Normandy continues to disintegrate into chaos. Henry…
1105 CE
Normandy continues to disintegrate into chaos.
Henry sends his friend Robert Fitzhamon and a force of knights into the Duchy in 1105, apparently to provoke a confrontation with Duke Robert.
Fitzhamon is captured, and Henry uses this as an excuse to invade, promising to restore peace and order.
Henry has the support of most of the neighboring counts around Normandy's borders, and King Philip of France is persuaded to remain neutral.
Henry occupies western Normandy, and advances east on Bayeux, where Fitzhamon is held.
The city refuses to surrender, and Henry besieges it, burning it to the ground.
Terrified of meeting the same fate, the town of Caen switches sides and surrendered, allowing Henry to advance on Falaise, which he takes with some casualties.
Henry's campaign stalls, and the King instead begins peace discussions with Robert.
The negotiations are inconclusive and the fighting drags on until Christmas, when Henry returns to England.