In the year 1066, the Anglo Saxon monarchy came to an abrupt end with the invasion by Duke WIlliam II of Normandy. He was a distant cousin of King Edward the Confessor, who had promised him the throne. After the death of King Edward, the House of Wessex had come to a close and the English monarchy was left without a legitimate heir. This led to much instability among the nobles and was the perfect time for foreign invasion. King Harold Godwinson took to the English helm and was able to fend off some early invasions from the Norweigen's, specifically at the victorious Battle of Stamford Bridge. However this battle in the north, limited the English armies in facing William's invasion from the south.
William had already established himself as a respected military commander and leader in northern France. His decision to invade England was supported by Henry IV of the Holy Roman Empire as well as Pope Alexander II. His army consisted of approximately 10,000 Norman, Breton, and French soldiers. His army arrived on September 28th and were eventually met by King Harold's force on October 14th near the outskirts of Hastings.
The ensuing Battle of Hastings, is often considered one of the most famous battles in English history. Although the English were exhausted from their march from the north, they had the battlefield advantage. It lasted from 9am until tusk, and was a very close fought battle, almost even in numbers, with attacks and counter-attacks on both ends. However once King Harold fell in battle the English moral was dampened and led them to retreat. William had won the battle and was able to lay claim to the throne of England. Although there were several rebellions that followed, he became the undisputed king on Christmas Day.
_from_NPG.jpg)
Norman Kings (1066-1154)
King William the Conqueror
Reign: 1066-1087
Dynasty: House of Norman
Marriage: Matilda of Flanders
Children: Robert Curthouse, Richard, William II, Cecilia, Henry I, Adeliza, Constance, Adela
Historical Bio: Following his successful invasion of the English monarchy, William ushered in a new dynasty over the English Kingdom. His reign consisted of continuous rebellions and uprisings, however he held strong to his throne with his military might. In 1086 he requested a census of the land, in what became known as the Domesday Book, it was essentially a survey of the nobles. He also began a castle building campaign, which would later become strongholds of the middle-ages.
King William II
Reign: 1087-1100
Dynasty: House of Norman
Marriage: No Marriage or Children
Historical Bio: He was the third son of William the Conqueror, he succeeded his father after his death. He was often referred to as William the Red for his odd demeanor of being both aggressive yet flamboyant. He was however successful in maintaining his father's conquest as well. He extended the kingdom into Wales, and established a strong influence in Scotland. His lack of an heir and his death during a hunting accident have often been a suspicious matter.
King Henry
Reign:1100-1135
Dynasty: House of Norman
Marriage: Matilda of Scotland, Adeliza
Children: Matilda, William Adelin, Robert, Alice, Gilbert, Sybilla, Reginald, Robert, Matilda
Historical Bio: He was the fourth son of William the Conqueror, who succeeded his brother William II after his death. King Henry was considered a well educated man and also fluent in English. He secured stability with Scotland by marrying the princess Matilda. His rule was however contested by his brother, Robert Curthouse which led to a series of wars with Normandy and conflicts with France. He managed to strengthen the kingdoms systems of justice, local government, and taxation. He had a conflict of heir when his eldest son, William Adelin, died in a shipwreck disaster. He then intended for his daughter Matilda to succeed him however the conflict ensued after his death. His Nephew Stephen, from the House of Blois took the throne, which resulted in a civil war known as The Anarchy.
King Stephen
Reign: 1135-1154
Dynasty: House of Blois
Marriage: Matilda
Children: Eustace, Marie, William
Historical Bio: He was a nephew to King Henry, and took to the throne, following the king's death without a legitimate male heir. This succession was disputed by King Henry's eldest daughter Matilda, who was also an empress of the Holy Roman Empire, in an arranged marriage. The succession crisis boiled into a civil war, between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. For the most part Stephen was able to repel the attack, however lost a portion of the kingdom in 1141. Matilda declared herself Queen of the English, however this was disputed and only lasted for several months. She would eventually retire to Normandy, however the civil war continued over the disputed throne. Matilda's son, Henry from the House of Plantagenet, was not ready to put the matter to rest. Whilst the anarchy continued Stephen intended to ensure his eldest son, Eustace would succeed him as his heir and had him crowned as king during his lifetime. However following the early death of Eustace, the church intervened on establishing an agreement. Stephen was to finish he reign and then Henry, the son of Matilda would succeed him. In the year 1154 the Anarchy came to a close, with the death of King Stephen, and the succession of King Henry.
Angevin Kings (1154-1216)
King Henry II
Reign: 1154-1189
Dynasty: House of Angevin
Marriage: Eleanor of Aqutaine
Children: Geoffrey, William, Henry, Matilda, Richard, Eleanor, Joan, John
Historical Bio: He was the son of Empress Matilda and Geoffrey Plantagenet from the House of Anjou. He claimed the throne through an agreement with King Stephen following the civil dispute of the Anarchy. His reign was an ambitious one, re-establishing order and territories that were lost during the civil war, including Wales. He extended the English territories into parts of France, which would become later become known as the Angevin Empire. He is also remembered for his dispute with the English church and it's privileges, which lead to the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. His children also shared his ambition, and there was much tension among the brothers of who should succeed their father. While Henry wanted his eldest son Henry the Young to become king, he was eventually supplanted by his strongest son Richard, who had the support of the French kingdom.
King Richard the Lionhearted
Reign: 1189-1199
Dynasty: House of Angevin
Marriage: Berengaria of Navarre
Children: Philip of Cognac
Historical Bio: He was the third son of Henry II, well respected for his military leadership, he was able to muscle his way to the throne, with the support of King Philip II of France. He is best associated for his military leadership of the Christian army during the Third Crusade. He lead his army on a march to Jerusalem and won many victories against the Muslim leadership of Saladin, however he did not conquer the land. His short reign was mostly spent outside the kingdom on military campaigns while his younger brother John was constantly scheming at the throne.
King John Lackland
Reign: 1199-1216
Dynasty: House of Angevin
Marriage: Isabella
Children: Henry VIII, Richard, Joan, Isabella, Eleanor
Historical Bio: He was the youngest son of King Henry II, and succeeded his elder brother King Richard after his death without an heir. The early part of his reign was focused on military campaigns against Normandy, that eventually fell to the control of King Philip II of France. With the collapse of his French territories and the Angevin Empire, King John Lackland began to raise heavy taxes on the people. This resulted in rebellions (such as the folk hero of Robin Hood) as well as much displeasure from the noble barons. This dispute was finally addressed in 1215 with the signing of the Magna Carta, which essentially took away rights from the monarchy while given more rights to the church, the nobles, and the people. However neither side were willing to concede their rights, which lead to the First Baron's War. In 1216 King John died and was succeeded by his young son Henry III. However the nobles invited their French allies to inherit the throne. King Louis VIII of France sat on the throne for a year, however it was a disputed illegitimate reign. At the end of the Baron's War, which ended in a stalemate, King Henry VIII was recognized as the rightful king of England.
The ensuing Battle of Hastings, is often considered one of the most famous battles in English history. Although the English were exhausted from their march from the north, they had the battlefield advantage. It lasted from 9am until tusk, and was a very close fought battle, almost even in numbers, with attacks and counter-attacks on both ends. However once King Harold fell in battle the English moral was dampened and led them to retreat. William had won the battle and was able to lay claim to the throne of England. Although there were several rebellions that followed, he became the undisputed king on Christmas Day.
Norman Kings (1066-1154)King William the Conqueror
Reign: 1066-1087
Dynasty: House of Norman
Marriage: Matilda of Flanders
Children: Robert Curthouse, Richard, William II, Cecilia, Henry I, Adeliza, Constance, Adela
Historical Bio: Following his successful invasion of the English monarchy, William ushered in a new dynasty over the English Kingdom. His reign consisted of continuous rebellions and uprisings, however he held strong to his throne with his military might. In 1086 he requested a census of the land, in what became known as the Domesday Book, it was essentially a survey of the nobles. He also began a castle building campaign, which would later become strongholds of the middle-ages.
King William II
Reign: 1087-1100
Dynasty: House of Norman
Marriage: No Marriage or Children
Historical Bio: He was the third son of William the Conqueror, he succeeded his father after his death. He was often referred to as William the Red for his odd demeanor of being both aggressive yet flamboyant. He was however successful in maintaining his father's conquest as well. He extended the kingdom into Wales, and established a strong influence in Scotland. His lack of an heir and his death during a hunting accident have often been a suspicious matter.
King Henry
Reign:1100-1135
Dynasty: House of Norman
Marriage: Matilda of Scotland, Adeliza
Children: Matilda, William Adelin, Robert, Alice, Gilbert, Sybilla, Reginald, Robert, Matilda
Historical Bio: He was the fourth son of William the Conqueror, who succeeded his brother William II after his death. King Henry was considered a well educated man and also fluent in English. He secured stability with Scotland by marrying the princess Matilda. His rule was however contested by his brother, Robert Curthouse which led to a series of wars with Normandy and conflicts with France. He managed to strengthen the kingdoms systems of justice, local government, and taxation. He had a conflict of heir when his eldest son, William Adelin, died in a shipwreck disaster. He then intended for his daughter Matilda to succeed him however the conflict ensued after his death. His Nephew Stephen, from the House of Blois took the throne, which resulted in a civil war known as The Anarchy.
King Stephen
Reign: 1135-1154
Dynasty: House of Blois
Marriage: Matilda
Children: Eustace, Marie, William
Historical Bio: He was a nephew to King Henry, and took to the throne, following the king's death without a legitimate male heir. This succession was disputed by King Henry's eldest daughter Matilda, who was also an empress of the Holy Roman Empire, in an arranged marriage. The succession crisis boiled into a civil war, between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. For the most part Stephen was able to repel the attack, however lost a portion of the kingdom in 1141. Matilda declared herself Queen of the English, however this was disputed and only lasted for several months. She would eventually retire to Normandy, however the civil war continued over the disputed throne. Matilda's son, Henry from the House of Plantagenet, was not ready to put the matter to rest. Whilst the anarchy continued Stephen intended to ensure his eldest son, Eustace would succeed him as his heir and had him crowned as king during his lifetime. However following the early death of Eustace, the church intervened on establishing an agreement. Stephen was to finish he reign and then Henry, the son of Matilda would succeed him. In the year 1154 the Anarchy came to a close, with the death of King Stephen, and the succession of King Henry.
Angevin Kings (1154-1216)
King Henry II
Reign: 1154-1189
Dynasty: House of Angevin
Marriage: Eleanor of Aqutaine
Children: Geoffrey, William, Henry, Matilda, Richard, Eleanor, Joan, John
Historical Bio: He was the son of Empress Matilda and Geoffrey Plantagenet from the House of Anjou. He claimed the throne through an agreement with King Stephen following the civil dispute of the Anarchy. His reign was an ambitious one, re-establishing order and territories that were lost during the civil war, including Wales. He extended the English territories into parts of France, which would become later become known as the Angevin Empire. He is also remembered for his dispute with the English church and it's privileges, which lead to the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. His children also shared his ambition, and there was much tension among the brothers of who should succeed their father. While Henry wanted his eldest son Henry the Young to become king, he was eventually supplanted by his strongest son Richard, who had the support of the French kingdom.
King Richard the Lionhearted
Reign: 1189-1199
Dynasty: House of Angevin
Marriage: Berengaria of Navarre
Children: Philip of Cognac
Historical Bio: He was the third son of Henry II, well respected for his military leadership, he was able to muscle his way to the throne, with the support of King Philip II of France. He is best associated for his military leadership of the Christian army during the Third Crusade. He lead his army on a march to Jerusalem and won many victories against the Muslim leadership of Saladin, however he did not conquer the land. His short reign was mostly spent outside the kingdom on military campaigns while his younger brother John was constantly scheming at the throne.
King John Lackland
Reign: 1199-1216
Dynasty: House of Angevin
Marriage: Isabella
Children: Henry VIII, Richard, Joan, Isabella, Eleanor
Historical Bio: He was the youngest son of King Henry II, and succeeded his elder brother King Richard after his death without an heir. The early part of his reign was focused on military campaigns against Normandy, that eventually fell to the control of King Philip II of France. With the collapse of his French territories and the Angevin Empire, King John Lackland began to raise heavy taxes on the people. This resulted in rebellions (such as the folk hero of Robin Hood) as well as much displeasure from the noble barons. This dispute was finally addressed in 1215 with the signing of the Magna Carta, which essentially took away rights from the monarchy while given more rights to the church, the nobles, and the people. However neither side were willing to concede their rights, which lead to the First Baron's War. In 1216 King John died and was succeeded by his young son Henry III. However the nobles invited their French allies to inherit the throne. King Louis VIII of France sat on the throne for a year, however it was a disputed illegitimate reign. At the end of the Baron's War, which ended in a stalemate, King Henry VIII was recognized as the rightful king of England.
No comments:
Post a Comment