HII's accession Flashcards
1133
H2 born
1135
H1 dies- Stephen quickly nabs the throne, looks as if there is going to be peace
1135-1153
The Anarchy- Empress Matilda (sometimes Maude) against Stephen of Blois
1142-1144
H2 visits England for the first time, then studies in Bristol
1147
H2 goes to England, this time with mercenaries, mostly unsuccessful bar distinguishing himself somewhat
1149
H2’s third trip to England, made a knight by his uncle, makes a failed attack on York, helped in Devizes
1150
Invested by his father by Duke of Normandy
1151
Death of H2’s father, Geoffrey V, who had taught him politics, business, war and riding
H2 priorities in 1154 (6 things)
1 gain the throne
2 ensure stability after The Anarchy by strengthening the crown
3 protect his authority in Normandy whilst away
4 find a wife to bear an heir
5 prove himself as capable to potentially rebellious barons
6 maintain advantageous relations with France
January 1153
Henry attacks Malmesbury, Wiltishire, plunders and butchers as it was weakened by various sieges
King Stephen goes to meet Henry
Awful weather demoralises Stephen’s men- wonder if God disapproved
Stephen’s troops refuse to fight
Early 1153
H2 recognises England is “war-weary” Jones
Sends some Brabançons home to Flanders
Negotiates with the English magnates- gains their support by proving he could protect both their Norman and English estates as Duke of Normandy
Robert, earl of Leicester then perfect HII follower from then on- Stephen couldn’t secure his Norman lands
Spring 1153
H2 tours Bristol, Gloucester and then the Midlands
asserts “good leadership, not good generalship” Jones
holds court around the country, dispenses charters giving land and legal rights to magnates, showed respect for judicial process where public authority was non-existent made peaceful overtures to Stephen
July 1153
Henry and Stephen meet at Wallingford, sense of an end near
July-August 1153
Henry and Stephen meet again at Wallingford, barons on both side refuse to fight as they realise that victory for either side would cause “mass land confiscations and continued bitter division in the realm” Jones
There Stephen and Henry have a peace talk across a stream, H2 is to be recognised as Stephen’s legal heir to the Crown and familial relations start to be mended
Why were King Stephen and Henry Plantagenet forced to make peace in 1153? (8 main reasons)
Bishop Henry of Winchester Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury Robert earl of Leicester magnates' lands in Normandy Malmesbury January 1153 H2's tour of the midlands spring 1153 Wallingford July-August 1153 The Anarchy 1135-53
Bishop Henry of Winchester (Henry of Blois) as a reason for the 1153 peace
brother of Stephen, a powerful magnate
helps negotiations between H2 and Stephen in spring 1153
civil war is not good for the church- priories and monasteries looted
Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury as a reason for the 1153 peace
instrumental figure of power and authority- has a mitre, paleum and ring, has spiritual authority
most senior cleric in England but also holds Canterbury from the king as a vassal
refused to crown Stephen’s son Eustace
Robert earl of Leicester as a reason for the 1153 peace
elite of Anglo-Norman nobility- powerful, influential and well educated
territory in heart of the midlands for Henry and in Normandy
very loyal to Stephen then Henry
Magnates’ lands in Normandy as a reason for the 1153 peace
powerful barons don’t want split loyalties between an English king and a Norman duke
owing fealty to two waring overlords politically and economically undesirable as civil war means there is a fight for control over estates
Malmesbury, January 1153 as a reason for the 1153 peace
brutality of the conflict demoralises troops- refuse to
bad weather seen as a sign from God
H2’s tour of the midlands spring 1153 as a reason for the 1153 peace
making overtures to magnates and barons who think there will be a weak crown
like a royal progress advertising himself as someone to whom everyone can unite
Wallingford July-August 1153 as a reason for the 1153 peace
general refusal on both sides to fight
Stephen and H2 talk across a stream
men are war-weary
clear that continual war untenable
The Anarchy 1135-53 as a reason for the 1153 peace
nobility refuses to fight by the end because of threat to their estates
Stephen motivated to find a solution due to damages to royal income
November 1153
Treaty of Winchester
Positives of the Treaty of Winchester, 1153 for H2 (6)
1 nominates H2 as Stephen’s heir
2 grants recognition of the Church, thanks to Theobald a/b of C, unlike Stephen’s son, Eustace
3 William of Blois (Stephen’s younger son) pays homage to H2
4 all of Stephen’s magnates pay homage to H2
5 Richard de Luci swears to hand over the Tower of London and Windsor to H2 on Stephen’s death
6 Stephen and H2 both swear to uphold the treaty
Negatives of the Treaty of Winchester, 1153 for H2 (4)
1 H2 has to wait and trust that magnates will obey the terms, including members of Henry’s family like Henry of Blois
2 Hugh Bigot of Norfolk, an over-mighty baron, is granted the third penny of all claims to royal justice
3 It could limit H2’s power to enforce his power on his accession
4 Some of the royal demesne remains alienated e.g. William of Blois gets control of Norfolk
How had “over-mighty” barons reduced the power and authority of the crown under King Stephen?
specific “over-mighty subjects” (R.J.A. White) had caused trouble by claiming too much authority and independence e.g. William le Gros (de Aumale) basically has authority in Yorkshire
The character of H2
strong-willed
bad tempered
a good rider and soldier
May 1152
H2 marries Eleanor in Poitiers, eight weeks after the annulment of her marriage to Louis VII of France, giving the couple together a huge swathe of Western France, far larger than the French royal domain
August 1153
Stephen’s son and heir, Eustace, conveniently dies
