The Angevin Empire (Part 2)
Following my previous post, let’s continue the study of the famous Angevin Empire, let’s meet even more famous historic characters!
Revolts
In the last chapter, we saw Henry and Eleanor ruling over a large empire controlling England and half of France. However, Henry's troubles are starting to add up and things are about to go south.
All of this blew up around 1173 because of a castle dispute as all of his sons, except John Lackland, started a rebellion. Eleanor was busy running her court in Aquitaine, focusing on literature and cultural developments when she heard the news about the uprising. At that point, her actions are unclear; she neither supported her husband nor her sons. Henry blamed the uprising of their sons on her, and rumours have it that she tried to flee to reach Louis’ court when Henry captured and imprisonned her. Eleanor lost her territory of Aquitaine and was held captive by her husband. Aquitaine was then given to Eleanor's favourite son Richard.
As for the rebellion? Well, after Henry (the young), Richard and Geoffrey mounted an army with the backing of France to attack their father. They then switched sides to crush the rebellion they started. Then, not long after, they rebelled again; but fighting each other this time! What a mess! Henry (the young) later died of dysentery, leaving the King to name a new heir. Here, Henry (the father) had three choices. It could be the powerful albeit unruly Richard, but Henry feared that naming him heir would make him uncontrollably powerful. His second choice was Geoffrey, who Henry hated and was now excluded from English politics. His last option was John “Lackland”, who had no land under him.
Without much choice, Henry named Richard his heir under the condition he gave Aquitaine to John. Richard, who hated John for some reason, refused and insisted that Aquitaine should be returned to his mother. Being sick of all this (literally this time!), Henry said something like, “sure, whatever, I am done with all of this drama.” So, Richard was named heir to the throne of England, Eleanor got Aquitaine back, and John was sidelined once again – which points out the main problem between the later and the rest of his family. Despite never taking part in the rebellions, he was viewed by his relatives as a conspirator, and they always gave him as little power as possible. Meanwhile, Henry was still suspicious of his wife and kept her under a tight leash.
The death of the King
Now, that all the power struggles have been settled, Henry spent the remaining years of his reign in peac- and oh wait no: Richard rebelled against AGAIN. Henry, now old and sick, didn't resist long before throwing the crown at his son's face, probably screaming to leave him alone during the process! Richard surprisingly did after that. Henry died shortly after, and Richard was now King of England.
The first action of the newly crowned King was to put Eleanor back into a proper position of power. The now-aging queen didn't remain idle after her hiatus and helped her son rule the Angevin Empire. She served as regent when Richard was on a crusade, getting the badass nickname of the Lionheart. When her son was captured by the Austrian army, the duchess managed to raise the ransom for her son’s freedom. John Lackland, who was sick of being sidelined all the time, tried to make a move for the throne. However, the rebel prince finally surrendered after Richard besieged his last stronghold, Nottingham. And if this last bit sounds familiar, congratulation, you know your classics. (Add link to Robinhood)
After his return, Richard spent the remaining of his reign battling Philip II for his French holdings. Despite the French King proving himself more capable at first, Richard managed to hold out thanks to some well-timed betrayals. Unfortunately for the Angevin Empire, both Richard and Eleanor would die in quick succession, leaving a completely unprepared and unsupported John on the throne. To add to the already difficult situation of the new King, he was now facing one of the most powerful kings in French history. Let's say those French holdings didn't stay in John's hand for long.
Okay, so now that England returned to England and France got their stuff back, maybe things can calm down for a little bit at least? Wait, what's this on the horizon? Oh no.
