Treaty of Alton
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Alton was an agreement signed in 1101 between Henry I of England
and his older brother Robert, Duke of Normandy in which Robert agreed to recognize Henry as king of England in exchange for a yearly stipend and other concessions. The agreement temporarily ended a crisis in the succession of the Anglo-Norman kings.
The previous year, Henry had seized the throne on the death of his brother William II
, even though Robert had been William's acknowledged heir. Robert's absence in the First Crusade
at the time of William's death, as well as his poor reputation among the Anglo-Norman baron
s allowed Henry
to claim the throne with popular support.
Robert returned from the Holy Land after Henry
's coronation, and encouraged by his advisor Ranulf Flambard
, he invaded the Kingdom of England
in order to claim the throne. He landed secretly at Portsmouth
and was met by Henry at the town of Alton
.
Henry
had solidified his popularity with the nobles and the Church by his issuance of the Charter of Liberties
, however, and his popularity allowed him to resist Robert's invasion.
The dispute was settled diplomatically. In the treaty, Robert agreed to renounce his claim to the English throne in exchange for a yearly stipend of 3000 marks and the concession of all but one of Henry's possessions in the Duchy of Normandy
. Robert and his followers were allowed to return to Normandy without reprisal from Henry. The two brothers moreover agreed to name each other as heirs and to assist each other in the punishment of traitors.
The agreement was not long-lasting, however. In 1105, Henry
invaded Normandy
and defeated his brother's army the following year at the Battle of Tinchebray
. Robert was imprisoned and died in captivity in 1134. Normandy remained a possession of the English crown for over a century afterwards.
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
and his older brother Robert, Duke of Normandy in which Robert agreed to recognize Henry as king of England in exchange for a yearly stipend and other concessions. The agreement temporarily ended a crisis in the succession of the Anglo-Norman kings.
The previous year, Henry had seized the throne on the death of his brother William II
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
, even though Robert had been William's acknowledged heir. Robert's absence in the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
at the time of William's death, as well as his poor reputation among the Anglo-Norman baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
s allowed Henry
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
to claim the throne with popular support.
Robert returned from the Holy Land after Henry
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
's coronation, and encouraged by his advisor Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard was a medieval Norman Bishop of Durham and an influential government minister of King William Rufus of England...
, he invaded the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
in order to claim the throne. He landed secretly at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and was met by Henry at the town of Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
.
Henry
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
had solidified his popularity with the nobles and the Church by his issuance of the Charter of Liberties
Charter of Liberties
The Charter of Liberties, also called the Coronation Charter, was a written proclamation by Henry I of England, issued upon his accession to the throne in 1100. It sought to bind the King to certain laws regarding the treatment of church officials and nobles...
, however, and his popularity allowed him to resist Robert's invasion.
The dispute was settled diplomatically. In the treaty, Robert agreed to renounce his claim to the English throne in exchange for a yearly stipend of 3000 marks and the concession of all but one of Henry's possessions in the Duchy of Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
. Robert and his followers were allowed to return to Normandy without reprisal from Henry. The two brothers moreover agreed to name each other as heirs and to assist each other in the punishment of traitors.
The agreement was not long-lasting, however. In 1105, Henry
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
invaded Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and defeated his brother's army the following year at the Battle of Tinchebray
Battle of Tinchebray
The Battle of Tinchebray was fought 28 September 1106, in the town of Tinchebray , Normandy, between an invading force led by Henry I of England, and his older brother Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy...
. Robert was imprisoned and died in captivity in 1134. Normandy remained a possession of the English crown for over a century afterwards.