He was suffered to retire to his estates in Normandy, but his English lands were confiscated to the Crown.

"Rejoice, King Henry," shouted the English soldiers, "for you began to be a free king on that day when you conquered Robert of Belesme and drove him from the land." Master of his own realm and enriched by the confiscated lands of the ruined barons Henry crossed into Normandy, where the misgovernment of the Duke had alienated the clergy and tradesfolk, and where the outrages of nobles like Robert of Belesme forced the more peaceful classes to call the king to their aid.

In 1106 his forces met those of his brother on the field of Tenchebray, and a decisive English victory on Norman soil avenged the shame of Hastings.

The conquered duchy became a dependency of the English crown, and Henry's energies were frittered away through a quarter of a century in crushing its revolts, the hostility of the French, and the efforts of his nephew William, the son of Robert, to regain the crown which his father had lost.
[Sidenote: Henry's rule] With the victory of Tenchebray Henry was free to enter on that work of administration which was to make his reign memorable in our history.
Successful as his wars had been he was in heart no warrior but a statesman, and his greatness showed itself less in the field than in the council chamber.

His outer bearing like his inner temper stood in marked contrast to that of his father.