Burial and Funeral Procession

• His corpse was taken to Rouen, accompanied by the barons of Normandy, where it was embalmed.
• His entrails were buried separately at Port-du-Salut Abbey in Normandy.
• The preserved body was transported to England, where it was interred at Reading Abbey, the monastery Henry had founded in 1121 as his intended burial site.

Consequences: The Anarchy Begins

Henry’s death without a clear and secure successor led to a crisis of succession, as:

• His daughter Matilda, whom he had designated as his heir, was not in England at the time.
• His nephew, Stephen of Blois, quickly seized the throne, securing the support of the English barons and the Church.
• This usurpation sparked a brutal civil war known as The Anarchy (1135–1153), as Matilda fought to reclaim her inheritance.

Despite Henry I’s political acumen and careful succession planning, his failure to secure Matilda’s immediate recognition led to one of the most chaotic periods in English history, forever shaping the future of the English monarchy.

The Marriage of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine (1152 CE)

Following her annulment from King Louis VII of France on March 21, 1152, Eleanor of Aquitaine quickly became the most sought-after heiress in Europe, controlling the Duchy of Aquitaine, Poitou, and vast territories in southwestern France. Her independence posed a major geopolitical opportunity, as marriage to her would dramatically expand any lord’s power.

The Kidnapping Attempts and Eleanor’s Decision

• On her journey to Poitiers, two powerful lords attempted to kidnap Eleanor to forcibly marry her and claim her lands:
  1. Theobald V, Count of Blois, son of the Count of Champagne, sought to seize Aquitaine through marriage.
  2. Geoffrey VI, Count of Anjou, the younger brother of Henry, Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy, had similar ambitions.
• Aware of the dangers of remaining unmarried, Eleanor sent envoys to Henry of Anjou and Normandy, urging him to come immediately and marry her.

On May 18, 1152, just six weeks after her annulment, Eleanor married Henry Plantagenet, who was eleven years her junior.