Editing Henry I of England (section)

=== Marriage to Matilda, 1100 ===
[[File:Matylda zena.jpg|thumb|left|Henry's first wife, [[Matilda of Scotland]]]]

On 11 November 1100 Henry married [[Matilda of Scotland|Matilda]], the daughter of [[Malcolm III of Scotland]],<ref name=Hollister2003P130/> in [[Westminster Abbey]]. Henry was now around 31 years old, but late marriages for noblemen were not unusual in the 11th century.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=43}}; {{harvnb|Thompson|2003|p=134}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=26}}</ref> The pair had probably first met earlier the previous decade, possibly being introduced through Bishop Osmund of Salisbury.<ref>{{harvnb|Thompson|2007|p=24}}; {{harvnb|Huneycutt|2003|p=27}}</ref> Historian Warren Hollister argues that Henry and Matilda were emotionally close, but their union was also certainly politically motivated.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=126–127}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=58}}</ref>{{refn|The chroniclers Eadmer, Malmesbury and Orderic describe the couple as close, with Eadmer noting that they were in love.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=127}}</ref>|group=nb}} Matilda had originally been named Edith, an Anglo-Saxon name, and was a member of the West Saxon royal family, being the niece of [[Edgar the Ætheling]], the great-granddaughter of [[Edmund Ironside]] and a descendant of [[Alfred the Great]].<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=126–127}}</ref> For Henry, marrying Matilda gave his reign increased legitimacy, and for Matilda, an ambitious woman, it was an opportunity for high status and power in England.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=127–128}}; {{harvnb|Thompson|2003|p=137}}</ref>

Matilda had been educated in a sequence of convents and may well have taken the vows to formally become a nun, which formed an obstacle to the marriage progressing.<ref name=HollisterPP128-129>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=128–129}}</ref> She did not wish to be a nun and appealed to Anselm for permission to marry Henry, and the Archbishop established a council at [[Lambeth Palace]] to judge the issue.<ref name=HollisterPP128-129/> Despite some dissenting voices, the council concluded that although Matilda had lived in a convent, she had not actually become a nun and was therefore free to marry, a judgement that Anselm then affirmed, allowing the marriage to proceed.<ref name=HollisterPP128-129/>{{refn|Anselm was criticised in some quarters for permitting the royal marriage to proceed.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2009|p=55}}</ref>|group=nb}} Matilda proved an effective queen for Henry, acting as a regent in England on occasion, addressing and presiding over councils, and extensively supporting the arts.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=130}}; {{harvnb|Thompson|2003|p=137}}</ref> The couple soon had two children, [[Empress Matilda|Matilda]], born in 1102, and [[William Adelin]], born in 1103; it is possible that they also had a second son, Richard, who died young.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=130}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|p=75}}</ref>{{refn|The only chronicler to suggest a second son is [[Gervase of Canterbury]].<ref name="Green 2009 75">{{harvnb|Green|2009|p=75}}</ref>|group=nb}} Following the birth of these children, the Queen preferred to remain based in Westminster while the King travelled across England and Normandy, either for religious reasons or because she enjoyed being involved in the machinery of royal governance.<ref name="Thompson 2003 137">{{harvnb|Thompson|2003|p=137}}</ref>

Henry had a considerable sexual appetite and enjoyed a substantial number of sexual partners, resulting in many illegitimate children, at least nine sons and 13 daughters, many of whom he appears to have recognised and supported.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=43}}; {{harvnb|Green|2009|pp=26–27, 307–309}}</ref> It was normal for unmarried Anglo-Norman noblemen to have sexual relations with prostitutes and local women, and kings were also expected to have mistresses.<ref name=HollisterP45ThompsonP135>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|p=45}}; {{harvnb|Thompson|2003|p=135}}</ref>{{refn|Bisexuality was also common among this social group, but there is no evidence to suggest that Henry had male partners.<ref name=HollisterP45ThompsonP135/>|group=nb}} Some of these relationships occurred before Henry was married, but many others took place after his marriage to Matilda.<ref>{{harvnb|Thompson|2003|p=135}}</ref> Henry had a wide range of mistresses from a range of backgrounds, and the relationships appear to have been conducted relatively openly.<ref name="Thompson 2003 137"/> He may have chosen some of his noble mistresses for political purposes, but the evidence to support this theory is limited.<ref>{{harvnb|Thompson|2003|pp=130–133}}</ref>