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Henry I (c.1068-1135) King of England (1100-35), Duke of Normandy (1106-1135):

The youngest son of William I. Under his reign the Norman cross-Channel state had its largest extension, after he had conquered Normandy from his elder brother Robert Curthose and had him imprisoned until his death at the age of over 80 in Cardiff castle. Henry improved the centralized system of administration and tax collection in all his dominions according to the Norman model. He is said to have been very learned, which later gave him the by-name 'Beauclerc', although we know that he was illiterate. The reason for this myth is his effective educational and bureaucratic reform program. His queen was Matilda, daughter of Malcolm III, King of Scotland. When William the Atheling had been drowned in 1120, Henry nominated his daughter Matilda, widow of The German Emperor Henry V, as his heir.