Plantagenet Family - Ourfolk
King Henry Ii Plantagenet 5 MAR 1132 - 3 JUL 1189
 |
King Henry was born on 5 MAR 1132 in Sarthe, France and died on 3 JUL 1189 (age: 57) in Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, France and was buried in Fontevrault, France. . He was the son of Count Geoffrey V Plantagenet (24 AUG 1113 - 7 SEP 1151) and Queen Matilda (Plantagenet) (1104 - 10 SEP 1169). King Henry was married to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine (of France) on 18 MAY 1152 in Bordeaux, Gironde, France. Queen Eleanor was born on 1123 in Chateau De Belin, Bordeaux, Aquitaine and died on 31 MAR 1204 in Poitiers, Poitou, Aquitaine . She was the daughter of Duke Guillaume X of Aquitaine (1099 - 19 APR 1137) and Eleanor de Chatellerault (of Aquitaine) (ABT 1103 - AFT MAR 1130). View Family Chart King Henry was married to Rosamond de Clifford (Plantagenet) . Rosamond was born on ABT 1136 in Clifford Castle, Clifford, Herefordshire, England and died on ABT 1176 in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England . She was the daughter of Walter de Clifford (ABT 1113 - 1190) and Margaret de Toni (de Clifford) (ABT 1118 - 1185). View Family Chart - - -
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Nottingham Castle
Wife - Eleanor of Aquitaine enters Constantinople, 1147 A.D. - Illustration from Women Warlords, Tim Newark, Blandford Press, UK, 1989.
was King of England from 1154 to 1189. He succeeded Stephan after invading England in 1153 to promote his claim after Stephen elbowed Henry's mother. Matilda, from the throne.
In 1164 Henry became involved in a quarrel with Thomas a Becket whom he had appointed archbishop of canterbury. The controversy ended in 1160 with Becket's murder by four of Henry's knights.
From the beginning of his reign, Henry was involved in conflict with Louis VII, King of France, and later with Louis's successor Philip II, over the French provinces that Henry claimed. A succession of rebellions against Henry,
headed by his sons and furthered by Philip II and by Eleanor of Aquitane began in 1173 and continued until his death in 1189.
During his mother's conflict with Stephen for the English throne he was brought to England. Stephen eventually recognized his claim, and Henry became king of England in 1154 after Stephen's death.
Henry II held England and Normandy by his mother's right. From his father he inherited, as French fiefs, the important counties of Anjou, Maine, and Touraine. By his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose marriage with the French king Louis VII had been annulled, he acquired Poitou, Guyenne, and Gascony, so that he held most of the British Isles and about half of France.
Henry II reestablished law and order after the anarchy of Stephen's reign. He improved the military service by permitting the barons to pay 'shield money,' or scutage, in place of serving in the army. With this he hired soldiers who would fight whenever and wherever he wished--an important means of maintaining control over the powerful nobles of the land.
His greatest work was the reform of the law courts. He brought the Curia Regis (King's Court) into every part of England by sending learned judges on circuit through the land to administer the 'king's justice.' Thus gradually one system of law took the place of the many local customs that had been in use. He also established the grand jury. Now accusations could be brought by a body of representatives of the community against evildoers who were so powerful that no single individual dared accuse them.
The petit jury, also called petty or trial jury, substituted the weighing of evidence and testimony by sworn men for the old superstitious trial by combat or by ordeal. Henry even attempted to bring churchmen who committed crimes under the jurisdiction of the king's courts, but the scandal caused by the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in the course of this quarrel forced him to give up this reform.
Henry's last years were embittered by the rebellion of his sons, aided by Philip Augustus of France and by their mother, the unscrupulous Eleanor. The king--old, sick, and discouraged--had to consent to the terms demanded of him. When he saw the name of John, his favorite son, among those of his enemies, he exclaimed, 'Now let all things go as they will; I care no more for myself, nor for the world.'
Two days later he died, muttering, 'Shame, shame on a conquered king.'
He was succeeded by his son Richard I, called Richard the Lion-Hearted.
After Richard's death, in 1199, John came to the throne.
In 1151, Henry burned the town of Nottingham and Nottingham Castle.
William Peveril, constable and grandson of the original builder, fled from the Castle to his monastery at Lenton disguised as a
monk before going abroad.
Henry II provided the wherewithal to repair the town and fortify the
Castle more in keeping with a royal residence. Several new buildings were constructed including
the 'King's bed chamber', a 'house for the King's falcons', and a great hall with aisles in the
centre of the Middle Bailey which would hold parliaments and entertainments.
At times Henry II held his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine in confinement at Nottingham Castle
amongst other castles
In 1164 Henry became involved in a quarrel with Thomas a Becket whom he had appointed archbishop of canterbury. The controversy ended in 1160 with Becket's murder by four of Henry's knights.
From the beginning of his reign, Henry was involved in conflict with Louis VII, King of France, and later with Louis's successor Philip II, over the French provinces that Henry claimed. A succession of rebellions against Henry,
headed by his sons and furthered by Philip II and by Eleanor of Aquitane began in 1173 and continued until his death in 1189.
During his mother's conflict with Stephen for the English throne he was brought to England. Stephen eventually recognized his claim, and Henry became king of England in 1154 after Stephen's death.
Henry II held England and Normandy by his mother's right. From his father he inherited, as French fiefs, the important counties of Anjou, Maine, and Touraine. By his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose marriage with the French king Louis VII had been annulled, he acquired Poitou, Guyenne, and Gascony, so that he held most of the British Isles and about half of France.
Henry II reestablished law and order after the anarchy of Stephen's reign. He improved the military service by permitting the barons to pay 'shield money,' or scutage, in place of serving in the army. With this he hired soldiers who would fight whenever and wherever he wished--an important means of maintaining control over the powerful nobles of the land.
His greatest work was the reform of the law courts. He brought the Curia Regis (King's Court) into every part of England by sending learned judges on circuit through the land to administer the 'king's justice.' Thus gradually one system of law took the place of the many local customs that had been in use. He also established the grand jury. Now accusations could be brought by a body of representatives of the community against evildoers who were so powerful that no single individual dared accuse them.
The petit jury, also called petty or trial jury, substituted the weighing of evidence and testimony by sworn men for the old superstitious trial by combat or by ordeal. Henry even attempted to bring churchmen who committed crimes under the jurisdiction of the king's courts, but the scandal caused by the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in the course of this quarrel forced him to give up this reform.
Henry's last years were embittered by the rebellion of his sons, aided by Philip Augustus of France and by their mother, the unscrupulous Eleanor. The king--old, sick, and discouraged--had to consent to the terms demanded of him. When he saw the name of John, his favorite son, among those of his enemies, he exclaimed, 'Now let all things go as they will; I care no more for myself, nor for the world.'
Two days later he died, muttering, 'Shame, shame on a conquered king.'
He was succeeded by his son Richard I, called Richard the Lion-Hearted.
After Richard's death, in 1199, John came to the throne.
In 1151, Henry burned the town of Nottingham and Nottingham Castle.
William Peveril, constable and grandson of the original builder, fled from the Castle to his monastery at Lenton disguised as a
monk before going abroad.
Henry II provided the wherewithal to repair the town and fortify the
Castle more in keeping with a royal residence. Several new buildings were constructed including
the 'King's bed chamber', a 'house for the King's falcons', and a great hall with aisles in the
centre of the Middle Bailey which would hold parliaments and entertainments.
At times Henry II held his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine in confinement at Nottingham Castle
amongst other castles
In an age known largely for the exploits of kings, princes, dukes, and their warriors, Eleanor of Aquitaine stood out as one of the most remarkable of women. She was the wife and mother of kings and a dominant political force in the Europe of her time.
When her fagther died in 1137 she inherited his domain, which was larger than that ruled by the king of France. The same year she married the heir to the French throne, who became King Louis VII a month afterward. During their 15-year marriage, she exerted considerable influence upon the running of the country and even accompanied him on the Second Crusade from 1147 to 1149. His jealousy led to separation, and the marriage was annulled; but she regained possession of Aquitaine.
In 1152 she married Henry Plantagenet, who became Henry II of England two years later. Together they had eight children, among whom were Richard I the Lion-Hearted and John, both of whom later became kings of England. This union brought together England, Aquitaine, Anjou, and Normandy under one rule. Two centuries later England's various French possessions became an underlying cause of the Hundred Years' War.
After the revolt of her sons against Henry II, Eleanor was kept in semi-confinement from 1174 to 1189, when Henry died. She then became active in affairs of state under her son Richard I and, after his death without an heir in 1199, under John. She worked for peace between France and England and helped preserve John's French domains. Eleanor died on April 1, 1204, in the monastery at Fontevrault in Anjou.
When her fagther died in 1137 she inherited his domain, which was larger than that ruled by the king of France. The same year she married the heir to the French throne, who became King Louis VII a month afterward. During their 15-year marriage, she exerted considerable influence upon the running of the country and even accompanied him on the Second Crusade from 1147 to 1149. His jealousy led to separation, and the marriage was annulled; but she regained possession of Aquitaine.
In 1152 she married Henry Plantagenet, who became Henry II of England two years later. Together they had eight children, among whom were Richard I the Lion-Hearted and John, both of whom later became kings of England. This union brought together England, Aquitaine, Anjou, and Normandy under one rule. Two centuries later England's various French possessions became an underlying cause of the Hundred Years' War.
After the revolt of her sons against Henry II, Eleanor was kept in semi-confinement from 1174 to 1189, when Henry died. She then became active in affairs of state under her son Richard I and, after his death without an heir in 1199, under John. She worked for peace between France and England and helped preserve John's French domains. Eleanor died on April 1, 1204, in the monastery at Fontevrault in Anjou.
Last change (on this page): 15 OCT 2018