin Prince of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 902 in , , Wessex, England. He died about 933. Parents: Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND.

Eleanor Princess of ENGLAND^6,46,130,335 was christened in 1162 in , Domfront, Normandie, France. She was born on 13 Oct 1162 in Domfront Castle, Normandy, France.¹⁸⁵ She died on 25 Oct 1214 in Las Huelgas, Burgos, Burgos, Spain.¹⁸⁵ She was buried in , Monasterio De Las Huelgas, Burgos, Spain. Parents: Henry II PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore Princess of AQUITAINE.

Spouse: Alfonso VIII King of CASTILE. Alfonso VIII King of CASTILE and Eleanor Princess of ENGLAND were married in Sep 1177 in Burgos Cathedral, Burgos, Spain.¹⁸⁵ Children were: Berengaria Queen of CASTILE, Blanche of CASTILE.

Eleanor Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born in 1215 in , Winchester, Hampshire, England. She died on 13 Apr 1275 in , Montargis, Loiret, France. She was buried in , Montargis, Loiret, France. ELEANOR OF ENGLAND XE “England, Eleanor of” , married (1st) WILLIAM MARSHALxe “Marshal”, 5th Earl of Pembrokexe “Pembroke”; (2nd) SIMON DE MONTFORTxe “Montfort”, Earl of Leicester. Parents: John Lackland PLANTAGENET King of England and Queen Isabella de Angoulême TAILLEFER.

Eleanor Princess of ENGLAND^6,46 was born in 1264 in Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. She died in 1298.⁵³⁷ She was buried in Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Middlesex, England. ELEANOR (or ÉLÉONORE) OF ENGLANDxe “England, Eleanor of & Henri III, Count of Bar”xe “Bar, Henri III, Count of & Eleanor of England”, born at Windsor Castle, Berkshire about 18 June 1269. She was contracted to marry ALFONSO III el Liberal, King of Aragónxe “Aragón, Alfonso III, King of”, Count of Barcelonaxe “Barcelona”, son and heir of Pedro III el Grande, King of Aragónxe “Aragón”, Count of Barcelonaxe “Barcelona”, King of Sicilyxe “Sicily”, by Constanza, daughter of Manfred, King of Sicilyxe “Sicily”. Alfonso III, King of Aragónxe “Aragón”, died prior to marriage at Barcelona 18 June 1291. She married at Bristol 20 Sept. 1293 HENRI III, Count of Bar, seigneur of Torcy in Brie, son and heir of Theobald II, Count of Barxe “Bar”, by his 2nd wife, Jeanne, daughter of Jean, seigneur of Toucyxe “Toucy”. He was born in 1259. They had one son, Édouard I [Count of Barxe “Bar”, seigneur of la Puisaye], and one daughter, Joan (wife of John de Warennexe “Warenne”, Knt., 8th Earl of Surreyxe “Surrey” [see WARENNE 6]). His wife, Eleanor, died at Ghent 29 August 1298. HENRI III, Count of Barxe “Bar”, died at Naples Sept. 1302. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Elfgifu Princess of ENGLAND^144,539,540 was born about 997 in , , Wessex, England. Parents: Ethelred II "The Unready" King of ENGLAND and Alfgifu (Aelflaed) Queen of ENGLAND.

Spouse: Alfgar III Earl of MERCIA. Children were: Lucia of MERCIA, Edwin Earl of MERCIA, Morcar Earl of NORTHUMBRIA, Burhheard, of MERCIA, Ealdgyth Queen of ENGLAND, Leverunia.

Elfleda Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 903 in , , Wessex, England. Parents: Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND.

Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND^46,144 was born about 878 in of, , Wessex, England. She died in 966/67.⁵³⁵

Spouse: Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND. Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND were married.¹⁴⁴ Children were: Edwin Prince of ENGLAND, Ethelwerd Or Elfwerd Prince of ENGLAND, Ogive of FRANCE, Ethile (Eadhilde) Princess of ENGLAND, Elfleda Princess of ENGLAND, Ethelhilda Princess of ENGLAND, Editha Princess of ENGLAND, Elgiva Princess of ENGLAND.

Elfridam (Alfthryth) Princess of ENGLAND^46,47 was born about 877 in of, , Wessex, England. She died on 7 Jun 929.⁵⁴¹ Parents: Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND and Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND.

Spouse: Baudouin II "the Bald" Count of FLANDERS. Baudouin II "the Bald" Count of FLANDERS and Elfridam (Alfthryth) Princess of ENGLAND were married about 884.⁵⁴¹ Children were: Arnoul I, Count of FLANDERS.

Elgiva Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 912 in , , , England. She died in 951.¹⁴⁴ Parents: Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND.

Spouse: Ebles II de POITIERS. Ebles II de POITIERS and Elgiva Princess of ENGLAND were married about 928 in , , , France. Children were: Guillaume III (I) Duke of AQUITAINE, Ebles Abbot of SAINT MARTIN.

Elizabeth Princess of ENGLAND^6,46 was born on 7 Aug 1282 in , Rhuddlan Castle, Flintshire, Wales.⁵³⁷ She died on 5 May 1316 in , Quendon, Essex, England.⁵³⁷ She was buried on 23 May 1316 in , Walden Abbey, Hartfordshire, England. Married 1st to John, Count of Holland and Zealand, Lord of Friesland. 2ndly to Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford and Essex. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Ethelfleda Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 869 in , , Wessex, England. She died on 12 Jun 918 in , St Peters, Gloucestershire, England. Parents: Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND and Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND.

Ethelgiva Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 875 in , , Wessex, England. Parents: Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND and Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND.

Ethelhilda Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 906 in , , Wessex, England. Parents: Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND.

Ethelred II "The Unready" King of ENGLAND^25,73,74 was born in 968 of Wessex, England.¹⁴⁴ He died on 23 Apr 1016 in London, Middlesex, England.⁵⁴² He was buried on 23 Apr 1016 in St. Paul's Cathedral, , England.¹⁴⁴

ETHELRED II 'THE UNREADY' (r. 979-1013 and 1014-1016)

Ethelred, the younger son of Edgar, became king at the age of seven following the murder of his half-brother Edward II in 978 at Corfe Castle, Dorset, by Edward's own supporters.

For the rest of Ethelred's rule (reigned 978-1016), his brother became a posthumous rallying point for political unrest; a hostile Church transformed Edward into a royal martyr. Known as the Un-raed or 'Unready' (meaning 'no counsel', or that he was unwise), Ethelred failed to win or retain the allegiance of many of his subjects. In 1002, he ordered the massacre of all Danes in England to eliminate potential treachery.

Not being an able soldier, Ethelred defended the country against increasingly rapacious Viking raids from the 980s onwards by diplomatic alliance with the duke of Normandy in 991 (he later married the duke's daughter Emma) and by buying off renewed attacks by the Danes with money levied through a tax called the Danegeld. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1006 was dismissive: 'in spite of it all, the Danish army went about as it pleased'. By 1012, 48,000 pounds of silver was being paid in Danegeld to Danes camped in London.

In 1013, Ethelred fled to Normandy when the powerful Viking Sweyn of Denmark dispossessed him. Ethelred returned to rule after Sweyn's death in 1014, but died himself in 1016. Parents: Edgar King of ENGLAND and Elfrida EALDORMAN.

Spouse: Alfgifu (Aelflaed) Queen of ENGLAND. Ethelred II "The Unready" King of ENGLAND and Alfgifu (Aelflaed) Queen of ENGLAND were married. Children were: Edmund II "Ironsides" King of ENGLAND, Elfgifu Princess of ENGLAND.

Ethelwerd Or Elfwerd Prince of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 900 in , , Wessex, England. He died about 924. Parents: Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND.

Ethelwerd Prince of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 879 in of, , Wessex, England. He died on 16 Oct 922. Parents: Alfred "The Great" King of ENGLAND and Ealhswith Queen of ENGLAND.

Ethile (Eadhilde) Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 908 in of, , Wessex, England. She died on 14 Sep 937 in , , , France. Parents: Edward I "The Elder" King of ENGLAND and Elfleda Queen of ENGLAND.

Geoffrey Prince of ENGLAND^6,46 was born on 23 Sep 1158 in , , , England. He died on 19 Aug 1186 in , Paris, France. He was buried in Notre Dame, Paris, , France. GEOFFREY OF ENGLAND, 4th son, born 23 Sept. 1158, in right of his wife, Duke of Brittanyxe “Brittany” and Earl of Richmondxe “Richmond”. He married about July 1181 by dispensation (they being related in the 3rd and 4th degrees of kindred) CONSTANCE OF BRITTANYxe “England, Geoffrey of & Constance of Brittany”xe “Brittany, Constance of & Geoffrey of England”, daughter and heiress of Conan IV le Petit, Duke of Brittanyxe “Brittany”, Earl of Richmondxe “Richmond”, by Margaret, daughter of Henry of Scotlandxe “Scotland”, Earl of Northumberlandxe “Northumberland”. She was born about 1161. They had three children (see below). In 1184 they founded a chaplaincy in Rouen Cathedral for the soul of his late brother, Henry. In 1185 they issued an assize regulating the succession of lands in Brittany. GEOFFREY, Duke of Brittanyxe “Brittany”, Earl of Richmondxe “Richmond”, was killed in a tournament at Paris 19 August 1186, and was buried there in the quire of Nôtre Dame Cathedral. His widow, Constance, married (2nd) 3 Feb. 1188 (or 1189) (as his 1st wife) RANULPH III, Earl of Chesterxe “Chester, Ranulph III, Earl of”, and, in right of his wife, Duke of Brittanyxe “Brittany” and Earl of Richmondxe “Richmond”, which marriage was annulled in 1199, presumably on grounds on consanguinity. They had no issue. She married (3rd) before Oct. 1199 (as his 1st wife) Guy de Thouars XE “Thouars, Guy de & Constance of Brittany” XE “Brittany, Constance of & Guy de Thouars” , in right of his 1st wife, Duke of Brittanyxe “Brittany”, Earl of Richmond, younger son of Geoffroi IV, Vicomte of Thouars. They had two daughters, Alice (wife of Pierre de Brainexe “Braine” (nicknamed Mauclerc), Knt., Duke of Brittanyxe “Brittany”, Earl of Richmondxe “Richmond”) and Katherine (wife of André III de Vitréxe “Vitré”, seigneur of Vitré). Constance, Duchess of Brittanyxe “Brittany”, died testate at Nantes 4 (or 5) Sept. 1201, and was eventually buried at Villeneuve. Guy de Thouars served as regent of Brittany on behalf of his daughter, Alice, from 1203 to 1213. He married (2nd) Eustache de Mauléonxe “Mauléon”, widow of Guillaume V, Vicomte of Aunay XE “Aunay” , and daughter of Pierre d'Argenton XE “Argenton” . They had two sons, Pierre [seigneur of Chemillé, Mortagne, and Brissac] and Thomas. In Oct. 1203 Guy was granted the castles of Chemillé and Brissac by King Philippe Auguste of France XE “France, Philippe Auguste, King of” . In 1204 he led the Breton invasion of southern Normandy. He died at Chemillé 13 April 1213, and was eventually buried at Villeneuve. His widow, Eustache, married (3rd) Renaud de Maulèvrier XE “Maulèvrier” . She was living in 1244. Parents: Henry II PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore Princess of AQUITAINE.

Gundred Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 1063 in , , Normandie, France. She died on 27 May 1085 in Castle Acre, Acre, Norfolk, England. She was buried in Priory, Lewes, Sussex, England. Parents: Guillaume I "Le Conquberant" de NORMANDIE and Matilda Countess of Flanders Queen of ENGLAND.

Henry I "Beauclerc" King of ENGLAND^{46,131,149,382,543,544} was born in 1070 in Selby, Yorkshire, England.¹³² He was christened on 5 Aug 1100 in , Selby, Yorkshire, England. He was Crowned on 6 Aug 1100 at Westminster Abbey, London, England He died on 1 Dec 1135 in St Denis-le-Fermont, Near Gisors, France.^132,545,546 He was buried on 4 Jan 1136 in Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire, England.

HENRY I (r. 1100-1135)

William's younger brother Henry succeeded to the throne. He was crowned three days after his brother's death, against the possibility that his eldest brother Robert might claim the English throne. After the decisive battle of Tinchebrai in 1106 in France, Henry completed his conquest of Normandy from Robert, who then (unusually even for that time) spent the last 28 years of his life as his brother's prisoner. An energetic, decisive and occasionally cruel ruler, Henry centralised the administration of England and Normandy in the royal court, using 'viceroys' in Normandy and a group of advisers in England to act on his behalf when he was absent across the Channel. Henry successfully sought to increase royal revenues, as shown by the official records of his exchequer (the Pipe Roll of 1130, the first exchequer account to survive). He established peaceful relations with Scotland, through his marriage to Mathilda of Scotland.

Henry's name 'Beauclerc' denoted his good education (as the youngest son, his parents possibly expected that he would become a bishop); Henry was probably the first Norman king to be fluent in English. In 1120, his legitimate sons William and Richard drowned in the White Ship which sank in the English Channel. This posed a succession problem, as Henry never allowed any of his illegitimate children to expect succession to either England or Normandy. Henry had a legitimate daughter Matilda (widow of Emperor Henry V, subsequently married to the Count of Anjou). However, it was his nephew Stephen (reigned 1135-54), son of William the Conqueror's daughter Adela, who succeeded Henry after his death, allegedly caused by eating too many lampreys (fish) in 1135, as the barons mostly opposed the idea of a female ruler.

Dickens, Charles
Chapter X. England Under Henry The First, Called Fine-Scholar.

Fine-Scholar, on hearing of the Red King's death, hurried to Winchester with as much speed as Rufus himself had made, to seize the royal treasure. But the keeper of the treasure, who had been one of the hunting-party in the forest, made haste to Winchester too, and, arriving there at about the same time, refused to yield it up. Upon this, Fine-Scholar drew his sword, and threatened to kill the treasurer; who might have paid for his fidelity with his life, but that he knew longer resistance to be useless, when he found the prince supported by a company of powerful barons, who declared they were determined to make him king. The treasurer, therefore, gave up the money, and jewels of the crown; and on the third day after the death of the Red King, being a Sunday, Fine-Scholar stood before the high altar in Westminster Abbey, and made a solemn declaration, that he would resign the Church property which his brother had seized; that he would do no wrong to the nobles; and that he would restore to the people the laws of Edward the Confessor, with all the improvements of William the Conqueror. So began the reign of King Henry the First.

The people were attached to their new king, both because he had known distresses, and because he was an Englishman by birth, and not a Norman. To strengthen this last hold upon them, the king wished to marry an English lady; and could think of no other wife than Maud the Good, the daughter of the king of Scotland. Although this good princess did not love the king, she was so affected by the representations the nobles made to her of the great charity it would be in her to unite the Norman and Saxon races, and prevent hatred and bloodshed between them for the future, that she consented to become his wife. After some disputing among the priests, who said that as she had been in a convent in her youth, and had worn the veil of a nun, she could not lawfully be married, - against which the princess stated that her aunt, with whom she had lived in her youth, had indeed sometimes thrown a piece of black stuff over her, but for no other reason than because the nun's veil was the only dress the conquering Normans respected in girl or woman, and not because she had taken the vows of a nun, which she never had, - she was declared free to marry, and was made King Henry's queen. A good queen she was, - beautiful, kind-hearted, and worthy of a better husband than the king.

For he was a cunning and unscrupulous man, though firm and clever. He cared very little for his word, and took any means to gain his ends. All this is shown in his treatment of his brother Robert, - Robert, who had suffered him to be refreshed with water, and who had sent him the wine from his own table, when he was shut up, with the crows flying below him, parched with thirst, in the castle on the top of St. Michael's Mount, where his Red brother would have let him die.

Before the king began to deal with Robert, he removed and disgraced all the favorites of the late king; who were for the most part base characters, much detested by the people. Flambard, or Firebrand, whom the late king had made Bishop of Durham, of all things in the world, Henry imprisoned in the Tower; but Firebrand was a great joker and a jolly companion, and made himself so popular with his guards, that they pretended to know nothing about a long rope that was sent into his prison at the bottom of a deep flagon of wine. The guards took the wine, and Firebrand took the rope; with which, when they were fast asleep, he let himself down from a window in the night, and so got cleverly aboard ship and away to Normandy.

Now Robert, when his brother Fine-Scholar came to the throne, was still absent in the Holy Land. Henry pretended that Robert had been made sovereign of that country, and he had been away so long, that the ignorant people believed it. But, behold, when Henry had been some time king of England, Robert came home to Normandy! having leisurely returned from Jerusalem through Italy, in which beautiful country he had enjoyed himself very much, and had married a lady as beautiful as itself. In Normandy, he found Firebrand waiting to urge him to assert his claim to the English crown, and declare war against King Henry. This, after great loss of time in feasting and dancing with his beautiful Italian wife among his Norman friends, he at last did.

The English in general were on King Henry's side, though many of the Normans were on Robert's. But the English sailors deserted the king, and took a great part of the English fleet over to Normandy; so that Robert came to invade this country in no foreign vessels, but in English ships. The virtuous Anselm, however, whom Henry had invited back from abroad, and made Archbishop of Canterbury, was steadfast in the king's cause; and it was so well supported, that the two armies, instead of fighting, made a peace. Poor Robert, who trusted anybody and everybody, readily trusted his brother, the king; and agreed to go home and receive a pension from England, on condition that all his followers were fully pardoned. This the king very faithfully promised; but Robert was no sooner gone than he began to punish them.

Among them was the Earl of Shrewsbury, who, on being summoned by the king to answer to five-and-forty accusations, rode away to one of his strong castles, shut himself up therein, called around him his tenants and vassals, and fought for his liberty, but was defeated and banished. Robert, with all his faults, was so true to his word, that, when he first heard of this nobleman having risen against his brother, he laid waste the Earl of Shrewsbury's estates in Normandy to show the king that he would favor no breach of their treaty. Finding, on better information, afterwards, that the earl's only crime was having been his friend, he came over to England, in his old thoughtless, warm-hearted way, to intercede with the king, and remind him of the solemn promise to pardon all his followers.

This confidence might have put the false king to the blush, but it did not. Pretending to be very friendly, he so surrounded his brother with spies and traps, that Robert, who was quite in his power, had nothing for it but to renounce his pension, and escape while he could. Getting home to Normandy, and understanding the king better now, he naturally allied himself with his old friend the Earl of Shrewsbury, who had still thirty castles in that country. This was exactly what Henry wanted. He immediately declared that Robert had broken the treaty, and next year invaded Normandy.

He pretended that he came to deliver the Normans, at their own request, from his brother's misrule. There is reason to fear that his misrule was bad enough; for his beautiful wife had died, leaving him with an infant son; and his court was again so careless, dissipated, and ill-regulated, that it was said he sometimes lay in bed of a day for want of clothes to put on, - his attendants having stolen all his dresses. But he headed his army like a brave prince and a gallant soldier, though he had the misfortune to be taken prisoner by King Henry, with four hundred of his knights. Among them was poor harmless Edgar Atheling, who loved Robert well. Edgar was not important enough to be severe with. The king afterwards gave him a small pension, which he lived upon and died upon in peace, among the quiet woods and fields of England.

And Robert, - poor, kind, generous, wasteful, heedless Robert, with so many faults, and yet with virtues that might have made a better and a happier man, - what was the end of him? If the king had had the magnanimity to say with a kind air, "Brother, tell me, before these noblemen, that from this time you will be my faithful follower and friend, and never raise your hand against me or my forces more," he might have trusted Robert to the death. But the king was not a magnanimous man. He sentenced his brother to be confined for life in one of the royal castles. In the beginning of his imprisonment he was allowed to ride out, guarded; but he one day broke away from his guard and galloped off. He had the evil fortune to ride into a swamp, where his horse stuck fast and he was taken. When the king heard of it he ordered him to be blinded, which was done by putting a red-hot metal basin on his eyes.

And so, in darkness and in prison many years, he thought of all his past life, - of the time he had wasted, of the treasure he had squandered, of the opportunities he had lost, of the youth he had thrown away, of the talents he had neglected. Sometimes, on fine autumn mornings, he would sit and think of the old hunting-parties in the free forest, where he had been the foremost and the gayest. Sometimes, in the still nights, he would wake, and mourn for the many nights that had stolen past him at the gaming-table; sometimes would seem to hear, upon the melancholy wind, the old songs of the minstrels; sometimes would dream, in his blindness, of the light and glitter of the Norman court. Many and many a time, he groped back, in his fancy, to Jerusalem, where he had fought so well; or, at the head of his brave companions, bowed his feathered helmet to the shouts of welcome greeting him in Italy, and seemed again to walk among the sunny vineyards, or on the shore of the blue sea, with his lovely wife. And then, thinking of her grave, and of his fatherless boy, he would stretch out his solitary arms and weep.

At length, one day, there lay in prison, dead, with cruel and disfiguring scars upon his eyelids, bandaged from his jailer's sight, but on which the eternal heavens looked down, a worn old man of eighty. He had once been Robert of Normandy. Pity him!

At the time when Robert of Normandy was taken prisoner by his brother, Robert's little son was only five years old. This child was taken too, and carried before the king, sobbing and crying; for, young as he was, he knew he had good reason to be afraid of his royal uncle. The king was not much accustomed to pity those who were in his power, but his cold heart seemed for the moment to soften towards the boy. He was observed to make a great effort, as if to prevent himself from being cruel, and ordered the child to be taken away; whereupon a certain baron, who had married a daughter of Duke Robert's (by name, Helie of Saint Saen), took charge of him tenderly. The king's gentleness did not last long. Before two years were over, he sent messengers to this lord's castle to seize the child and bring him away. The baron was not there at the time; but his servants were faithful, and carried the boy off in his sleep and hid him. When the baron came home, and was told what the king had done, he took the child abroad, and, leading him by the hand, went from king to king, and from court to court, relating how the child had a claim to the throne of England, and how his uncle the king, knowing that he had had that claim, would have murdered him, perhaps, but for his escape.

The youth and innocence of the pretty little William Fitz-Robert (for that was his name) made him many friends at that time. When he became a young man, the King of France, uniting with the French Counts of Anjou and Flanders, supported his cause against the King of England, and took many of the king's towns and castles in Normandy. But King Henry, artful and cunning always, bribed some of William's friends with money, some with promises, some with power. He bought off the Count of Anjou, by promising to marry his eldest son, also named William, to the count's daughter; and indeed the whole trust of this king's life was in such bargains; and he believed (as many another king has done since, and as one king did in France a very little time ago) that every man's truth and honor can be bought at some price. For all this, he was so afraid of William Fitz-Robert and his friends, that for a long time he believed his life to be in danger; and never lay down to sleep, even in his palace, surrounded by his guards, without having a sword and buckler at his bedside.

To strengthen his power, the king with great ceremony betrothed his eldest daughter, Matilda, then a child only eight years old, to be the wife of Henry the Fifth, the Emperor of Germany. To raise her marriage-portion, he taxed the English people in a most oppressive manner; then treated them to a great procession, to restore their good humor; and sent Matilda away, in fine state, with the German ambassadors, to be educated in the country of her future husband.

And now his queen, Maud the Good, unhappily died. It was a sad thought for that gentle lady, that the only hope with which she had married a man whom she had never loved, - the hope of reconciling the Norman and English races - had failed. At the very time of her death, Normandy and all France was in arms against England; for, so soon as his last danger was over, King Henry had been false to all the French powers he had promised, bribed, and bought, and they had naturally united against him. After some fighting, however, in which few suffered but the unhappy common people (who always suffered, whatsoever was the matter), he began to promise, bribe, and buy again; and by those means, and by the help of the pope, who exerted himself to save more bloodshed, and by solemnly declaring, over and over again, that he really was in earnest this time, and would keep his word, the king made peace.

One of the first consequences of this peace was, that the king went over to Normandy with his son Prince William and a great retinue, to have the prince acknowledged as his successor by the Norman nobles, and to contract the promised marriage (this was one of the many promises the king had broken) between him and the daughter of the Count of Anjou. Both these things were triumphantly done, with great show and rejoicing; and, on the 25th of November, in the year 1120, the whole retinue prepared to embark at the Port of Barfleur, for the voyage home.

On that day, and at that place, there came to the king, Fitz-Stephen, a sea-captain, and said, -

"My liege, my father served your father all his life, upon the sea. He steered the ship, with the golden boy upon the prow, in which your father sailed to conquer England. I beseech you to grant me the same office. I have a fair vessel in the harbor here, called 'The White Ship,' manned by fifty sailors of renown. I pray you, sire, to let your servant have the honor of steering you in 'The White Ship' to England!"

"I am sorry, friend," replied the king, "that my vessel is already chosen, and that I cannot (therefore) sail with the son of the man who served my father. But the prince and all his company shall go along with you, in the fair 'White Ship,' manned by the fifty sailors of renown."

An hour or two afterwards, the king set sail in the vessel he had chosen, accompanied by other vessels, and, sailing all night with a fair and gentle wind, arrived upon the coast of England in the morning. While it was yet night, the people in some of those ships heard a faint wild cry come over the sea, and wondered what it was.

Now the prince was a dissolute, debauched young man of eighteen, who bore no love to the English, and had declared that when he came to the throne he would yoke them to the plough like oxen. He went aboard "The White Ship," with one hundred and forty youthful nobles like himself, among whom were eighteen noble ladies of the highest rank. All this gay company, with their servants and the fifty sailors, made three hundred souls aboard the fair "White Ship."

"Give three casks of wine, Fitz-Stephen," said the prince, "to the fifty sailors of renown. My father, the king, has sailed out of the harbor. What time is there to make merry here, and yet reach England with the rest?"

"Prince," said Fitz-Stephen, "before morning my fifty and 'The White Ship' shall overtake the swiftest vessel in attendance on your father, the king, if we sail at midnight!"

Then the prince commanded to make merry; and the sailors drank out the three casks of wine, and the prince and all the noble company danced in the moonlight on the deck of "The White Ship."

When, at last, she shot out of the harbor of Barfleur, there was not a sober seaman on board. But the sails were all set, and the oars all going merrily. Fitz-Stephen had the helm. The gay young nobles and the beautiful ladies, wrapped in mantles of various bright colors to protect them from the cold, talked, laughed, and sang. The prince encouraged the fifty sailors to row harder yet, for the honor of "The White Ship."

Crash! A terrific cry broke from three hundred hearts. It was the cry the people in the distant vessels of the king heard faintly on the water. "The White Ship" had struck upon a rock, - was filling, - going down!

Fitz-Stephen hurried the prince into a boat, with some few nobles. "Push off," he whispered, "and row to the land. It is not so far, and the sea is smooth. The rest of us must die."

But as they rowed away fast from the sinking ship, the prince heard the voice of his sister Marie, the countess of Perche, calling for help. He never in his life had been so good as he was then. He cried in an agony, "Row back at any risk! I cannot bear to leave her!"

They rowed back. As the prince held out his arms to catch his sister, such numbers leaped in, that the boat was overset. And in the same instant "The White Ship" went down.

Only two men floated. They both clung to the mainyard of the ship, which had broken from the mast and now supported them. One asked the other who he was? He said, "I am a nobleman, Godrey by name, the son of Gilbert de l'Aigle. And you?" said he. "I am Berold, a poor butcher of Rouen," was the answer. Then they said together, "Lord, be merciful to us both!" and tried to encourage one another, as they drifted in the cold benumbing sea on that unfortunate November night.

By and by, another man came swimming towards them, whom they knew, when he pushed aside his long wet hair, to be Fitz-Stephen. "Where is the prince?" said he. "Gone, gone!" the two cried together. "Neither he, nor his brother, nor his sister, nor the king's niece, nor her brother, nor any one of all the brave three hundred, noble or commoner, except we three, has risen above the water!" Fitz-Stephen, with a ghastly face, cried, "Woe! woe to me!" and sunk to the bottom.

The other two clung to the yard for some hours. At length the young noble said faintly, "I am exhausted, and chilled with the cold, and can hold no longer. Farewell, good friend! God preserve you!" So he dropped and sunk; and, of all the brilliant crowd, the poor butcher of Rouen alone was saved. In the morning, some fishermen saw him floating in his sheep-skin coat, and got him into their boat, - the sole relater of the dismal tale.

For three days, no one dared to carry the intelligence to the king. At length they sent into his presence a little boy, who, weeping bitterly, and kneeling at his feet, told him that "The White Ship" was lost with all on board. The king fell to the ground like a dead man, and never, never afterwards was seen to smile.

But he plotted again, and promised again, and bribed and bought again, in his old deceitful way. Having no son to succeed him, after all his pains ("The prince will never yoke us to the plough now!" said the English people), he took a second wife, - Adelais, or Alice, a duke's daughter, and the pope's niece. Having no more children, however, he proposed to the barons to swear that they would recognize as his successor his daughter Matilda, whom, as she was now a widow, he married to the eldest son of the Count of Anjou, Geoffrey, surnamed Plantagenet, from a custom he had of wearing a sprig of flowering broom (called genet in French) in his cap for a feather. As one false man usually makes many, and as a false king, in particular, is pretty certain to make a false court, the barons took the oath about the succession of Matilda (and her children after her) twice over, without in the least intending to keep it. The king was now relieved from any remaining fears of William Fitz-Robert, by his death in the Monastery of St. Omer, in France, at twenty-six years old, of a pike-wound in the hand. And, as Matilda gave birth to three sons, he thought the succession to the throne secure.

He spent most of the latter part of his life, which was troubled by family quarrels, in Normandy, to be near Matilda. When he had reigned upwards of thirty-five years, and was sixty-seven years old, he died of an indigestion and fever, brought on by eating, when he was far from well, of a fish called lamprey, against which he had often been cautioned by his physicians. His remains were brought over to Reading Abbey, to be buried.

You may perhaps hear the cunning and promise-breaking of King Henry the First, called "policy" by some people, and "diplomacy" by others. Neither of these fine words will in the least mean that it was true; and nothing that is not true can possibly be good.

His greatest merit, that I know of, was his love of learning. I should have given him greater credit even for that, if it had been strong enough to induce him to spare the eyes of a certain poet he once took prisoner, who was a knight besides. But he ordered the poet's eyes to be torn from his head, because he had laughed at him in his verses; and the poet, in the pain of that torture, dashed out his own brains against his prison wall. King Henry the First, was avaricious, revengeful, and so false that I suppose a man never lived whose word was less to be relied upon.

Copyright © 1994 Bureau of Electronic Publishing Parents: Guillaume I "Le Conquberant" de NORMANDIE and Matilda Countess of Flanders Queen of ENGLAND.

Spouse: Matilda "Atheling" Caennmor Princess of SCOTLAND. Henry I "Beauclerc" King of ENGLAND and Matilda "Atheling" Caennmor Princess of SCOTLAND were married on 11 Nov 1100 in Westminster Abbey, London, England.^545,547 Children were: Son Prince of ENGLAND, William "Atheling" Prince of ENGLAND, Matilda (Maud) Empress of GERMANY Lady of the English, Richard Prince of ENGLAND.

Henry Prince of ENGLAND^6,46 was born on 28 Mar 1155 in Bermandsey Palace, London, England. He died on 11 Jun 1183 in Chcateau De Mortel, Turenne, Aquitaine, France. He was buried in , , Rouen, Normandie, France. HENRY OF ENGLAND (styled “the Young King”)xe “England, Henry, King of & Margaret of France”xe “France, Margaret of & Henry, King of England”, born at Bermondsey, Surrey 28 Feb. 1155, Duke of Normandyxe “Normandy”, Count of Anjouxe “Anjou” and Mainexe “Maine”, crowned joint King of England 14 June 1170. He married at Neubourg in Normandy 2 Nov. 1160 MARGARET (or MARGUERITE) OF FRANCExe “France”, 1st daughter of Louis VII le Jeune (or le Pieux), King of Francexe “France”, by his 2nd wife, Constance, daughter of Alfonso VIII, King of Castilexe “Castile” and Leónxe “León”. They had one son, William, born 19 June 1177, died in a few days. He was recrowned together with his queen in 1172. He rebelled in 1173-74 and again in 1183. HENRY OF ENGLANDxe “England”, joint King of England (with his father), died at Château Martel in Touraine 11 June 1183, and was buried in Rouen Cathedral. His widow, Margaret, married (2nd) shortly after 24 August 1186 (as his 4th wife) Bela III, King of Hungaryxe “Hungary”, Dalmatiaxe “Dalmatia”, Croatiaxe “Croatia”, and Rama XE “Rama” , son of Geza II, King of Hungary. They had no issue. Bela III, King of Hungary, died 23 April 1196, and was buried at Székesfehervar. Following her husband Bela III's death, Margaret made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She died at Acre shortly after 10 Sept. 1197. Parents: Henry II PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore Princess of AQUITAINE.

Henry Prince of ENGLAND^6,46 was born about 1258 in of, Westminster, Middlesex, England. He died in Died Young, Westminster, Middlesex, England. He was buried in , Westminster, Middlesex, England. Parents: Henry III PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore (Lbeonor) Countess of PROVENCE.

Henry Prince of ENGLAND^46,537 was born in 1267/68 in Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. He died about 14 Oct 1274. He was buried on 20 Oct 1274. Died young. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Isabel Princess of ENGLAND^6,46 was born in 1214 in of, Winchester, Hampshire, England. She died on 1 Dec 1241 in , Foggia, Apulia, Italy. She was buried in Andria, Bari, Apulia, Italy. ISABEL OF ENGLANDxe “England, Isabel of & Frederick II, Emperor of the Romans”xe “Frederick II, Emperor of the Romans & Isabel of England”, born at Gloucester 1214. She married at Worms 15 or 20 July 1235 (as his 4th wife) FREDERICK (or FRIEDRICH) II, Emperor of the Romans, King of Jerusalemxe “Jerusalem” and Sicilyxe “Sicily”, Duke of Apulia XE “Apulia” , Prince of Capua XE “Capua” , son and heir of Heinrich VI, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Sicilyxe “Sicily”, by Constance, daughter of Roger II, King of Sicilyxe “Sicily”. He was born at Iesi 26 Dec. 1194. They had four children, including two sons,Heinrich and Frederick (or Friedrich), and one daughter, Margarethe (wife of Albrecht II, Margrave of Meissen, Landgrave of Thüringen). Isabel died in childbirth at Foggia 1 Dec. 1241, and was buried at Andria Cathedral. Emperor FREDERICK II died at Fiorentino Castle in Lucera 13 Dec. 1250. Their daughter, Margarethe, is a remote ancestress of the house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Parents: John Lackland PLANTAGENET King of England and Queen Isabella de Angoulême TAILLEFER.

Isabel Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born about 1274 in of, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Joan Princess of ENGLAND^6,46 was born in 1265 in Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. She was buried on 7 Sep 1265 in Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. Parents: Edward I Longshanks PLANTAGENET King Of England and Leonor Princess of CASTILE AND LEÓN.

Joane Princess of ENGLAND^6,46 was born on 22 Jul 1210 in , Coucy, Alsne, France. She died on 4 Mar 1237/38 in , London, Middlesex, England. She was buried in Tarrant, Keynstan, Dorsetshire, England. JOAN OF ENGLANDxe “England, Joan of & Alexander II, King of Scotland”xe “Scotland, Alexander II, King of Scotland & Joan of England”, born at Gloucester 22 July 1210. In 1214 she was contracted to marry Geoffrey de Lusignan XE “Lusignan” , son of Hugh de Lusignan, Count of la Marche, which marriage did not take place. She married at York, Yorkshire 19 June 1221 (as his 1st wife) ALEXANDER II, King of Scotlandxe “Scotland”, Knt., son and heir of William the Lion, King of Scotlandxe “Scotland, William the Lion, King of”, by Ermengarde, daughter of Richard, Vicomte of Beaumontxe “Beaumont” and Sainte-Suzannexe “Sainte-Suzanne”. He was born at Haddington, East Lothian 24 August 1198. They had no issue. He was crowned at Scone 6 Dec. 1214. Joan died at York, Yorkshire 4 March 1237/8, buried at Tarrant Keynstan, Dorset. Alexander II married (2nd) 15 May 1239 Mary de Coucyxe “Coucy, Marie de”, 2nd daughter of Enguerrand III de Coucyxe “Coucy, Enguerrand de”, seigneur of Coucy. They had one son, Alexander (III) [King of Scotlandxe “Scotland”]. Alexander II, King of Scotlandxe “Scotland”, died at Kerrera in the bay of Oban 8 July 1249, and was buried at Melrose Abbey. Parents: John Lackland PLANTAGENET King of England and Queen Isabella de Angoulême TAILLEFER.

Joanna Princess of ENGLAND⁴⁶ was born in Oct 1164/65 in , Angers, France. She died on 4 Sep 1199 in , , Rouen, Normandie, France. She was buried in , Fontevrault L'ab, , France. JOAN (or JEANNE) OF ENGLANDxe “England, Joan of & William II, King of Sicily”xe “Sicily, William II, King of & Joan of England”, born at Angers Oct. 1165. She married (1st) at Palermo 13 Feb. 1177 WILLIAM (or GUGLIELMO) II le Bon, King of Sicilyxe “Sicily”, Duke of Apuliaxe “Apulia”, Prince of Capuaxe “Capua”, son of William I, King of Sicilyxe “Sicily”, Duke of Apuliaxe “Apulia”, by Margaret, daughter of García VI Ramirezxe “Ramirez”, King of Navarrexe “Navarre”. They had one son, Bohemond [Duke of Apuliaxe “Apulia”]. WILLIAM II, King of Sicilyxe “Sicily”, died at Palermo 18 Nov. 1189. His widow, Joan, married (2nd) at Rouen, Normandy Oct. 1196 (as his 4th wife) RAYMOND VI XE “Toulouse, Raymond VI, Count of & Joan of England” XE “England, Joan of & Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse” , Duke of Narbonnexe “Narbonne”, Count of Toulouse, Marquis of Provencexe “Provence”, son of Raymond V, Count of Toulousexe “Toulouse”, Duke of Narbonne, Marquis of Provence, by [Queen] Constance, Countess of St. Gilles, daughter of Louis VI, King of Francexe “France”. They had one son, Raymond VII [Count of Toulousexe “Toulouse”, Marquis of Provencexe “Provence”], and one child who died at birth. JOAN, Queen of Sicilyxe “Sicily”, Duchess of Narbonnexe “Narbonne”, etc., died testate at Rouen 24 Sept. 1199. RAYMOND VI, Duke of Narbonnexe “Narbonne”, Count of Toulouse, etc., died testate 2 August 1222. No living descendants. Parents: Henry II PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore Princess of AQUITAINE.

John Prince of ENGLAND^6,46 was born about 1250 in of, Westminster, Middlesex, England. He died before 1256 in , Westminster, Middlesex, England. He was buried in , Westminster, Middlesex, England. Parents: Henry III PLANTAGENET King of England and Elbeonore (Lbeonor) Countess of PROVENCE.