Editing Henry I of England (section)

=== Conquest of Normandy, 1103–1106 ===
[[File:Tinchebray 01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The village of [[Tinchebray]] in [[Normandy]] in 2008; the site of the [[Battle of Tinchebray]] in 1106]]

Henry's network of allies in Normandy became stronger during 1103.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|pp=74–77}}</ref> He arranged the marriages of his illegitimate daughters [[Juliane de Fontevrault|Juliane]] and [[Matilda FitzRoy, Countess of Perche|Matilda]] to Eustace of Breteuil and [[Rotrou III, Count of Perche]], respectively, the latter union securing the Norman border.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=178–179}}</ref> Henry attempted to win over other members of the Norman nobility and gave other English estates and lucrative offers to key Norman lords.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=182–183}}</ref> Duke Robert continued to fight Robert of Bellême, but the Duke's position worsened, until by 1104, he had to ally himself formally with Bellême to survive.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=183–184}}</ref> Arguing that the Duke had broken the terms of their treaty, the King crossed over the Channel to Domfront, where he met with senior barons from across Normandy, eager to ally themselves with him.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=184}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=78}}</ref> He confronted the Duke and accused him of siding with his enemies, before returning to England.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|pp=80–81}}</ref>

Normandy continued to disintegrate into chaos.<ref name=Hollister2003P185>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=185}}</ref> In 1105, Henry sent his friend Robert Fitzhamon and a force of knights into the Duchy, apparently to provoke a confrontation with Duke Robert.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=184–185}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=82}}</ref> Fitzhamon was captured, and Henry used this as an excuse to invade, promising to restore peace and order.<ref name=Hollister2003P185/> Henry had the support of most of the neighbouring counts around Normandy's borders, and King Philip of France was persuaded to remain neutral.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=186}}</ref> Henry occupied western Normandy, and advanced east on Bayeux, where Fitzhamon was held.<ref name=Hollister2003P188>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=188}}</ref> The city refused to surrender, and Henry besieged it, burning it to the ground.<ref name=Hollister2003P188/> Terrified of meeting the same fate, the town of Caen switched sides and surrendered, allowing Henry to advance on [[Falaise, Calvados]], which he took with some casualties.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=188–189}}</ref> His campaign stalled, and the King instead began peace discussions with Robert.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=189–190}}</ref> The negotiations were inconclusive and the fighting dragged on until Christmas, when Henry returned to England.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=190}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=85}}</ref>

Henry invaded again in July 1106, hoping to provoke a decisive battle.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=198}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|pp=88–89}}</ref> After some initial tactical successes, he turned south-west towards the castle of [[Tinchebray]].<ref name=Hollister203P199>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=199}}</ref> He besieged the castle and Duke Robert, supported by Robert of Bellême, advanced from Falaise to relieve it.<ref name=Hollister203P199/> After attempts at negotiation failed, the [[Battle of Tinchebray]] took place, probably on 28 September.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=199–200}}</ref>{{refn|Contemporary chroniclers provided several possible dates for the battle, suggesting either 27, 28 or 29 September. Modern historians more commonly use 28 September, although historian Judith Green is less certain.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|p=93}}; {{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=199–200}}</ref>|group=nb}} The battle lasted around an hour, and began with a charge by Duke Robert's cavalry; the infantry and dismounted knights of both sides then joined the battle.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=199–201}}</ref> Henry's reserves, led by [[Elias I, Count of Maine]], and [[Alan IV, Duke of Brittany]], attacked the enemy's flanks, routing first Bellême's troops and then the bulk of the ducal forces.<ref name=Hollister2003P201>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=201}}</ref> Duke Robert was taken prisoner, but Bellême escaped.<ref name=Hollister2003P201/>

Henry mopped up the remaining resistance in Normandy, and Duke Robert ordered his last garrisons to surrender.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=204–207}}</ref> Reaching Rouen, Henry reaffirmed the laws and customs of Normandy and took homage from the leading barons and citizens.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=207}}</ref> The lesser prisoners taken at Tinchebray were released, but the Duke and several other leading nobles were imprisoned indefinitely.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=205}}</ref> The Duke's son, [[William Clito]], was only three years old and was released to the care of [[Helias of Saint-Saens]], a Norman baron.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=206}}</ref> Henry reconciled himself with Robert of Bellême, who gave up the ducal lands he had seized and rejoined the royal court.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=208–209}}</ref> Henry had no way of legally removing the Duchy from his brother, and initially Henry avoided using the title "duke" at all, emphasising that, as the king of England, he was only acting as the guardian of the troubled Duchy.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|p=96}}; {{harvnb|Green|2003|p=64}}</ref>