His rule was constrained by limits set by the Magna Carta and the emergence of parliament. Just nine years old when he came to the throne in 1216, David explains how Henry was pacific, conciliatory, and deeply religious. He died in 1216, probably from dysentery, having lost a significant part of his baggage in The Wash – one chronicler claims this baggage included the Crown Jewels.ĭavid Carpenter joined Dan on the podcast to examine one of England's most remarkable monarchs. John met the leaders at Runnymede, where he consented to sign Magna Carta: technically a peace treaty, it was also full of proposals for broader political reform.ĭespite this, neither side really attempted to stick to the bargain: the First Barons’ War consumed most of John’s subsequent reign. Unhappy at the high taxes and a lack of consideration for their views, they raised an army and marched on London, Lincoln and Exeter. On returning to England following another defeat in 1214, John was met by a revolt from his barons. He lost large quantities of English lands in Normandy, leading to the collapse of the Angevin Empire established by his father, Henry II.Īttempts to regain these lands lasted for most of the rest of his reign, meaning these years were characterised by high taxes as well as military reforms and attempts to build continental alliances. Known as ‘Bad King John’, John’s reign was far from successful. Whilst Richard has become a figure of mythic proport io ns, known by his epithet – the Lionheart, he was far from a dutiful or good king to his subjects back home, seeing England and his subjects primarily as a source of revenue. Henry is perhaps most famous for the murder of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170: the culmination of years of tension as Henry tried to reform the relationship between church and state. His marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine further cemented his position in France: their marriage proved to be fruitful, producing 8 children in total. When Henry inherited the throne in 1154, he proved himself to be a capable ruler, re-established royal authority and English domination of Wales, as well as ensuring his lands in France were under solid control. Henry’s mother Matilda was embroiled in a civil war (known as The Anarchy) with her cousin, King Stephen, for much of the mid 12 th century. So who were the first 8 Plantagenet kings? Henry II (r. Large swathes of land in France were lost, the Crusades ended and kings stopped travelling as much, spending more and more time in England. During the time the Plantagenet kings reigned, two kings were deposed, Magna Carta was signed, Parliament became a permanent fixture and English was established as the primary language. The House of Plantagenet oversaw major transformations in England, even if not always intentionally.
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