| Henry II | |
|---|---|
| King of the English; Lord of Ireland (more...) | |
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| Reign | 25 October 1154 – 6 July 1189 |
| Coronation | 19 December 1154 |
| Predecessor | Stephen |
| Successor | Richard I |
| Consort | Eleanor of Aquitaine |
| Issue | |
| William, Count of Poitiers Henry the Young King Richard I Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany Matilda, Duchess of Saxony Leonora, Queen of Castile Joan, Queen of Sicily John |
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| Titles and styles | |
| The King The Duke of Normandy Henry Plantagenet |
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| Royal house | House of Plantagenet |
| Father | Geoffrey of Anjou |
| Mother | Empress Matilda |
| Born | 5 March 1133 Le Mans, France |
| Died | 6 July 1189 (aged 56) Chinon, France |
| Burial | Fontevraud Abbey, France |
Henry II of England (called "Curtmantle"; 5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189) ruled as King of England (1154–1189), Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. The precise style of British Sovereigns has varied over the years Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. Stephen often referred to in history as Stephen of Blois (c 1096 &ndash 25 October, 1154) was the last Norman King of England Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine (1122&ndash1 April 1204 William (17 August 1153 &ndash April 1156 was the first child of Henry Plantagenet (later Henry II of England) and Eleanor of Aquitaine, born in Henry the Young King ( 28 February 1155 – 11 June 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Geoffrey II Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond ( 23 September 1158 – 19 August 1186) was Duke of Brittany between 1181 and 1186 Matilda of England (also called Maud; 1156 &ndash 13 July 1189) was the eldest daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Princess Eleanor of England and Aquitaine (later Leonora Joan of England (October 1165 &ndash 4 September 1199 was the seventh child of Henry II of England and his Queen consort, Eleanor of Aquitaine. John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death A royal house or royal dynasty is a familial designation or Family name of sorts used by Royalty. The House of Plantagenet (planˈtadʒɪnɪt also called the House of Anjou, or the First Angevin dynasty, was originally a noble Matilda of England (sometimes Maud or Maude; 7 February 1102 &ndash 10 September 1167 was the daughter and dispossessed Heir of Henry I of England Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Le Mans (ləmɑ̃ in French) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Chinon is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Fontevraud Abbey (or Fontevrault Abbey) is located in the village of Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, near Chinon, in Anjou, France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England The Kings of Wessex, who conquered Kent and Sussex from Mercia in 825 became increasingly dominant over the other kingdoms of England during List of Counts of Anjou First creation 870&ndash1203 House of Ingelger Ingelger (870&ndash898 father Duke of Normandy is a Title held or claimed by various Norman, French, English and British rulers from the 10th century until the The Duke of Aquitaine ( French: Duc d'Aquitaine) ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of the Frankish and later the The Duchy of Vasconia (sometimes Wasconia) later known as Gascony, was a Merovingian creation a frontier duchy on the The counts of Nantes were originally the Frankish rulers of the Nantais under the Carolingians. The Lordship of Ireland ( 1171 - 1541) was the nominally all-island Irish state created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169-71 Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Henry was the first of the House of Plantagenet to rule England. The House of Plantagenet (planˈtadʒɪnɪt also called the House of Anjou, or the First Angevin dynasty, was originally a noble
Contents |
Biography
Early life
Henry II was born in Le Mans, France, on 5 March 1133, the first day of the traditional year. Le Mans (ləmɑ̃ in French) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a [1] His father, Geoffrey V of Anjou (Geoffrey Plantagenet), was Count of Anjou and Count of Maine. List of Counts of Anjou First creation 870&ndash1203 House of Ingelger Ingelger (870&ndash898 father This is a list of counts and dukes of Maine, with their capital at Le Mans. His mother, Empress Matilda, was a claimant to the English throne as the daughter of Henry I (1100–1135). Matilda of England (sometimes Maud or Maude; 7 February 1102 &ndash 10 September 1167 was the daughter and dispossessed Heir of Henry I of England Henry I (c 1068/1069 – 1 December 1135) was the fourth son of William I the Conqueror, the first King of England after the Norman He spent his childhood in his father's land of Anjou. At the age of nine, Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester took him to England where he received education from Master Matthew at Bristol. Robert 1st Earl of Gloucester (c 1090 &ndash October 31, 1147) was an Illegitimate son of King Henry I of England, and one
Marriage and children
On 18 May 1152, at Bordeaux Cathedral, at the age of 19, Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Bordeaux Cathedral ( Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux) is a Catholic Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux-Bazas, located in For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine (1122&ndash1 April 1204 The wedding was "without the pomp or ceremony that befitted their rank,"[2]partly because only two months previously Eleanor's marriage to Louis VII of France had been annulled. Louis VII, called the Younger or the Young (Louis le Jeune 1120 – 18 September 1180) was King of France, the son and successor Their relationship, always stormy, eventually died: After Eleanor encouraged her children to rebel against their father in 1173, Henry had her placed under house-arrest, where she remained for sixteen years. [3]
Henry and Eleanor had eight children, William, Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, John, Matilda, Eleanor, and Joan. William (17 August 1153 &ndash April 1156 was the first child of Henry Plantagenet (later Henry II of England) and Eleanor of Aquitaine, born in Henry the Young King ( 28 February 1155 – 11 June 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Geoffrey II Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond ( 23 September 1158 – 19 August 1186) was Duke of Brittany between 1181 and 1186 John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death Matilda of England (also called Maud; 1156 &ndash 13 July 1189) was the eldest daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Princess Eleanor of England and Aquitaine (later Leonora Joan of England (October 1165 &ndash 4 September 1199 was the seventh child of Henry II of England and his Queen consort, Eleanor of Aquitaine. William died in infancy, meaning their son Henry was crowned as joint king when he came of age instead. However, because he was never King in his own right, he is known as "Henry the Young King", not Henry III. Henry the Young King ( 28 February 1155 – 11 June 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine In theory, Henry would have inherited the throne from his father, Richard his mother's possessions, Geoffrey would have Brittany and John would be Lord of Ireland. Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into The Lordship of Ireland ( 1171 - 1541) was the nominally all-island Irish state created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169-71 However, fate would ultimately decide much differently.
It has been suggested that another son was born to the couple, Philip, by John Speed's 1611 book, History Of Great Britain. His sources no longer exist, but Philip would presumably have died in early infancy. [4]
Henry also had illegitimate children. While they were not valid claimants, their Royal blood made them potential problems for Henry's legitimate successors. [5] William de Longespee was one such child. William de Longespée jure uxoris 3rd Earl of Salisbury (c 1176 &ndash March 7, 1226) was an English noble primarily remembered for his command He remained largely loyal and contented with the lands and wealth afforded to him as a bastard. In Common law, legitimacy is the status of a Child that is born to parents who are legally married to one another or that is born shortly after the Geoffrey, Bishop of Lincoln, Archbishop of York, on the other hand, was seen as a possible thorn in the side of Richard I of England. Geoffrey Archbishop of York (c 1152 &ndash 12 December 1212 was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death [5] Geoffrey had been the only son to attend Henry II on his deathbed, after even the King's favourite, John Lackland, deserted him. John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death [6] Richard forced him into the clergy at York, thus ending his secular ambitions. [5] Another son, Morgan was elected to the Bishopric of Durham, although he was never consecrated due to opposition from Pope Innocent III. Morgan was a medieval Bishop of Durham elect He was an Illegitimate son of King Henry II of England and provost of Beverley before being nominated See also List of Bishops of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican Bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in Pope Innocent III ( February 22, 1161 &ndash June 16, 1216) born Lotario de' Conti di Segni, was Pope from January [7]
For a complete list of Henry's descendants, see List of members of the House of Plantagenet. This is a list of members of the House of Plantagenet. It includes only those who were members of the male-line descent from King Henry II, and consequently bore his
Appearance
Several sources record Henry's appearance. They all agree that he was very strong, energetic and surpassed his peers athletically.
| “ | . . . he was strongly built, with a large, leonine head, freckle fiery face and red hair cut short. His eyes were grey and we are told that his voice was harsh and cracked, possibly because of the amount of open-air exercise he took. He would walk or ride until his attendants and courtiers were worn out and his feet and legs were covered with blistered and sores. . . He would perform all athletic feats. John Harvey (Modern)
. John Harvey may refer to People named John Harvey John Harvey (actor (1911&ndash1982 English stage and film actor . . the lord king has been red-haired so far, except that the coming of old age and grey hair has altered that colour somewhat. His height is medium, so that neither does he appear great among the small, nor yet does he seem small among the great. . . curved legs, a horseman's shins, broad chest, and a boxer's arms all announce him as a man strong, agile and bold. . . he never sits, unless riding a horse or eating. . . In a single day, if necessary, he can run through four or five day-marches and, thus foiling the plots of his enemies, frequently mocks their plots with surprise sudden arrivals. . . Always are in his hands bow, sword, spear and arrow, unless he be in council or in books. - Peter of Blois (Contemporary) A man of reddish, freckled complexion, with a large, round head, grey eyes that glowed fiercely and grew bloodshot in anger, a fiery countenance and a harsh, cracked voice. Peter of Blois or Petrus Blesensis (c 1135 &ndash c 1203 was a French poet and diplomat who wrote in Latin. His neck was poked forward slightly from his shoulders, his chest was broad and square, his arms strong and powerful. His body was stocky, with a pronounced tendency toward fatness, due to nature rather than self-indulgence - which he tempered with exercise. Gerald of Wales (Contemporary) |
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Character
Like his grandfather, Henry I of England, Henry II had an outstanding knowledge of the law. Gerald of Wales (c 1146 &ndash c 1223 also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy The House of Plantagenet (planˈtadʒɪnɪt also called the House of Anjou, or the First Angevin dynasty, was originally a noble Family chief Heirs cadets House of Lancaster House of York William (17 August 1153 &ndash April 1156 was the first child of Henry Plantagenet (later Henry II of England) and Eleanor of Aquitaine, born in Henry the Young King ( 28 February 1155 – 11 June 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Geoffrey II Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond ( 23 September 1158 – 19 August 1186) was Duke of Brittany between 1181 and 1186 John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death Matilda of England (also called Maud; 1156 &ndash 13 July 1189) was the eldest daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Princess Eleanor of England and Aquitaine (later Leonora Joan of England (October 1165 &ndash 4 September 1199 was the seventh child of Henry II of England and his Queen consort, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Henry I (c 1068/1069 – 1 December 1135) was the fourth son of William I the Conqueror, the first King of England after the Norman A talented linguist and excellent Latin speaker, he would sit on councils in person whenever possible. His interest in the economy was reflected in his own frugal lifestyle. He dressed casually except when tradition dictated otherwise and ate a sparing diet. [8]
He was modest and mixed with all classes easily. "He does not take upon himself to think high thoughts, his tongue never swells with elated language; he does not magnify himself as more than man. "[9] His generosity was well-known and he employed a Templar to distribute one tenth of all the food bought to the royal court amongst his poorest subjects. The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order
Henry also had a good sense of humour and was never upset at being the butt of the joke. Once while he sat sulking and occupying himself with needlework, a courtier suggested that he looked like a tanner's daughter. The King rocked with laughter and even explained the joke to those who did not immediately grasp it. [10]
"His memory was exceptional: he never failed to recognize a man he had once seen, nor to remember anything which might be of use. More deeply learned than any King of his time in the western world". [8]
Building an empire
Henry's claims by blood and marriage
Henry's father, Geoffrey Plantagenet, held rich lands as a vassal from Louis VII of France. The term Angevin Empire describes a collection of states ruled by the Angevin Plantagenet dynasty Geoffrey Plantagenet may refer to Geoffrey V of Anjou (1113-1151 Count of Anjou was the father of Henry II of England and the first to be known as Plantagenet Louis VII, called the Younger or the Young (Louis le Jeune 1120 – 18 September 1180) was King of France, the son and successor Maine and Anjou were therefore Henry's by birthright, amongst other lands in Western France. Maine is one of the traditional provinces of France. It corresponds to the old county of Maine centered around the city of Le Mans. Anjou is a former County (c 880) Duchy ( 1360) and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower [2] By maternal claim, Normandy was also to be his. However, the most valuable inheritance Henry received from his mother was a claim to the English throne. Granddaughter of William I of England, Empress Matilda should have been Queen, but was usurped by her cousin, Stephen I of England. William I of England ( 1027 His reign which brought Norman culture to England had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages Matilda of England (sometimes Maud or Maude; 7 February 1102 &ndash 10 September 1167 was the daughter and dispossessed Heir of Henry I of England "Usurp" redirects here You might be also looking for WikipediaChanging username/Usurpations. Stephen often referred to in history as Stephen of Blois (c 1096 &ndash 25 October, 1154) was the last Norman King of England Henry's efforts to restore the royal line to his own family would create a dynasty spanning three centuries and thirteen Kings.
Henry's marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine placed him firmly in the ascendancy. [2] His plentiful lands were added to his new wife's possessions, giving him control of Aquitaine and Gascony. Aquitaine (Aquitània Akitania archaic Guyenne / Guienne (Occitan Guiana) is one of the 26 Regions of France, in the south-western part of Gascony (Gascogne gaskɔɲ Gascon Occitan: Gasconha, pronounced) is an area of southwest France that constituted a province of France The riches of the markets and vineyards in these regions, combined with Henry's already plentiful holdings, made Henry the most powerful vassal in France.
Taking the English Throne
Realising his royal ambitions was far from straightforward for Henry. His mother had been pushing her claim for the crown for several years to no avail, finally retiring in 1147. It was 1147 when Henry had accompanied Matilda on an invasion of England, his first and her last. It soon failed due to lack of preparation,[2] but it made him determined that England was his mother's right, and so his own. He returned to England again between 1149 and 1150. On 22nd May 1149 he was knighted by King David I of Scotland, his great uncle, at Carlisle. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim ( Modern: Daibhidh I mac Chaluim; b Carlisle (pronounced CARLYLE(emphasis on the first syllable is a City in northern England the largest settlement in Cumbria. [11]
Early in January 1153, just months after his wedding, he crossed the Channel one more time. His fleet was 36 ships strong, transporting a force of 3,000 footmen and 140 horses. [12] Sources dispute whether he landed at Dorset or Hampshire, but it is known he entered a small village church. Dorset ( (or archaically, Dorsetshire) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast Wildlife Hampshire has wildlife typical of the island of Great Britain It was 6 January and the locals were observing the Festival of the Three Kings. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of The correlation between the festivities and Henry's arrival was not lost on them. "Ecce advenit dominator Dominus, et regnum in manu ejus", they exclaimed as the introit for their feast, "Behold the Lord the ruler cometh, and the Kingdom in his hand". [11]
Henry moved quickly and within the year he had secured his right to succession via the Treaty of Wallingford with Stephen of England. The Treaty of Wallingford of 1153, aka Treaty of Winchester or as the Treaty of Westminster, was an agreement that effectively ended The Anarchy Stephen often referred to in history as Stephen of Blois (c 1096 &ndash 25 October, 1154) was the last Norman King of England He was now, for all intents and purposes, in control of England. When Stephen died in October 1154, it was only a matter of time until Henry's treaty would come to fruition, and the quest that began with his mother would be over. On 19 December 1154 he was crowned in Westminster Abbey, "By The Grace Of God, Henry II, King Of England". Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. [11] Henry Plantagenet, vassal of Louis VII, was now more powerful than the French King himself.
Lordship over Ireland
Shortly after his coronation, Henry sent an embassy to the newly elected Pope Adrian IV. Pope Adrian IV (or Hadrian IV – c 1100&ndash 1 September, 1159) born Nicholas Breakspear or Breakspeare, was Pope Led by Bishop Arnold of Lisieux, the group of clerics requested authorisation for Henry to invade Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Most historians agree that this resulted in the papal bull Laudabiliter. Laudabiliter was a Papal bull issued in 1155 by the English Pope Adrian IV purporting to give the Angevin King Henry II of England It is possible Henry acted under the influence of a "Canterbury plot," in which English ecclesiastics strove to dominate the Irish church. [13] However, Henry may have simply intended to secure Ireland as a lordship for his younger brother William.
Unfortunately William died soon after the plan was hatched and Ireland was ignored. It was not until 1166 that it came to the surface again. In that year, Diarmait Mac Murchada, a minor Irish Prince, was driven from his land of Leinster by the High King of Ireland. Early Life and Family Mac Murchadha was born in 1110 a son of Donnchadh, King of Leinster and Dublin he was a descendant of Brian Boru. Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of A high king is a king who holds a position of seniority over a group of other kings without the title of Emperor; compare King of Kings. Diarmait followed Henry to Aquitaine, seeking an audience. Aquitaine (Aquitània Akitania archaic Guyenne / Guienne (Occitan Guiana) is one of the 26 Regions of France, in the south-western part of He asked the English king to help him reassert control; Henry agreed and made footmen, knights and nobles available for the cause. The most prominent of these was a Welsh Norman, Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, nicknamed "Strongbow". Richard de Clare 2nd Earl of Pembroke Lord of Leinster Justiciar of Ireland (1130 &ndash 20 April 1176) known as Strongbow, was a In exchange for his loyalty, Diarmait offered Earl Richard his daughter Aoife in marriage and made him heir to the kingdom.
The Normans restored Diarmait to his traditional holdings, but it quickly became apparent that Henry had not offered aid purely out of kindness. In 1171, Henry arrived from France, declaring himself Lord of Ireland. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. All of the Normans, along with many Irish princes, took oaths of homage to Henry, and he left after six months. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. He never returned, but he later named his young son, the future King John of England, Lord of Ireland. John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death
Diarmait's appeal for outside help had made Henry Ireland's Lord, starting 800 years of English overlordship on the island. The change was so profound that Diarmait is still remembered as a traitor of the highest order. In 1172, at the Synod of Cashel, Roman Catholicism was proclaimed as the only permitted religious practice in Ireland. Cashel (Caiseal Mumhan meaning Stone Fortress of Munster) is a Town in County Tipperary, in the southern midlands of Ireland, which is also
Consolidation in Scotland
In 1174, a rebellion spearheaded by his own sons was not Henry's biggest problem. An invasion force from Scotland, led by their King, William the Lion, was advancing from the North. William I ( Mediaeval Gaelic: Uilliam mac Eanric; Modern Gaelic Uilleam mac Eanraig) known as the Lion or Garbh, "the Rough" To make matters worse, a Flemish armada was sailing for England, just days from landing. It seemed likely that the King's rapid growth was to be checked. [1]
Henry saw his predicament as a sign from God, that his treatment of Thomas Becket would be rewarded with defeat. St Thomas Becket (c 1118 &ndash December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170 He immediately did penance at Canterbury [1] for the Archbishop's fate and events took a turn for the better. In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated Bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others this means that they lead
The hostile armada dispersed in the English Channel and headed back for the continent. Henry had avoided a foreign invasion, but Scottish rebels were still raiding in the North. Henry sent his troops to meet the Scots at Alnwick, where the English scored a devastating victory. Alnwick ( IPA /ˈænɪk/ is a small Market town in north Northumberland, England. William was captured in the chaos, removing the figurehead for rebellion, and within months all the problem fortresses had been torn down. Scotland was now completely dominated by Henry, another fief in his Angevin Empire, that now stretched from the Solway Firth almost to the Mediterranean and from the Somme to the Pyrenees. Under the system of Feudalism, a fiefdom, fief, feud, feoff, or fee, often consisted of inheritable lands or revenue-producing The term Angevin Empire describes a collection of states ruled by the Angevin Plantagenet dynasty The Solway Firth is a Firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria (including the Solway Plain) and The Pyrenees (Pirineos French: Pyrénées; Catalan: Pirineus; Occitan: Pirenèus; Aragonese: Perinés By the end of this crisis, and his sons' revolt, the King was "left stronger than ever before". [6]
Domestic policy
Dominating nobles
During Stephen's reign, the barons in England had undermined Royal authority. Stephen often referred to in history as Stephen of Blois (c 1096 &ndash 25 October, 1154) was the last Norman King of England Baron is a specific Title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin (liber Rebel castles were one problem, nobles avoiding military service was another. The new King immediately moved against the illegal fortresses that had sprung up during Stephen's reign, having them torn down.
To counter the problem of avoiding military service, Scutage became common. The tax of scutage or escuage, in the law of England under the Feudal system, allowed a knight to "buy out" of the military service due to the This tax, paid by Henry's barons instead of serving in his army, allowed the King to hire mercenaries. These hired troops were used to devastating effect by both Henry and his son Richard, and by 1159 the tax was central to the King's army and his authority over vassals. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death
Legal reform
Henry II's reign saw the establishment of Royal Magistrate courts. A magistrate is a judicial officer In Common law systems a magistrate usually has limited authority to administer and enforce the Law. This allowed court officials to adjudicate on dispute with authority to the crown. This reduced the workload on Royal courts proper and allowed justice to be delivered with greater efficiency.
Henry also worked to make the legal system fairer. Trial by ordeal and trial by combat were still common and even in the 12th century these methods were outdated. Trial by combat (also wager of battle, trial by battle or judicial duel) was a method of Germanic law to settle accusations in the absence of By the Assize of Clarendon, in 1166, a precursor to trial by jury became the standard. The Assize of Clarendon was an 1166 act of Henry II of England that began the transformation of English law from such systems for deciding the prevailing However, this group of "twelve lawful men," as the Assize commonly refers to it, provides a service more similar to a grand jury, alerting court officials to matters suitable for prosecution. In the Common law, a grand jury is a type of Jury which determines whether there is enough evidence for a trial. Trial by combat was still legal in England until 1819, but Henry's support of juries was a great contribution to the country's social history. The Assize of Northampton, in 1176, cemented the earlier agreements at Clarendon. The Assize of Northampton, largely based on the Assize of Clarendon of 1166 is among a series of measures taken by King Henry II of England which solidified the rights
Religious policy
Strengthening royal control over the Church
In the tradition of Norman kings, Henry II was keen to dominate the Church like the state. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. At Clarendon Palace on January 30, 1164, the King set out sixteen constitutions, aimed at decreasing ecclesiastical interference from Rome. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain The Constitutions of Clarendon were a set of legislative procedures passed by Henry II of England in 1164. Secular courts, increasingly under the King's influence, would also have jurisdiction over clerical trials and disputes. Henry's authority guaranteed him majority support, but the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury refused to ratify the proposals.
Henry was characteristically stubborn and on October 8, 1164, he called the Archbishop, Thomas Becket, before the Royal Council. Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses St Thomas Becket (c 1118 &ndash December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170 However, Becket had fled to France and was under the protection of Henry's rival, Louis VII of France. Louis VII, called the Younger or the Young (Louis le Jeune 1120 – 18 September 1180) was King of France, the son and successor
The King continued doggedly in his pursuit of control over his clerics, to the point where his religious policy became detrimental to his subjects. By 1170, the Pope was considering excommunicating all of Britain. Excommunication is a religious Censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community Only Henry's agreement that Becket could return to England without penalty prevented this fate.
Murder of Thomas Becket
"What miserable drones and traitors have I nurtured and promoted in my household who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric!" were the words which sparked the darkest event in Henry's religious wranglings. This speech has translated into legend in the form of "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?" - a provocative statement which would perhaps have been just as riling to the knights and barons of his household at whom it was aimed as his actual words. Bitter at Becket, his old friend, constantly thwarting his clerical constitutions, the King shouted in anger but most likely not with intent. St Thomas Becket (c 1118 &ndash December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170 However, four of Henry's knights, Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh de Moreville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton overheard their King's cries and decided to act on his words.
On December 29, 1170, they entered Canterbury Cathedral, finding Becket near the stairs to the crypt. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II They beat down the Archbishop, killing him with several blows. Becket's brains were scattered upon the ground with the words; "Let us go, this fellow will not be getting up again. " Whatever the rights and wrongs, it certainly tainted Henry's later reign. For the remaining 20 years of his rule, he would personally regret the death of a man who "in happier times. . . had been a friend". [14]
Just three years later, Becket was canonized and revered as a martyr against secular interference in God's church; Pope Alexander III had declared Thomas Becket a saint. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Pope Alexander III (c 1100/1105 &ndash August 30, 1181) born Rolando (or Orlando) Bandinelli, was Pope from 1159 Plantagenet historian John Harvey believes "The martyrdom of Thomas Becket was a martyrdom which he had repeatedly gone out of his way to seek. . . one cannot but feel sympathy towards Henry". [14] Wherever the true intent and blame lies, it was yet another failure in Henry's religious policy, an arena which he seemed to lack adequate subtlety. And politically, Henry had to sign the Compromise of Avranches which removed from the secular courts almost all jurisdiction over the clergy. The Compromise of Avranches in 1172 marked the reconciliation of Henry II of England with the Catholic Church after the murder in 1170 of Thomas Becket.
The Angevin Curse
Civil war and rebellion
| “ | It is the common fate of sons to be misunderstood by their fathers, and of fathers to be unloved of their sons, but it has been the particular bane of the English throne. [15] | ” |
The "Angevin Curse" is infamous amongst the Plantagenet rulers. Trying to divide his lands amongst numerous ambitious children resulted in many problems for Henry. The King's plan for an orderly transfer of power relied on Young Henry ruling and his younger brothers doing homage to him for land. However, Richard refused to be subordinate to his brother, because they had the same mother and father, and the same Royal blood. [5]
In 1173, Young Henry and Richard moved against their father and his succession plans, trying to secure the lands they were promised. The King's changing and revising of his inheritance nurtured jealousy in his offspring, which turned to aggression. The Revolt of 1173&ndash1174 was a rebellion against Henry II of England by three of his sons his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and rebel supporters While both Young Henry and Richard were relatively strong in France, they still lacked the manpower and experience to trouble their father unduly. The King crushed this first rebellion and was fair in his punishment, Richard for example, lost half of the revenue allowed to him as Count of Poitou. Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. [5]
In 1182, the Plantagenet children's aggression turned inward. Young Henry, Richard and their brother Geoffrey all began fighting each other for their father's possessions on the continent. The situation was exacerbated by French rebels and the French King, Philip Augustus. Philip II Augustus (Philippe Auguste ( 21 August[[ 165]] &ndash 14 July 1223) was the King of France from 1180 until his death This was the most serious threat to come from within the family yet, and the King faced the dynastic tragedy of civil war. However, on 11 June 1183, Henry the Young King died. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Henry the Young King ( 28 February 1155 – 11 June 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine The uprising, which had been built around the Prince, promptly collapsed and the remaining brothers returned to the their individual lands. Henry quickly occupied the rebel region of Angouleme to keep the peace. Angoulême is a commune in western France, capital of the Charente department. [5]
The final battle between Henry's Princes came in 1184. Geoffrey of Brittany and John of Ireland, the youngest brothers, had been promised Aquitaine, which belonged to elder brother Richard. Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Aquitaine (Aquitània Akitania archaic Guyenne / Guienne (Occitan Guiana) is one of the 26 Regions of France, in the south-western part of [5] Geoffrey and John invaded, but Richard had been controlling an army for almost 10 years and was an accomplished military commander. Richard expelled his fickle brothers and they would never again face each other in combat, largely because Geoffrey died two years later, leaving only Richard and John.
Death and succession
The final thorn in Henry's side would be an alliance between his eldest son, Richard, and his greatest rival, Philip Augustus. Philip II Augustus (Philippe Auguste ( 21 August[[ 165]] &ndash 14 July 1223) was the King of France from 1180 until his death John had become Henry's favourite son and Richard had begun to fear he was being written out of the King's inheritance. [5] In summer 1189, Richard and Philip invaded Henry's heartland of power, Anjou. Anjou is a former County (c 880) Duchy ( 1360) and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower The unlikely allies took northwest Touraine, attacked Le Mans and overran Maine and Tours. Defeated, Henry II met his opponents and agreed to all their demands, including paying homage to Philip for all his French possessions.
Weak, ill, and deserted by all but an illegitimate son, Geoffrey, Archbishop of York, Henry died at Chinon on 6 July 1189. Geoffrey Archbishop of York (c 1152 &ndash 12 December 1212 was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England. Chinon is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England His legitimate children, chroniclers record him saying, were "the real bastards. "[16]. The victorious Prince Richard later paid his respects to Henry's corpse as it travelled to Fontevraud Abbey, upon which, according to Roger of Wendover, 'blood flowed from the nostrils of the deceased, as if. Fontevraud Abbey (or Fontevrault Abbey) is located in the village of Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, near Chinon, in Anjou, France. . . indignant at the presence of the one who was believed to have caused his death'. The Prince, Henry's oldest son and conqueror, was crowned Richard I of England on 1 September 1189. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle.
Ancestry
Descendants
For a complete list of Henry's descendants, see List of members of the House of Plantagenet. This is a list of members of the House of Plantagenet. It includes only those who were members of the male-line descent from King Henry II, and consequently bore his
Fictional portrayals
Henry II is a central character in the plays Becket by Jean Anouilh and The Lion in Winter by James Goldman. Becket ou l'honneur de Dieu (Becket or The Honor of God is a Tony Award -winning play written in French by Jean Anouilh. Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh (ʒɑ̃ anwi June 23, 1910 &ndash October 3, 1987) was a French Dramatist. The Lion in Winter is a 1966 Broadway play by James Goldman, who also cinematically adapted it in 1968 for the film directed by James Goldman ( June 30, 1927 – October 28, 1998) was an American Academy Award -winning Screenwriter and playwright Peter O'Toole portrayed him in the film adaptations of both of these plays - Becket (1964) and The Lion in Winter (1968) - for both of which he received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Peter O'Toole (born 2 August 1932) is an Irish and British actor who achieved instant stardom in 1962 playing T Becket is a 1964 Film adaptation of the play Becket or the Honour of God by Jean Anouilh made by Hal Wallis Productions The Lion in Winter is a 1968 historical Costume drama made by Avco Embassy Pictures, based on the Broadway play by Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS to recognize He was also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Actor for Becket and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama for both films. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role has been presented to its winners since 1952 and actors of all nationalities are The Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture - Drama was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as a separate category in 1951 Patrick Stewart portrayed Henry in the TV film adaptation of The Lion in Winter (2003), for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE (born 13 July 1940 is an English Film, Television and stage Actor. The Lion in Winter is a 2003 made-for-television Remake of the 1968 film. Best Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television For the main article see Golden Globe Award.
Brian Cox portrayed him in the BBC TV series The Devil's Crown (1978), which dramatised his reign and those of his sons. Brian Denis Cox, CBE (born June 1, 1946) is a BAFTA - and Emmy Award -winning Golden Globe -nominated British The Devil's Crown was a BBC Television series which dramatised the reigns of three Medieval Kings of England: Henry II He has also been portrayed on screen by William Shea in the silent short Becket (1910), A. V. Bramble in the silent film Becket (1923), based on a play by Alfred Lord Tennyson, Alexander Gauge in the film adaptation of the T. S. Eliot play Murder in the Cathedral (1952), and Dominic Roche in the British children's TV series Richard the Lionheart (1962). Alfred Tennyson 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892 was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and remains one of the most popular English poets Alexander Gauge (29 July 1914 - 29 August 1960 was a British actor best known for playing Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin Hood from 1955 Thomas Stearns Eliot, OM (September 26 1888 – January 4 1965 was a poet Dramatist, and Literary critic. Murder in the Cathedral is a Poetic Drama by T S Eliot that portrays the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket
Henry II is also a significant character in the historical fiction/medieval murder mysteries, Mistress of the Art of Death and The Serpent's Tale by Diana Norman under the pseudonym, Ariana Franklin. Diana Norman is a British Author and Journalist writing Historical fiction and Non-fiction. Diana Norman is a British Author and Journalist writing Historical fiction and Non-fiction.
Notes
- ^ a b c Harvey, The Plantagenets, p. 47
- ^ a b c d Harvey, The Plantagenets, p. 49
- ^ Harvey, The Plantagenets, p. 51
- ^ Weir, Alison, Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life, pp. 154-155, Ballantine Books, 1999
- ^ a b c d e f g h Turner & Heiser, The Reign of Richard Lionheart
- ^ a b Harvey, The Plantagenets
- ^ British History Online Bishops of Durham. Retrieved October 25, 2007. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
- ^ a b Harvey, The Plantagenets, p. 40
- ^ Walter Map, Contemporary
- ^ Harvey, The Plantagenets, p. 43
- ^ a b c Harvey, The Plantagenets, p. 50
- ^ Harvey, The Plantagenets, p. 48
- ^ Warren, Henry II
- ^ a b John Harvey, The Plantagenets, p. 45
- ^ Harvey, Richard I, p. 58
- ^ Simon Schama's A History of Britain, Episode 3, "Dynasty"
References and further reading
- Richard Barber, The Devil's Crown: A History of Henry II and His Sons (Conshohocken, PA, 1996)
- Robert Bartlett, England Under The Norman and Angevin Kings 1075-1225 (2000)
- J. Simon Michael Schama, CBE (born 13 February 1945 is a British professor of history and art history at Columbia University. A History of Britain redirects here for the books with that name see A History of Britain (book. Boussard, Le government d'Henry II Plantagênêt (Paris, 1956)
- John D. Hosler Henry II: A Medieval Soldier at War, 1147–1189 (History of Warfare; 44). Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 2007 (hardcover, ISBN 90-04-15724-7).
- John Harvey, The Plantagenets
- John Harvey, Richard I
- Ralph Turner & Richard Heiser, The Reign of Richard Lionheart
- W. L. Warren, Henry II (London, 1973)
External links
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Henry II of England
Born: 1133 5 March Died: 1189 6 July |
||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Stephen |
King of England 1154 – 1189 |
Succeeded by Richard I |
| English royalty | ||
| Preceded by Eustace IV of Boulogne |
Heir to the English Throne as heir apparent by the Treaty of Wallingford November, 1153 - 25 October 1154 |
Succeeded by William, Count of Poitiers |
| French nobility | ||
| Preceded by Geoffrey |
Duke of Normandy 1151 – 1189 |
Succeeded by Richard I |
| Count of Anjou 1151–1189 with Henry the Young King |
||
| Count of Maine 1151 – 1189 with Henry the Young King |
||
| Preceded by Louis and Eleanor |
Duke of Aquitaine 1152 – 1189 with Eleanor |
|
| Count of Poitiers 1152 – 1189 with Eleanor |
Succeeded by William |
|
| Preceded by Geoffrey V |
Count of Mortain 1151 – 1153 |
Succeeded by William III |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Henry II |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Henry II of England |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | King of England (1154–1189), first of the Plantagenet or Angevin Kings |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 5, 1133 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Le Mans |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 6, 1189 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Chinon |
The House of Plantagenet (planˈtadʒɪnɪt also called the House of Anjou, or the First Angevin dynasty, was originally a noble Stephen often referred to in history as Stephen of Blois (c 1096 &ndash 25 October, 1154) was the last Norman King of England The Kings of Wessex, who conquered Kent and Sussex from Mercia in 825 became increasingly dominant over the other kingdoms of England during Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death The Kings of Wessex, who conquered Kent and Sussex from Mercia in 825 became increasingly dominant over the other kingdoms of England during This is a list of the individuals who were at any given time considered the next in line to inherit the thrones of England Great Britain or the United Kingdom should the incumbent monarch An heir apparent is an Heir who (short of a fundamental change in the situation cannot be displaced from inheriting the term is used in contrast to Heir presumptive The Treaty of Wallingford of 1153, aka Treaty of Winchester or as the Treaty of Westminster, was an agreement that effectively ended The Anarchy Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a William (17 August 1153 &ndash April 1156 was the first child of Henry Plantagenet (later Henry II of England) and Eleanor of Aquitaine, born in The Nobility (la noblesse in France, in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period had specific legal and financial rights and Duke of Normandy is a Title held or claimed by various Norman, French, English and British rulers from the 10th century until the Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death List of Counts of Anjou First creation 870&ndash1203 House of Ingelger Ingelger (870&ndash898 father Henry the Young King ( 28 February 1155 – 11 June 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine This is a list of counts and dukes of Maine, with their capital at Le Mans. Henry the Young King ( 28 February 1155 – 11 June 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Louis VII, called the Younger or the Young (Louis le Jeune 1120 – 18 September 1180) was King of France, the son and successor For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine (1122&ndash1 April 1204 The Duke of Aquitaine ( French: Duc d'Aquitaine) ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of the Frankish and later the For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine (1122&ndash1 April 1204 Among the men who have borne the title of Count of Poitiers (or Poitou, in what is now France but in the Middle Ages became For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine (1122&ndash1 April 1204 William (17 August 1153 &ndash April 1156 was the first child of Henry Plantagenet (later Henry II of England) and Eleanor of Aquitaine, born in The County of Mortain was a medieval county in France centered on the town of Mortain. The Kings of Wessex, who conquered Kent and Sussex from Mercia in 825 became increasingly dominant over the other kingdoms of England during The House of Plantagenet (planˈtadʒɪnɪt also called the House of Anjou, or the First Angevin dynasty, was originally a noble Angevin (ˈændʒəvɪn ( French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin Andegavinus from Andegavia Anjou, France) is the name applied Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Le Mans (ləmɑ̃ in French) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Chinon is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.
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