(4) Henry Beauclerc, youngest son of William the Conqueror, seized the throne of England just three days after the death of his brother, William Rufus, who had been killed whilst out hunting in the New Forest on 2nd August 1100.
On the day of William's death, Henry arrived at Winchester before the body of his brother arrived. Winchester was where the Royal Treasure was kept. He demanded the keys for the Royal Treasure from the guards, but the guards refused to hand them over, saying that Henry's eldest brother, Robert, was the rightful heir. Henry drew his sword and demanded that no one shall stand between him and his father's sceptre. Resistance soon collapsed and when the peasants arrived with Rufus on a cart, the Lords were already electing Henry as the new King. The first elected King since Harold Godwinson. Henry's brother, Robert, was fighting abroad in the First Crusade. With no time to waste, Henry was crowned King at Westminster Abbey on the 5th of August 1100.
