Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Henry I of England

Barfleur (pop. ~600) is one of the "Plus beaux villages de France" ( "most beautiful villages of France"). In medieval times Barfleur was an important harbour and shipbuilding site with a population of about 9000. In 1120 the "White Ship" went down outside the harbour. Only two persons survived. Those who drowned included Prince William Adelin, the only legitimate son and heir of King Henry I of England, his half-sister Matilda FitzRoy, his half-brother Richard and numerous English nobles. According to a chronicler Prince William Adelin had suplied wine in great abundance to the about 300 people on board. Many of them may have been drunk, when the ship left the harbour. A result of Prince William Adelin's death was the period known as "the Anarchy". The disaster had left Henry I with only one legitimate child, a second daughter named Matilda. Henry I had forced his barons to swear an oath to support Matilda as his heir, but a woman had never ruled in England. Matilda was unpopular because she was married to Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, who was not liked by the Norman nobles. One of Henry I's male nephews, Stephen of Blois, usurped Matilda. Stephen had allegedly planned to travel on the White Ship but had disembarked just before it sailed. After Henry I's death, Matilda and her husband launched a long and devastating war against Stephen and his allies for control of the English throne. The Anarchy dragged from 1135 to 1153 with devastating effect.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. The crypt is huge, as it has the same dimensions as choir, ambulatory and radial chapel. The crypt was built 1020-1050. Choir, ambulatory and chapels were completed around 1070. The church was consecrated in 1097, when the first three spans of the nave were added.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. The crypt is huge, as it has the same dimensions as choir, ambulatory and radial chapel. The crypt was built 1020-1050. Choir, ambulatory and chapels were completed around 1070. The church was consecrated in 1097, when the first three spans of the nave were added.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. Saint-Piere seen from northeast. One arm of the transept, choir, ambulatory and radial chapels are visible - from outside. Quite a volume! The door seen, leads into the crypt, on which the church was erected. It is huge, as it has the same dimensions as choir, ambulatory and radial chapel. Once the relics of Saint Leon and Saint Coronat were kept here.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. The nave is rather high and narrow. Light floods in from the eastern windows. A few steps lead up to the choir, with the monk´s stalls around the altar, and the ambulatory, a "must have" for a medieval church, designed for the pilgrims´ flow.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. One of the capitals, that are high on the tower. The angel keeps an eye on the town below.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. The abbey got secularised in the 18th century and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church.