Editing Henry I of England (section)

=== Taking the throne, 1100 ===
[[File:Coronation of henry i.png|thumb|upright=1.2|A 17th-century [[Claudius Pontificals|manuscript]] drawing of Henry's coronation.]]

On the afternoon of 2 August 1100, King William went hunting in the [[New Forest]], accompanied by a team of huntsmen and Norman nobility, including Henry.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=102–103}}</ref> An arrow, possibly shot by the baron [[Walter Tirel]], hit and killed William.<ref name=Hollister2003P103>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=103}}</ref> Many conspiracy theories have been put forward suggesting that the King was killed deliberately; most modern historians reject these, as hunting was a risky activity and such accidents were common.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=103–104}}; {{harvnb|Carpenter|2004|p=134}}; Green pp. 39–41.</ref>{{refn|David Carpenter regards William Rufus's death as "almost certainly an accident"; Warren Hollister considers "by far the likeliest explanation for the killing is simply ... that it was a hunting accident"; Judith Green argues that "on balance it seems most likely that Rufus died because of an accident". Emma Mason is more suspicious, giving credence to the theory that William Rufus was murdered, either by Henry or by agents of the French king. The minority view was also held by Austin Poole, who considered Henry a "usurper"; writing earlier in the 20th century, he argued that the facts "look ugly" – in particular Tirel's departure from the scene, Henry's potential motive and apparent disregard for his brother – and "seem to suggest a plot."<ref>{{harvnb|Carpenter|2004|p=134}}; {{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=104}}; {{harvnb|Mason|2008|pp=228–231}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=41}}; {{harvnb|Poole|1993|pp=113–114}}</ref>|group=nb}} Chaos broke out, and Tirel fled the scene for France, either because he had shot the fatal arrow, or because he had been incorrectly accused and feared that he would be made a scapegoat for the King's death.<ref name=Hollister2003P103/>

Henry rode to Winchester, where an argument ensued as to who now had the best claim to the throne.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=103–105}}</ref> [[William of Breteuil]] championed the rights of Robert, who was still abroad, returning from the Crusade, and to whom Henry and the barons had given [[Homage (feudal)|homage]] in previous years.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=104}}</ref> Henry argued that, unlike Robert, he had been born to a reigning king and queen, thereby giving him a claim under the right of [[porphyrogeniture]].<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=105}}</ref> Tempers flared, but Henry, supported by Henry de Beaumont and Robert of Meulan, held sway and persuaded the barons to follow him.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=104–105}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=43}}</ref> He occupied [[Winchester Castle]] and seized the royal treasury.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=104–105}}</ref>

Henry was hastily crowned king in [[Westminster Abbey]] on 5 August by [[Maurice (bishop of London)|Maurice]], the [[bishop of London]], as Anselm, the [[archbishop of Canterbury]], had been exiled by William Rufus, and [[Thomas of Bayeux|Thomas]], the [[archbishop of York]], was in the north of England at [[Ripon]].<ref>Holister, p.106.</ref> In accordance with English tradition and in a bid to legitimise his rule, Henry issued a [[coronation charter]] laying out various commitments.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=19}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=45}}</ref> The new king presented himself as having restored order to a trouble-torn country.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|pp=45–50}}</ref> He announced that he would abandon William's policies towards the Church, which had been seen as oppressive by the clergy; he promised to prevent royal abuses of the barons' property rights, and assured a return to the gentler customs of [[Edward the Confessor]]; he asserted that he would "establish a firm peace" across England and ordered "that this peace shall henceforth be kept".<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=110–112}}</ref>

As well as his existing circle of supporters, many of whom were richly rewarded with new lands, Henry quickly co-opted many of the existing administration into his new royal household.<ref name=Hollister2003P116>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=116}}</ref> His brother's chancellor, [[William Giffard]], was made the [[bishop of Winchester]], and the prominent sheriffs [[Urse d'Abetot]], [[Haimo Dapifer]] and Robert Fitzhamon continued to play a senior role in government.<ref name=Hollister2003P116/> By contrast, the unpopular [[Ranulf Flambard]], the [[bishop of Durham]] and a key member of the previous regime, was imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]] and charged with corruption.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=116–117}}</ref> The late king had left many Church positions unfilled, and Henry set about nominating candidates to these, in an effort to build further support for his new government.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=117}}</ref> The appointments needed to be consecrated, and Henry wrote to Anselm, apologising for having been crowned while the archbishop was still in France and asking him to return at once.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|pp=51–52}}</ref>