Irene Preston's Historical Writing
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - PART ONE
William I to Henry II
William I
Henry II
When William I, known as the Conqueror, died in 1087 his son William
Rufus became king. His heir should have been his son, Robert Duke of
Normandy, but he betrayed his father by siding with the enemy. The
barons were ready to support him but he refused and joined the first
crusade about 1087/88. One day, whilst hunting in the New Forest,
William II was struck by an arrow and did not survive. His brother Henry
was thought responsible but no proof could be found and he was crowned
King Henry I in 1100. Robert returned to England but he was captured by
Henry and imprisoned in Cardiff Castle in 1106 where he was kept until
he died in 1134 aged 80/83. His tomb is in Gloucester Cathedral. Henry I
proved to be a strong ruler and was referred to as ‘The Lion of
Justice’. He had many love affairs producing a number of illegitimate
children including 8 daughters, all securing beneficial alliances. His
first marriage was to Matilda of Scotland who bore him a son, William,
and a daughter, Matilda. In 1120 his son and heir was drowned in the
White Ship whilst returning home from Normandy, there was only one
survivor. He married again but did not produce a legitimate heir and
tried to name his daughter as his heir. Matilda had been married to
Henry V of Germany, when he died she married Geoffrey of Anjou and the
earls of England were not happy to have her as Queen. Henry's sister
Adela had married Stephen of Blois and she had a son also called
Stephen. It was this Stephen, as nephew to Henry, who became king when
Henry I died in 1135. Civil war broke out in England as Matilda, often
called Maud, took up arms with her husband to assert her claim. After 10
years of civil war and strife King Stephen named her son Henry as his
heir. Stephen died in 1154 and Henry II was crowned king. Geoffrey of
Anjou was renowned for wearing a sprig of broom fastened to his helmet,
the Latin name is Planta genista and the royal line became
known as ‘The Plantagenets.’ They reigned for 300 years.
Henry II 1154-1189, Richard I 1189-1199, John 1199-1216, Henry III
1216-1272, Edward I 1272-1307, Edward II 1307-1327, Edward III
1327-1377, Richard II 1377-1399, Henry IV 1399-1413, Henry V 1413-1422,
Henry VI 1422-1471. Due to mental illness Henry VI was deposed and
Edward IV was king 1461-1470. Henry was restored for a year but later
murdered in the tower in 1471 and Edward IV returned as king until 1483
when he died of a fever. His son, aged 12, became Edward V but was also
murdered in the tower, with his younger brother they became known as
‘The Princes in the Tower’. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was believed
responsible but there was no proof. He was crowned King Richard III but
in 1485 he was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field by Henry Tudor
thus ending the reign of the Plantagenets.
HENRY II had married Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine before he was crowned
King of England in 1154, he was her second husband. She had been married
to the old and frail King Louis VII of France. There was no issue and
she applied to the Pope for an annulment on the grounds of consanguinity
(blood relation), so that she could marry Henry. Apart from Aquitaine
Eleanor brought Poitou, Gascony and several other provinces to the
marriage and, together with Henry's Anjou, Brittany, Touraine and Maine
inherited from his father, Henry II of England held more than half of
France. In reality this meant that he owed a grudging fealty to the King
of France.
These provinces were often referred to as the ‘Angevin Empire’ but not
by their contemporaries, they would not have considered themselves as
part of an empire as this was reserved for the Holy Roman Empire. They
were not governed by one body nor linked politically but held by
feudalism, the main form of control on the continent.
Eleanor was 13 years older than Henry when they married and the union
proved fruitful producing 8 legitimate children, 3 daughters and 5 sons,
but their first son William died young. Henry decided to divide his
lands between his sons, Henry his heir would have England, Anjou and
Normandy, Geoffrey would have Brittany, Richard would have Aquitaine,
always his mother's favourite son, and all John could have was a wild
and boggy Ireland. He was often called John Lackland. There was always
trouble between the sons and their father, all strong-willed Angevins,
often instigated by Eleanor. In 1173 she and 3 of her sons turned
against Henry causing a minor civil war. They were soon reconciled but
Eleanor was put into prison for a short time to keep her out of
mischief. The King reasserted the royal authority over the barons and
bishops that had lapsed during the 10 years of civil war. He created
royal officers and courts in all the shires, responsible only to the
Crown. This was the beginning of common law with observance of ancient
custom. The Church claimed powers which Henry thought infringed on the
rights of the Crown and argued to retain control of appointing his own
bishops with the support of clerical members. He also objected to
law-breakers within the Church not being judged by his royal courts and
being protected by the Church. Henry's grievance was not his alone as
most medieval kings resented the interference of the Pope into the
ruling of their own Kingdom. This problem would not be reconciled until
Henry VIII and his reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries.
Henry's childhood friend was Thomas Becket, son of Gilbert who had come
to England with the Conqueror, he was a portreeve in the City of London.
Henry made Thomas his Chancellor in 1155 and 7 years later Archbishop of
Canterbury, hoping Thomas would support him but Thomas changed from a
fun-loving young man into a serious-minded member of the Church and
transferred his support to the Pope. The King thought Thomas had gone
too far when he dealt severely with a cleric by having him branded as
punishment. In 1164 a hearing was ordered but Thomas refused to attend
and fled to France in disguise. He lived in a monastery and worked as a
diplomat for 6 years.
Henry II decided to crown his son and heir before his own death, this
had never been done before and was much against the ruling of the
Church. Thomas Becket returned to England in 1170 but would not answer
to the king. Henry is believed to have been in Normandy when he uttered
his cry, ‘Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest’. His knights had
heard his cry and took him literally and set off for England where they
killed Thomas before the altar.
Henry did penance before the monks in Canterbury Cathedral and was
symbolically whipped.
Henry had a number of illegitimate children before his marriage to
Eleanor. One, called Geoffrey, not to be confused with Henry's
legitimate son Geoffrey, became Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York
but as he was not consecrated, the Pope refused his position so he
became Chancellor of Lincoln. As a widow Eleanor went to live in Lincoln
and took an active interest in the cathedral. Another illegitimate son
was William Longspee, sometimes called Longsword, who was created the
3rd Earl of Salisbury, sheriff of Wiltshire, lieutenant of Gascony,
constable of Dover and warden of the Cinq Ports. Later he became warden
of the Welsh Marches (borders) and considered a great commander and
leader even at sea. He had a good, friendly relationship with his half
brother John and he was influential in the forming of the Magna Carta,
and a loyal servant of his young nephew who became King Henry III in
1216 at the age of 9. William was present at the laying of the
foundation stone of Salisbury Cathedral in 1220. He died at Old Sarum
Castle in 1226 and was the first person to be buried in the newly
completed Lady Chapel. His tomb and effigy are in the south aisle of the
nave and he is holding his shield bearing six lions, the earliest form
of the Arms of England. This design is first seen on the tomb of his
paternal grandfather Geoffrey Plantagenet. A blue shield bearing 6 gold
lions was hung about Geoffrey's neck when he was knighted by his
father-in-law Henry I. Richard I bore a shield bearing 3 lions which was
used until 1340 when King Edward III added the fleur-de-lis of France to
the lions of England. The fleur-de-lis was discarded about 1801.
The king's son Henry died of a fever in 1183 and his other son Geoffrey
died in 1186 causing more trouble between the remaining sons. Henry II
died in 1189 and was widely recognized as one of England's greatest
monarchs.
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - William I to Henry II click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Richard I and King John click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Henry III click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Edward I click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Edward II click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Edward III
click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Richard II
click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Henry IV click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND -
Henry V click