Synopses & Reviews
Henry I, son of William the Conqueror, ruled from 1100 to 1135, a time of fundamental change in the Anglo-Norman world. This long-awaited biography, written by one of the most distinguished medievalists of his generation, offers a major reassessment of Henryand#8217;s character and reign. Challenging the dark and dated portrait of the king as brutal, greedy, and repressive, it argues instead that Henryand#8217;s rule was based on reason and order.
C. Warren Hollister points out that Henry laid the foundations for judicial and financial institutions usually attributed to his grandson, Henry II. Royal government was centralized and systematized, leading to firm, stable, and peaceful rule for his subjects in both England and Normandy. By mid-reign Henry I was the most powerful king in Western Europe, and with astute diplomacy, an intelligence network, and strategic marriages of his children (legitimate and illegitimate), he was able to undermine the various coalitions mounted against him. Henry strove throughout his reign to solidify the Anglo-Norman dynasty, and his marriage linked the Normans to the Old English line.
Hollister vividly describes Henryand#8217;s life and reign, places them against the political background of the time, and provides analytical studies of the king and his magnates, the royal administration, and relations between king and church. The resulting volume is one that will be welcomed by students and general readers alike.
Synopsis
This vivid and authoritative biography of Henry I was edited and completed by Amanda Clark Frost after Hollister's death in 1997. This biography presents a major reassessment of Henry's character, challenging previous interpretations, and places the history of his reign within the political setting of the day. The king, magnates, royal administration, his relationship with the church, diplomacy, the role of his family, most notably the marriages of his children, are all discussed.
About the Author
C. Warren Hollister was professor of history emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara before his death in 1997.