Henry II: Difference between revisions
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''This is the page for '''King Henry II of England''' .''<br> |
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''You may be looking for [[Henry II of Cyprus|King Henry II of Cyprus and Jerusalem]]'' |
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Henry came to the [[throne]] in a [[kingdom]] that was in anarchy after [[King Stephen]]'s [[reign]]. He got the [[Baron]]s into line with remarkable speed. The bulk of his lands were however in [[France]], having acquired [[Normandy]] and Anjou through inheritance and much of south-west France through marriage to [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]]. It was because of these land holding that the [[English Monarchs|English Kings]] claimed the throne of France until the [[15th Century]]. |
Henry came to the [[throne]] in a [[kingdom]] that was in anarchy after [[King Stephen]]'s [[reign]]. He got the [[Baron]]s into line with remarkable speed. The bulk of his lands were however in [[France]], having acquired [[Normandy]] and Anjou through inheritance and much of south-west France through marriage to [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]]. It was because of these land holding that the [[English Monarchs|English Kings]] claimed the [[throne]] of France until the [[15th Century]]. |
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Henry II received a lot of bad press due to the murder of [[Thomas Beckett]], but it was all a misunderstanding. Honest. |
Henry II received a lot of bad press due to the murder of [[Thomas Beckett]], but it was all a misunderstanding. Honest. |
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Henry's family was beyond dysfunctional. Eleanor spent most of her married life in prison and his sons were regularly at odds with him. [[Richard I| |
Henry's family was beyond dysfunctional. Eleanor spent most of her married life in [[prison]] and his sons were regularly at odds with him. [[Richard I|Richard]] even attacked Henry with the aid of [[Louis VII]] of France. Still, Henry managed to outlive two of his sons -- [[Henry the Young King]], and Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany, each of whom, in his time, had also revolted against their father. Henry's legacy was squandered though when Richard lost his [[money]] [[crusade|crusading]] and getting captured, while [[John Lackland]] justified his father's lack of faith in him by losing his French posessions as well as the respect of the Barons. |
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| ⚫ | On the other hand, his antecedents were impressive. His mother was a king's daughter, Augusta (also ''Maude'' and |
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| ⚫ | On the other hand, his antecedents were impressive. His mother was a king's daughter, Augusta (also ''Maude'' and ''Matilda''), daughter of [[Henry I]] of England (son of the [[William the Conqueror|Conqueror]]) and Matilda of [[Scotland]] (herself daughter of the Scots king [[Malcolm III]]), and widow of the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] before her re[[marriage]]. His father was Geoffrey [[Plantagenet]], [[Count]] of Anjou, son of Count Fulk (who had also been [[King]] of [[Jerusalem]]) and of Erembourg (or ''Ermentrude''), [[Countess]] of Maine. The (slight) blot on the [[escutcheon]] was, of course, the [[legend]] that, back in history, the counts of Anjou were descended, in some way, from the demi-demon ''Melusine''. |
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==== A Contemporary Eye ==== |
==== A Contemporary Eye ==== |
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[[Gerald of Wales]] described King Henry as follows, in his 1188 book ''The Conquest of Ireland'': <br> |
[[Gerald of Wales]] described King Henry as follows, in his 1188 [[book]] ''The Conquest of [[Ireland]]'': <br> |
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:... hair that was almost red in colour, grey eyes and a large round head. His eyes were bright, and in |
:... hair that was almost red in colour, grey eyes and a large round head. His eyes were bright, and in anger fierce, and flecked with red. He had a fiery complexion, his voice was husky, his neck bent forward a little from his shoulders, and he had a broad chest and powerful arms. His body was fleshy, and he had a very large belly, naturally so, and not due to the effects of gluttony |
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Gerald also noted that he used immense amounts of exercise both to mitigate his plumpness and to bring his body firmly under his mind's control. |
Gerald also noted that he used immense amounts of exercise both to mitigate his plumpness and to bring his body firmly under his mind's control. |
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<td width = 30% align = center> |
<td width = 30% align = center> |
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Preceded by:<br>[[King Stephen]] |
Preceded by:<br>[[King Stephen]] |
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<td width = 40% align = center> |
<td width = 40% align = center> |
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[[English Monarchs]] |
[[English Monarchs]] |
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<td width = 30% align = center> |
<td width = 30% align = center> |
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Succeeded by:<br>[[Richard I]] |
Succeeded by:<br>[[Richard I]] |
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</td> |
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</table> |
</table> |
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</center> |
</center> |
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== External Links == |
== External Links == |
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[[Category:12th century]] |
[[Category:12th century]] |
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[[Category:Monarchs (medieval)]] |
[[Category:Monarchs (medieval)]] |
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[[category:people (medieval)]] |
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Latest revision as of 01:51, 27 June 2015
This is the page for King Henry II of England .
You may be looking for King Henry II of Cyprus and Jerusalem
King Henry II (March 25, 1133 - July 6, 1189), was the first of the Angevin kings. He was a highly effective king who did not hesitate to break a few eggs if he wanted to make an omelette.
Henry came to the throne in a kingdom that was in anarchy after King Stephen's reign. He got the Barons into line with remarkable speed. The bulk of his lands were however in France, having acquired Normandy and Anjou through inheritance and much of south-west France through marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine. It was because of these land holding that the English Kings claimed the throne of France until the 15th Century.
Henry II received a lot of bad press due to the murder of Thomas Beckett, but it was all a misunderstanding. Honest.
Henry's family was beyond dysfunctional. Eleanor spent most of her married life in prison and his sons were regularly at odds with him. Richard even attacked Henry with the aid of Louis VII of France. Still, Henry managed to outlive two of his sons -- Henry the Young King, and Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany, each of whom, in his time, had also revolted against their father. Henry's legacy was squandered though when Richard lost his money crusading and getting captured, while John Lackland justified his father's lack of faith in him by losing his French posessions as well as the respect of the Barons.
On the other hand, his antecedents were impressive. His mother was a king's daughter, Augusta (also Maude and Matilda), daughter of Henry I of England (son of the Conqueror) and Matilda of Scotland (herself daughter of the Scots king Malcolm III), and widow of the Holy Roman Emperor before her remarriage. His father was Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, son of Count Fulk (who had also been King of Jerusalem) and of Erembourg (or Ermentrude), Countess of Maine. The (slight) blot on the escutcheon was, of course, the legend that, back in history, the counts of Anjou were descended, in some way, from the demi-demon Melusine.
A Contemporary Eye
Gerald of Wales described King Henry as follows, in his 1188 book The Conquest of Ireland:
- ... hair that was almost red in colour, grey eyes and a large round head. His eyes were bright, and in anger fierce, and flecked with red. He had a fiery complexion, his voice was husky, his neck bent forward a little from his shoulders, and he had a broad chest and powerful arms. His body was fleshy, and he had a very large belly, naturally so, and not due to the effects of gluttony
Gerald also noted that he used immense amounts of exercise both to mitigate his plumpness and to bring his body firmly under his mind's control.
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Preceded by: |
Succeeded by: |
