Battles & Campaigns · 1106
Battle of Tinchebray
Tinchebray, Normandy, France
What happened
King Henry I of England fought his older brother Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy. Henry invaded Normandy and besieged the castle of Tinchebray. Robert brought an army to break the siege, and when talks failed the brothers fought in the open. The battle lasted about an hour; Henry had most of his knights fight on foot, and his reserve decided the day.
Why it matters
Robert was captured, and Henry took control of Normandy. Normandy stayed a possession of the English crown for almost a century.
What came next
Robert spent the rest of his life in captivity and died at Cardiff Castle in 1134. His son William Clito kept up the claim to Normandy, which led to several rebellions.
Did you know?
Making knights fight on foot was unusual for Norman armies of the time.
Timeline
- 1105Henry invades Normandy.
- 28 September 1106Battle of Tinchebray.
- 1134Robert Curthose dies at Cardiff Castle.