Louis VI and the Struggle for Normandy (1109–1113 CE)

Upon ascending the throne in 1108, Louis VI ("the Fat") embarked on a lifelong campaign against the Norman kings of England, seeking to challenge their hold over Normandy and extend Capetian influence. Though, like his predecessors, he ruled only the Île-de-France and a few adjacent lands, Louis was determined to contest English power on the continent and position himself as the rightful overlord of Norman and Angevin territories.

A Lifelong Ambition for the English Throne

Even before becoming king, Louis VI had actively opposed the Anglo-Norman rulers:

• He had supported rebellion in Normandy, encouraging Duke Robert Curthose and his sons to resist the rule of Henry I of England.
• He had mentored Robert II of Normandy, fostering instability within the duchy and challenging Henry I’s authority.
• As king, he continued to claim feudal suzerainty over Normandy, insisting that Henry I owed him homage as Duke of Normandy.

However, rather than making direct claims to the English throne, Louis's ambitions were focused on undermining Anglo-Norman control in France, particularly in Normandy and the Vexin.

The Vexin and the War Against Henry I (1109–1113)

The Vexin, a valuable and contested region between Normandy and the Île-de-France, became the primary battleground in Louis VI’s war with Henry I. The territory was politically divided:

• Part of the region was controlled by Henry I, who had captured Duke Robert Curthose and consolidated power in Normandy.
• The other portion was aligned with Louis VI, who sought to exploit divisions among the Norman nobility to weaken Henry’s hold.

By 1109, Henry I launched an invasion of Capetian France, initiating a four-year war (1109–1113) marked by:

• Sporadic French raids into Normandy, aiming to disrupt Henry’s control.
• Counter-invasions by the English, devastating the lands of rebellious Norman barons loyal to Louis.
• Repeated truces, none of which resolved the underlying conflict.

Despite military setbacks, Louis VI solidified his authority in France, emerging as one of the strongest Capetian rulers since the division of the Carolingian Empire. His struggles with Henry I would set the stage for later Capetian-Plantagenet conflicts, defining the political landscape of Atlantic West Europe for generations to come.