English Monarchy: The House of Plantagenet

The family dynasty of Plantagenet descended from the county of Anjou in France. It was the Empress Matilda from the House of Norman who married Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou, to bring the name into English royalty. Their child, Henry II became king of England in 1154 and was technically the first of the Plantagenet dynasty to sit on the throne. However historians dispute that King Henry II and his two successors (King Richard and King John Lackland) were of French Angevin interest. Following the fall of the Angevin Empire in 1214, and the death of King John Lackland, the English Monarchy became more English in nature. Thus the Plantagenet era is often associated with the start of King Henry III in 1216.

It is a timely transition in English history where the kingdom grew in power. This was achieved thru campaigns of military aggression into Wales and Scotland on their western border and disputes with France on the east. The Hundred Years War lasted from 1337-1453 and made up a good portion of the Plantagenet era. The dynasty was also influential on the advancement of English society and culture. Notable artists such as Geoffrey Chaucer, (writer of the Canterbury Tales and considered the father of English literature), flourished during this time.

House of Plantagenet (1216-1399)



King Henry III

Reign: 1216-1272
Dynasty: House of Plantagenet
Marriage: Eleanor of Provence
Children: Edward I, Margaret, Beatrice, Edmund, Katherine
Historical Bio: He succeeded his father, King John, at the very young age of 9. The dispute of the Magna Carta and the Barons continued after the stalemate of the First Barons War. Once he was of age, King Henry began an ambitious reign. He led numerous military campaigns into France to regain loss territory however all were loss. He also initiated many building projects payed by charitable donations yet also heavy taxes. This lead to further rebellions and dissension among the nobles, which caused the Second Barons War from 1264-1267. The barons, led by Simon de Montford, were successful in capturing King Henry, however de Montford was later killed and defeated by King Henry's son, Prince Edward at the Battle of Evesham. Henry spent his last years rebuilding his kingdom from the damages of the civil war until he died in 1272. He is the fourth longest reigning English monarch at 56 years as king.  

King Edward Longshanks

Reign: 1272-1307
Dynasty: House of Plantagenet
Marriage: Eleanor of Castille
Children: Eleanor, Joan, Alphonso, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, Edward II, Thomas, Edmund
Historical Bio: He was the son of King Henry II, and a well respected military leader, who succeeded his father as king, on his journey home from the 9th Crusade. His reign was made up of various military campaigns, beginning with a total conquest of Wales from 1277 to 1283. Following his conquest of Wales, he declared lordship over Scotland, which lead to the First War of Scottish Independence from 1296-1328. The Scottish were defiant in submitting to English rule, and through the leadership of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace were able to maintain their independence. This war continued after Edward's death, and his weak son Edward II was left with the conflict as well as many financial troubles.

King Edward II

Reign: 1307-1327
Dynasty: House of Plantagenet
Marriage: Isabella of France
Children: Edward III, John, Eleanor, Joan, Adam
Historical Bio: He was the 2nd eldest son of King Edward, and succeeded his father as king in the midst of heavy conflict. He married Queen Isabella of France as an effort to ease tensions with the French kingdom. His reign is often criticized for his unpopular relations with the nobles as well as weak leadership. In 1314 his army suffered a decisive defeat to the Scottish armies of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. Following his failed campaigns in Scotland, a great Famine occurred from 1315-1317. He had many noble enemies and put down numerous rebellions throughout his reign. However by 1325 his French wife, Isabella turned against and him. With the aid of the noble Roger Mortimer, she waged war on her husband and deposed of him. Edward II fled to Wales however was later captured and murdered. Roger Mortimer became the sitting ruler, until too was dethroned and murdered. The rightful heir, Edward's eldest son Edward III took to the throne in 1327.

King Edward III

Reign: 1327- 1377
Dynasty: House of Plantagenet
Marriage: Philippa of Hainault
Children: Edward, Isabella, Joan, Lionel, John, Edmund, Mary, Margaret, Thomas
Historical Bio: He was the eldest son of Edward II, and took the throne at the young age of 14. He quickly deposed of the sitting ruler and noblemen, Roger Mortimer, to become the undisputed king. Thru victories against the nobles and the Scottish he quickly established himself as a powerful leader. In the year 1337, he began a military campaign against the French, which became the start of the Hundred Years War. By 1346 his army had landed in Normandy and defeated King Philip in the Battle of Crecy. From 1346-1353 his country was devastated by the Black Death. The war continued however with his decisive victory against the French at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. This eventually lead to the Treaty of Bretigny in 1360, which secured English dominance of French territory. (It would only last for 9 years however until the war resumed) In his 50 year reign King Edward III established England as one of the strongest powers in Europe.

King Richard II
Reign: 1377-1399
Dynasty: House of Plantagenet
Marriage: No Marriage or children
Historical Bio: He was the grandson of King Edward III, and son of Edward the Black Prince. Since his father died before the death of his grandfather King Edward III, he assumed the throne as next male heir in line. Early in his reign, at the age of 14, he faced a major rebellion known as the Peasants Revolt of 1381. He was able to suppress the uprising and murder all it's leaders. His throne was challenged in 1387 by aristocrat nobles, known as the Lords' Appellant. He murdered many of the noble leaders who opposed him. However in 1399, Henry of Bollingbroke, the son of an exiled nobleman, sought revenge for his father's murder at the king's hands and waged a successful coup of the throne. King Richard II was deposed at the hands of Henry of Bollingbroke, who went on to rule as King Henry IV.

House of Lancaster (1399-1471) 

King Henry IV

Reign: 1399-1413
Dynasty: House of Lancaster
Marriage: Marry de Bohun, Joan of Navarre
Children: Henry V, Thomas, John, Humphrey, Blanche,
Historical Bio: He was the grandson of King Edward III, who avenged his exiled father, John of Gaunt, by deposing the sitting king Richard II. His early reign consisted of many rebellions from noblemen and the Welsh. By 1408 he had gained control of his kingdom, however suffered from sickness until his death. During his final years, many of his responsibilities passed on to his eldest son Henry V, who would go on to succeed him.

King Henry V

Reign: 1413-1422
Dynasty: House of Lancaster
Marriage: Catherine of Valois
Children: Henry VI

Historical Bio: He was the eldest son of Henry IV and succeeded his father to the throne. He was well experienced in military leadership having defeated many rebellions during his father's reign. In 1415 he engaged his army against the French in what became the third and final stage of the Hundred Years War. He won a famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt and nearly had dominated France before his unexpected death in 1422. Before his death he married the French king Charles VI's daughter, Catherine of Valois, and their infant son Henry VI succeeded his father to the throne.

King Henry VI

Reign: 1422-1461; 1470-1471
Dynasty: House of Lancaster
Marriage: Margaret of Anjou
Children: Edward
Historical Bio: He was the only son of Henry V, and became ruler of both England and France at the age of 1. His reign was governed by regents until 1437 when he came of age. By this point the Hundred Years War began to shift to France's advantage thanks to their leadership of Joan of Arc. By 1453 Henry VI had lost control of the northern French territories as well as his reign over the French Kingdom, which marked an end Hundred Years War. Upon returning to his sole kingdom of England, he began to slip into a madness and his wife Margaret took over his roles. In 1454 a new conflict arose within his kingdom, as the House of York began to dispute his right to the throne. This lead to a civil war of the nobles, known as the War of Roses. By 1461, the noble Duke of York, Edward IV, defeated the House of Lancaster at the Battle of Towton and assumed the throne for ten years. During this time Henry fled to Scotland with his wife, however would later return in 1470 to regain his throne. Henry was once again defeated however in 1471 by Edward IV at the Battle of Tewkesbury. Shortly after he was murdered in the tower of London, and the House of York laid claim to the throne once again.

House of York (1461-1485)

King Edward IV

Reign: 1461-1470; 1471-1483
Dynasty: House of York
Marriage: Elizabeth Woodville
Children: Elizabeth, Mary, Cecily, Edward V, Richard, Anne, George, Catherine, Bridget
Historical Bio: He was a nobleman from the House of York, who defeated King Henry VI twice throughout the War of Roses. He first ascended to the throne in 1461, however continued to deal with the civil war against the House of Lancaster. In 1470 he lost control of the throne back to King Henry VI, however returned again in 1471. Once King Henry VI was murdered, he lived out the remaining of his reign in peace. He is also known for establishing peace with France. He unexpectedly died in 1483 at the young age of 43, and his 12 year old son Edward succeeded him as king.

King Edward V

Reign: 1483
Dynasty: House of York
Marriage: No Marriage or children
Historical Bio: He succeeded his father Edward IV as king at the young age of 12 however was never crowned due to his very brief reign of only three months. His uncle, Richard, became the young king's protector however Richard had interests of his own to take the throne. King Edward and his brother Richard Shrewsbury, both heir apparents were mysteriously taken to the Tower of London and murdered, whilst Richard was able to ascend to the throne.

King Richard III

Reign: 1483-1485
Dynasty: House of York
Marriage: Anne Neville
Children: Edward, John
Historical Bio: He was the brother of King Edward IV and uncle to Edward V, who arguably usurped his ascension to the throne in 1483 with the mysterious disappearance of the young Edward V. As king he quickly attempted to bring peace among the nobles however there were still rebellions and further conflict. In 1485 he was finally defeated by the Lancastrians, at the Battle of Bosworth which brought a close to the War of Roses. Henry VII of Tudor killed the sitting king during the battle, thus ending the York dynasty, and beginning the Tudor dynasty. This marked a major transition in English history from the middle ages into it's Golden age.