Fontevrault Abbey, Fontevrault, Maine-Et-Loire, France
Notes
Do we have a date in 1203 as to when Joan was sent to England from
Normandy? This would be interesting and possibly enlightening - John himself
was in Normandy during most of that year, in Le Mans in January but then
moving into Normandy near Argentan and not leaving Normandy (although this
time, for good) on 5 December. As recorded by Giraldus Cambrensis and the
author of the Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal, John was clearly in the
process of losing hold of Normandy during that year, so it would seem Joan's
relocation to England was part of the overall process of collapse.
As to the issue of Henry I's issue, it may be that he thought the
alliances of his illegitimate brood would not complicate the matter of
succession - however, immediate prior history does not mesh well with this
presumption. The 70-year period preceding Henry I's death involved several
problematic dynastic problems:
A. The forceful taking of the English throne by a bastard (his own
father);
B. The lengthy contest for the throne between two brothers (his own, being Robert 'Curthose' and William 'Rufus')
C. His own acquisition of the English throne on the death of William
'Rufus', in place of his absent elder brother Robert, in 1100 [the
resolution of their claims not being decided except on the field of battle in
1106, at Tinchebrai].
Henry I's evident desire was for the succession of his son (or at
least one of his sons), and failing that, the succession of his daughter
Matilda. He knew full well, little was guaranteed as to the English
succession, else he would not have required baronial agreement to Matilda's
succession before his death. Do we know, in the event of Matilda's death,
that he would not prefer the accession of his son Robert (the bastard known
as Robert de Caen, the Earl of Gloucester) over any available nephew ?
9. ENGLAND John "Lackland" King Of, b. 24 Dec 1166, Kings Manor House, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England , d. 19 Oct 1216, , Newark, Nottinghamshire, England