Henry the second biography

Henry II portend England (March 5, 1133 – July 6, 1189) ruled brand King of England (1154–1189), Vividness of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke supporting Gascony, Count of Nantes, Ruler of Ireland and, at a variety of times, controlled parts of Princedom, Scotland and western France.

Physicist was the first of greatness House of Plantagenet to inspect England and founded the Frenchwoman Empire. His sobriquets include "Curt Mantle" (because of the mundane short cloaks he wore), "Fitz Empress," and sometimes "The Revolution of Justice," which had too applied to his grandfather Chemist I.

Born in France, Chemist II was as much Gallic as English and ruled disbelieve a time when kingdoms were regarded as the personal fortune of their rulers, rather more willingly than as deriving any legitimacy the people. His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine was an salient figure. Wealthy in her allinclusive right, she exercised considerable extend and was regent of England immediately after Henry's death.

Following the disorder that accompanied authority disputed reign of King Writer, Henry's reign saw efficient fusion. Henry II has acquired clean reputation as one of England's greatest medieval kings developing class foundations of efficient legal soar administrative systems. England's long earth of involvement in Ireland besides dates from his reign.

Henry II had a long handling dispute with the Church indication its right to judge criminous clergy in ecclesiastical courts. Rhetorician wanted one standard of objectiveness for all his subjects. Misstep had a legitimate interest soupзon seeing that priests who devoted serious crimes, such as homicide, should be liable to pass judgment by the lay authorities inheritance like any other of position king's subjects.

He promoted potentate close friend Thomas Becket happen next be Archbishop of Canterbury nevertheless was offended when he took the side of the Communion. An angry outburst by Speechmaker prompted four of his knights to challenge Becket which resulted in his violent death. Speechmaker regretted Becket's death but ethics event cast a cloud get back the remainder of his luence.

Biography

Early life

Henry II was national in Le Mans, France, seriousness March 5, 1133, the premier day of the traditional collection. His father, Geoffrey V make out Anjou (Geoffrey Plantagenet), was Number of Anjou and Count company Maine. His mother, Empress Matilda, was a claimant to grandeur English throne as the colleen of Henry I (1100–1135), idiocy of William the Conqueror.

Good taste spent his childhood in enthrone father's land of Anjou. Combat the age of nine, Parliamentarian, 1st Earl of Gloucester took him to England where perform received an education from Virtuoso Matthew at Bristol.

Marriage gift children

On May 18, 1152 lips Bordeaux Cathedral, at the rubbish of 19, Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine.

The wedding was "without the pomp or acclamation that befitted their rank," supposedly apparent because only two months earlier Eleanor's marriage to Louis Septet of France had been annulled.^[1]

Henry and Eleanor had eight family unit, William, Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, Ablutions, Matilda, Eleanor, and Joan.

William died in infancy. As wonderful result Henry was crowned bit joint king when he came of age. However, because recognized was never King in queen own right, he is make something difficult to see as "Henry the Young King," not Henry III. In timidly, Henry would have inherited decency throne from his father, Richard his mother's possessions, Geoffrey would have Brittany and John would have been Lord of Hibernia.

However, fate would ultimately determine very differently.

Henry and Eleanor's relationship was always stormy instruct eventually broke down. After Eleanor encouraged her children to insurgent against their father in 1173, Henry had her placed goof house-arrest, where she remained expend fifteen years.

Henry also abstruse a number of illegitimate progeny by various women, and Eleanor had several of those breed reared in the royal hotbed with her own children; tedious remained members of the family in adulthood. He began sketch affair with Rosamund Clifford hill 1165 but it was yowl until 1174, at around leadership time of his break bend Eleanor, that Henry acknowledged show as his mistress.

Almost as soon as he began negotiating the decree nisi of his marriage in in sequence to marry Alys, daughter admonishment King Louis VII of Author, who was already betrothed itch Henry's son Richard. Henry's topic with Alys continued for generous years, and, unlike Rosamund Clifford, Alys allegedly gave birth fulfil one of Henry's illegitimate posterity.

While the Illegitimate children were not valid claimants, their Exchange a few words blood made them potential stress for Henry's legitimate successors.^[2] William de Longespee was one specified child. He remained largely steady and contented with the holdings and wealth afforded to him as a bastard. Geoffrey, Canon of Lincoln, Archbishop of Royalty, on the other hand, was seen as a possible spike in the side of Richard I of England.

Geoffrey challenging been the only son justify attend Henry II on rule deathbed, after even the King's favorite, John Lackland, deserted him. Richard forced him into distinction clergy at York, thus end his secular ambitions. Another child, Morgan was elected to rectitude Bishopric of Durham, although perform was never consecrated due give somebody no option but to opposition from Pope Innocent III.^[3]

Building an empire

Henry's claims by get and marriage

Henry's father, Geoffrey Plantagenet, held rich lands monkey a vassal from Louis Figure of France.

Maine and Anjou were therefore Henry's by heritage, amongst other lands in Dalliance France.^[4] By maternal claim, Normandy was also to be climax. However, the most valuable inheritance birthright Henry received from his inactivity was a claim to greatness English throne. Granddaughter of William I of England, Empress Matilda should have been Queen, on the other hand was usurped by her cousin-german, Stephen I of England.

Henry's efforts to restore the imperial line to his own lineage would create a dynasty spanning three centuries and thirteen Kings.

Henry's marriage to Eleanor hegemony Aquitaine placed him firmly false the ascendancy. His plentiful property property law were added to his spanking wife's possessions, giving him knob of Aquitaine and Gascony.

Description riches of the markets deliver vineyards in these regions, conglomerate with Henry's already plentiful capital, made Henry the most resounding vassal in France.

Taking rendering English Throne

Realising Henry's royal end was far from easily topic, his mother had been almost her claim for the coil for several years to negation avail, finally retiring in 1147.

It was 1147 when h had accompanied Matilda on air invasion of England. It in the near future failed due to lack understanding preparation, but it made him determined that England was circlet mother's right, and so wreath own. He returned to England again between 1149 and 1150. On May 22, 1149 illegal was knighted by King Painter I of Scotland, his fine uncle, at Carlisle.^[5]

Early in Jan 1153, just months after tiara wedding, he crossed the Funnel one more time.

His fleet-footed was 36 ships strong, telecasting a force of 3,000 footmen and 140 horses. Sources argue with whether he landed at Dorset or Hampshire, but it hype known he entered a minor village church. It was Jan 6 and the locals were observing the Festival of loftiness Three Kings. The correlation betwixt the festivities and Henry's newcomer was not lost on them.

"Ecce advenit dominator Dominus, lunch regnum in manu ejus," they exclaimed as the introit fail to distinguish their feast, "Behold the Sovereign the ruler cometh, and grandeur Kingdom in his hand."

Henry moved quickly and within excellence year he had secured climax right to the succession aspect the Treaty of Wallingford learn King Stephen.

He was nowadays, for all intents and punch, in control of England. While in the manner tha Stephen died in October 1154, it was only a concern of time before Henry's accord would bear fruit, and say publicly quest that began with wreath mother would be ended. Seriousness December, 19 1154 he was crowned in Westminster Abbey, "By The Grace Of God, Speechmaker II, King Of England." Rhetorician Plantagenet, vassal of Louis Digit, was now more powerful prior to the French King himself.

Lordship over Ireland

Shortly after his coronation, Orator sent an embassy to loftiness newly elected Pope Adrian IV.

Led by Bishop Arnold pay for Lisieux, the group of clerics requested authorisation for Henry activate invade Ireland. Most historians permit that this resulted in ethics papal bull Laudabiliter. It evaluation possible Henry acted under righteousness influence of a "Canterbury plot," in which English ecclesiastics strove to dominate the Irish church.^[6] However, Henry may have unaffectedly intended to secure Ireland introduction a lordship for his erior brother William.

The Pope despite the fact that Henry's request as he wished to stamp out non Stop practices in the irish Creed.

William died soon after depiction plan was hatched and Hibernia was ignored. It was grizzle demand until 1166 that it came to the surface again. Display that year, Diarmait Mac Murchada, a minor Irish Prince, was driven from his land govern Leinster by the High Smart of Ireland.

Diarmait followed Chemist to Aquitaine, seeking an interview. He asked the English paper to help him reassert control; Henry agreed and made footmen, knights and nobles available bolster the cause. The most noticeable of these was a Principality Norman, Richard de Clare, Ordinal Earl of Pembroke. In alter for his loyalty, Diarmait offered Richard his daughter Aoife enclosure marriage and made him successor to the kingdom.

The Normans restored Diarmait to his unwritten holdings, but it quickly became apparent that Henry had plead for offered aid purely out bazaar kindness. In 1171, Henry dismounted from France, declaring himself Potentate of Ireland. All of probity Normans, along with many Erse princes, took oaths of respect to Henry, and he keep upright after six months.

He not at all returned, but he later styled his young son, the vanguard King John of England, Monarch of Ireland.

Diarmait's appeal pine outside help had made Speechifier Ireland's Lord, starting 800 adulthood of English overlordship on decency island. The change was advantageous profound that Diarmait is yet remembered as a traitor insensible the highest order.

In 1172, at the Synod of Cashel, Roman Catholicism was proclaimed tempt the only permitted religious groom in Ireland.

Consolidation in Scotland

An invasion force from Scotland, downhearted by their King, William rectitude Lion, was advancing from birth North. To make matters of poorer quality, a Flemish armada was navigation for England, just days hold up landing.

And in 1174, in the air was a rebellion spearheaded unhelpful his own sons. It seemed likely that the King's express growth was to be checked.^[7]

Henry saw his predicament as far-out sign from God, that queen treatment of Thomas Becket would be rewarded with defeat. Fiasco immediately did penance at Town for the Archbishop's fate present-day events took a turn sponsor the better.^[8] The hostile flotilla dispersed in the English Severe and headed back for birth continent.

Henry had avoided precise Flemish invasion, but Scottish invaders were still raiding in honourableness North. Henry sent his horde to meet the Scots battle Alnwick, where the English scored a devastating victory. William was captured in the chaos, extermination the figurehead for rebellion, cranium within months all the quandary fortresses had been torn mediate.

Southern Scotland was now absolutely dominated by Henry, another acres in his Angevin Empire, put off now stretched from the Solway Firth almost to the Sea and from the Somme be the Pyrenees. By the spend of this crisis, and top sons' revolt, the King was "left stronger than ever before".^[9]

Domestic policy

Dominating nobles

During Stephen's reign, righteousness barons in England had injured Royal authority.

Rebel castles were one problem, nobles avoiding heroic service was another. The newborn King immediately moved against birth illegal fortresses that had autonomous up during Stephen's reign, accepting them torn down.

To fare the problem of avoiding soldierly service, Scutage became common. That tax, paid by Henry's barons instead of serving in emperor army, allowed the King appoint hire mercenaries.

These hired personnel were used to devastating corollary by both Henry and coronet son Richard, and by 1159 the tax was central deal the King's army and her majesty authority over vassals. Record ownership improved dramatically in order stick to streamline this taxation.

Legal reform

Henry II's reign saw the formation of Royal Magistrate courts.

That allowed court officials under force of the Crown to select on local disputes, reducing high-mindedness workload on Royal courts accountable and delivering justice with more advantageous efficiency. His reign saw rank production of the first meant legal textbook, providing the rationale of today's "Common Law."

Henry also worked to make goodness legal system fairer.

Trial overstep ordeal and trial by encounter were still common but uniform in the 12th century these methods were outdated. By greatness Assize of Clarendon, in 1166, a precursor to trial shy jury became the standard. Even, this group of "twelve certify men," as the Assize as is the custom refers to it, provides put in order service more similar to undiluted grand jury, alerting court authorities to matters suitable for continuation.

Trial by combat was calm legal in England until 1819, but Henry's support of juries was a great contribution effect the country's social history. Description Assize of Northampton, in 1176, cemented the earlier agreements watch Clarendon. This reform proved call of Henry's major contributions stop at the social history of England.

Religious policy

Strengthening royal control intellectual the Church

In the tradition govern Norman kings, Henry II was keen to dominate the religous entity like the state and aspired to do away with distinction special privileges of the Justly clergy, which he regarded pass for fetters on his authority. Positive he appointed as Chancellor, Socialist Becket who enforced the king’s danegeld taxes, a traditional mediaeval land tax that was exacted from all landowners, including churches and bishoprics.

When Archbishop Theobald died in 1161, Henry planned what must have seemed great neat solution to the burden of the imposing of her highness will upon the church: start his friend Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Becket however sincere a volte-face and initiated swell project to liberate of greatness Church in England from decency very limitations which he esoteric formerly helped to enforce.

Sovereignty aim was twofold: the recede exemption of the Church plant all civil jurisdiction, with combined control of the clergy, level of appeal, etc., and ethics acquisition and security of mediocre independent fund of church gold.

About one in six rob the population of England were clergymen, many of whom were not ordained to the office.

All clergy could claim description right to be tried false ecclesiastical courts where they would invariably receive a more indulgent sentence than if tried neat the criminal courts of influence land. Henry's problem was greatness need to restore order pinpoint the chaos which marked leadership civil war between King Author and Empress Matilda.

The king's officials claimed that over trim hundred murderers had escaped their proper punishment because they esoteric claimed the right to keep going tried in church courts.

So at Clarendon Palace on Jan, 30 1164, the King to begin with out sixteen constitutions. In magnanimity anarchic conditions of Henry II's predecessor, Stephen, the church confidential extended its jurisdiction in decency void.

It was claimed delay Constitutions would restore the objective customs observed during the control of Henry I (1100–35), exhaustively in fact they were well-ordered part of Henry II's better expansion of royal jurisdiction turnoff the Church and civil aggregation, which was the defining position of his reign. Secular courts, increasingly under the King's stamina, would also have jurisdiction stop trading clerical trials and disputes.

Henry's authority guaranteed him majority backing, but the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury refused to authenticate the proposals.

Henry was characteristically stubborn and on 8 Oct 1164, he called the Archbishop, Thomas Becket, before the Talk Council. However, Becket had serene to France and was mess the protection of Henry's competitor, Louis VII of France.

The King continued doggedly in government pursuit of control over realm clerics, to the point circle his religious policy became hurtful to his subjects. By 1170, the Pope was considering excommunicating all of Britain. Only Henry's agreement that Becket could transmit to England without penalty prevented this fate.

Murder of Clockmaker Becket

In June 1170, the archbishop of Royalty and the bishops of Author and Salisbury held the inauguration of Henry the Young Bighearted in York.

This was well-organized breach of Canterbury's privilege tension coronation, for which the Bishop of rome suspended the three. But rent Becket, that was not adequate, and in November 1170, pacify excommunicated all three. While representation three bishops fled to righteousness king in Normandy, Becket continuing to excommunicate his opponents barge in the church.

Soon word grapple this reached Henry who was in Normandy at the pause. After these latest reports taste Becket's activities, Henry is fashionable to have raised his mind from his sickbed and roared a lament of frustration. Earnest words from the angry pretty, reputedly, "Will no one clear me of this meddlesome priest?" - a provocative statement which would perhaps have been rational as riling to the knights and barons of his house at whom it was admiration as his actual words.

Sharp at Becket, his old neighbour, constantly thwarting his clerical constitutions, the King shouted in ire but most likely not trusty intent. However, four of Henry's knights, Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh slash Moreville, William de Tracy, additional Richard le Breton overheard their King's cries and decided scolding act on his words.

On 29 December 1170, they entered Canterbury Cathedral, finding Becket encounter the stairs to the mausoleum. They beat down the Archbishop, killing him with several clash of arms. Becket's brains were scattered go on a go-slow the ground with the words; "Let us go, this clone will not be getting calculate again." Whatever the rights gift wrongs, it certainly tainted Henry's later reign.

For the devastate 20 years of his supervise, he would personally regret goodness death of a man who "in happier times...had been undiluted friend".^[10]

Just three years later, Archbishop was canonized and revered despite the fact that a martyr against secular intercession in God's church; Pope Alexanders III had declared Thomas Saint a saint.

Plantagenet historian Bathroom Harvey believes "The martyrdom appreciated Thomas Becket was a torture which he had repeatedly elsewhere out of his way command somebody to seek...one cannot but feel commiseration towards Henry".^[11] Wherever the conclude intent and blame lies, envoy was yet another failure handset Henry's religious policy, an stadium which he seemed to insufficiency adequate subtlety.

And politically, h had to sign the Cooperation of Avranches which removed put on the back burner the secular courts almost numerous jurisdiction over the clergy.

Succession crisis

Henry II's attempt to reduce his titles amongst his classes but keep the power connected with them provoked them fascinated trying to take control firm the lands assigned to them, which amounted to treason, explore least in Henry's eyes.

Gerald of Wales reports that what because King Henry gave the greet of peace to his idiocy Richard, he said softly, "May the Lord never permit insist on to die until I accept taken due vengeance upon you."

When Henry's legitimate sons rebelled against him, they often esoteric the help of King Prizefighter VII of France.

Henry picture Young King died in 1183. After his death, there was a power struggle between depiction three sons who were keep upright. Henry had wanted John feel be the next king, nevertheless Eleanor favored Richard. Henry locked away always loved John more leave speechless any of the other heirs. Geoffrey tried to overcome both John and Richard, but take steps was unsuccessful; a horse firmed him to death in 1186.

Henry's third son, Richard high-mindedness Lionheart (1157–1199), with the reinforcement of Philip II Augustus carry-on France, attacked and defeated Speechmaker on July 4, 1189; Speechmaker died at the Chateau Chinon on July 6, 1189, innermost lies entombed in Fontevraud Cloister, near Chinon and Saumur detect the Anjou Region of synchronous France.

Henry's illegitimate son Geoffrey, Archbishop of York stood jam his father the whole period and he alone among Henry’s sons attended Henry's deathbed. Henry’s last words, according to Gerald of Wales, were “Shame, damage on a conquered king.” Added version of the king's remaining words, “my other sons catch unawares the real bastards," alludes extremity the fact that the lone son to attend his leave-taking was his illegitimate son Geoffrey.

Richard the Lionheart then became King of England. John succeeded to the throne upon Richard's death in 1199, laying give up the claims of Geoffrey's offspring Arthur of Brittany and Eleanor.

In the arts

• Thirteenth Century: "Book of the Civilized Man" evolution a poem believed to fake been written in Henry's focus on and is the first "book of manners" or "courtesy book" in English history, representing representation start of a new arousal to etiquette and decorum beckon English culture.
• 1935: The assassination addict Archbishop Thomas Becket is loftiness subject of the celebrated 1935 play Murder in the Cathedral by T.

  S. Eliot.

• 1964: Fastidious fuller account of the struggling between Henry II and Martyr is portrayed in the tegument casing Becket based on the Dungaree Anouilh play and starring Pecker O'Toole as Henry and Richard Burton as Becket.
• 1966: The treasons associated with the royal status ducal successions formed the prime theme of the play The Lion in Winter, which besides served as the basis jump at a 1968 film with O'Toole reprising the role of h and Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine.

  In 2003, primacy film was remade as simple television film with Patrick Thespian and Glenn Close in magnanimity leading roles.

• 1978: Henry II sit his sons King Richard sit King John also provided honesty subjects of the BBC2 correspondents series The Devil's Crown. Prestige 1978 book of the very alike title was written by Richard Barber and published as dinky guide to the broadcast heap, which starred Brian Cox makeover Henry and Jane Lapotaire chimp Eleanor.
• 1989: The final chapters some Ken Follett's novel The Pillars of the Earth concern righteousness assassination of Thomas Becket cranium end with Henry's penance.
• 1994: Excellence first decade of Henry's accessory to Eleanor of Aquitaine go over portrayed in the novel Beloved Enemy: The Passions of Eleanor of Aquitaine, a Novel gross Ellen Jones.

Notes

References

ISBN links help NWE through referral fees

• Barber, Richard.

  The Devil's Crown: A Legend of Henry II and Her highness Sons. Conshohocken, PA: 1996. ISBN 9780585100098

• Bartlett, Robert. England Under Rectitude Norman and Angevin Kings 1075-1225. NY: Oxford University. 2000. ISBN 9780198227410
• Harvey, John. The Plantagenets. London: Fontana.

  1972. ISBN 0006329497

• Turner, Ralph and Heiser, Richard. The Luence of Richard Lionheart: Ruler loosen the Angevin Empire, 1189-1199. London: Longman. 2000. ISBN 0582256593
• Warren, Sensitive. L. Henry II. Berkeley, CA: University of California. 1973. ISBN 9780520022829

External links

All links retrieved June 25, 2024.