Editing Henry I of England (section)

=== Childhood and appearance, 1068–1086 ===
Henry was probably born in England in 1068, in either the summer or the last weeks of the year, possibly in the town of [[Selby]] in [[Yorkshire]].<ref name=HollisterGreenP20>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=30–31}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=20}}</ref>{{refn|The dating of Henry's birth depends on comparing chronicler accounts and the travels of his parents William and Matilda; these give only limited periods in which Henry could have been conceived and born. Historian Warren Hollister prefers the summer of 1068, Judith Green the end of the year, although it is just possible that Henry could have been born in early 1069. The possible birthplace of Selby is based upon a local tradition.<ref name=HollisterGreenP20/>|group=nb}} His father was [[William the Conqueror]], the [[duke of Normandy]] who had [[Norman Conquest|invaded England in 1066]] to become the [[king of England]], establishing lands stretching into [[Wales]]. The invasion had created an Anglo-Norman [[ruling class]], many with estates on both sides of the [[English Channel]].<ref>{{harvnb|Newman|1988|pp=21–22}}; {{harvnb|Carpenter|2004|pp=125–126}}</ref> These Anglo-Norman barons typically had close links to the [[Kingdom of France]], which was then a loose collection of counties and smaller polities, only nominally under control of the king.<ref>{{harvnb|Hallam|Everard|2001|pp=62–64, 114–118}}</ref> Henry's mother, [[Matilda of Flanders]], was the granddaughter of King [[Robert II of France]], and she probably named Henry after her uncle [[Henry I of France]].<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=32, 40}}</ref>

Henry was the youngest of William and Matilda's four sons. Physically he resembled his older brothers [[Robert Curthose]], [[Richard (son of William the Conqueror)|Richard]] and [[William Rufus]], being, as historian David Carpenter describes, "short, stocky and barrel-chested," with black hair.<ref>{{harvnb|Carpenter|2004|p=128}}</ref> As a result of their age differences and Richard's early death, Henry would have probably seen relatively little of his older brothers.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|p=21}}</ref> He probably knew his sister [[Adela of Normandy|Adela]] well, as the two were close in age.<ref>{{harvnb|Newman|1988|p=54}}</ref> There is little documentary evidence for his early years; historians [[Warren Hollister]] and Kathleen Thompson suggest he was brought up predominantly in England, while [[Judith Green (historian)|Judith Green]] argues he was initially brought up in the Duchy.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=35}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=21}}; {{harvnb|Thompson|2007|pp=16–17}}.</ref>{{refn|The chronicler Orderic Vitalis describes a colourful quarrel that is said to have occurred between Henry and his brothers Robert and William Rufus in the town of [[l'Aigle]]; modern historians, including Judith Green and Warren Hollister, are inclined to doubt the veracity of the story.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|p=21}}; {{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=35–36}}</ref>|group=nb}} He was probably educated by the Church, possibly by [[Saint Osmund|Bishop Osmund]], the King's [[chancellor]], at [[Salisbury Cathedral]]; it is uncertain if this indicated an intent by his parents for Henry to become a member of the clergy.<ref name=HollisterGreeenPP36P22>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=36–37}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=22}}</ref>{{refn|Historian Warren Hollister doubts that Henry was ever destined for the clergy; Judith Green is less certain.<ref name=HollisterGreeenPP36P22/>|group=nb}} It is also uncertain how far Henry's education extended, but he was probably able to read [[Latin]] and had some background in the [[liberal arts]].<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=33–34}}</ref> He was given military training by an instructor called Robert Achard, and Henry was knighted by his father on 24 May 1086.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=37}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=23}}</ref>