The Daily Miscellany Times

Fish Feast Kills King Henry 
December 1, 1135

England's King Henry I has died at St. Denis in Normandy. Seven days ago he becam quite ill after eating too many lampreys. He never recovered from this illness. Henry I was 66 years old. He ruled England for 35 years.

Some Henry seized the throne after the death of his older brother King William Rufus. Henry defeated the rightful heir, his second brother Robert, Duke of Normandy, and took Normandy as well. Henry had Robert imprisoned in in Cardiff Castle for 29 years. Robert preceded Henry in death by several months.

King Henry died without an heir. His only son, William, drowned in 1120. It is said the King Henry never smiled again after the tragic death of his son.

Before his death , Henry, extracted an oath from his nobels to accept his daughter Maud as his successor. Up to this point, Maud has led a rather stormy life. The barons find it disgraceful to submit to the rule of a woman -- especially one such as Maud. Instead the nobels are backing the claim of Henry's nephew Steven, Earl of Bois. 

Stephen is a popular favorite for king. He is the first prince of royal blood. He is now on his way to London.  Meanwhile, Maud is preparing to invade England to seize her father's throne.