Crises of the Angevin Empire 1170-89 (Topic 4)

Henry's plans for his sons' inheritance

The Angevin plantagenets (ruling English dynasty)

• Henry had 4 sons, so it was more challenging
• Richard was Eleanor's favourite child + John was Henry's favourite (long-term consequences)
• Henry's sons = William (died), Young king Henry (eldest), Richard I, Geoffrey, John (youngest)

Which territory for which son?

Treaty of Montmirail decided the sons' inheritance

1. 1160 - Henry married Margaret of France (Louis VII's daughter) -> dowry was the Vexin (vital piece of land) & Louis's demesne. Louis VII angry due to the loss of the vexin and land.

2. 1166 - Geoffrey betrothed to the constance of Brittany -> would become duke

3. 1167 - John was last born -> his inheritance not settled at Monmirail

The divisions of the Angevin lands between Henry's sons

The treaty of Montmirail (1169)

3 purposes; End conflict w/Louis VII (since 1167), Reconcile relations w/Becket (failed), Divide Angevin territories for 3 sons

Young King inheritance -> England, Normandy, Anjou (lands in france held as vassal to K. of France)

Richard I inheritance -> Duke of Aquitaine (vassal to French) + marry Alice (Louis VII's daughter) 

Geoffrey inheritance -> Brittany (vassal to young Henry, whom was vassal to Louis VII)

BUT, this strengthened the French crown (long-term) => more secure foundations for Louis's reign SO, Henry's inheritance for sons is NOT secure

The significance of the Treaty of Montmirail (1169)

1. It offered Louis's son, Philip, to preside over Henry's family/sons -> gain land back etc.

2. The treaty had little significance to Henry's sons inheritance -> the money & power provided to Henry's 3 sons (not John) was insufficient for them to rule with. (starting point for their frustration/reason for GR)

The position of Eleanor of Aquitaine

1. Heiress of Aquitaine

•  She was heir to Aquitaine & could rule it in her own right (Her father was duke of Aq.)
•  Her marriage to Louis VII was annuled in 1152

2. Estrangement from Henry

• 1168-73 - her & Henry II became enstranged (no longer close - due to Henry's affair?) - JEALOUSY/ANGER
• When rebellions occured in Aquitaine, monks appealed to Henry NOT Eleanor => shows how Eleanor couldn't exercise authority in her own lands.
• 1168 - established her own court in Aquitaine (rebuilt relations with Lords who disliked Henry's attempts at controlling Aq.)

3. Eleanor & Richard

• 1172 - Richard replaced Henry as male authoritive in Aq + influenced by Eleanor
• 1172 - Eleanor issued charters in her own name + Richard's, BUT NEITHER had enough autority to grow Aquitaine (cause for rebellion) -> all of Aq's revenue went to Henry. 

1. The opposition of the English barons to Henry II

Frustration was increasing due to castles & lands being taken away bc. of Cartae Baronum + increased sheriffs power under Assize of clarendon & Inquest of sheriffs.

• Earl of chester did NOT inherit all of his father's lands -> Henry had kept some of the earls lands after he could inherit it (bc. Henry wanted to trim Baronial power)
• Hugh Bigod was denied control of Norwich + his holding had reduced -> given a charge of £666 to have them returned.

King William of Scotland

Henry gained Scottish support initially with David I => he promised he will grant him Northumberland.

When David died, he was followed by the inexperienced King, Malcolm IV => forced to give up Northumberland + do homage to Henry (Henry become his overlord)

Malcom's brother, William I, became king in 1165 => The GR became an opportunity to fix Scotland's grievances. 

2. Henry's failure to grant his sons a role in goverment

Family relations were not Henry's strongpoint => rebellion in family could lead to civil war.

Henry gave his 3 sons (not John) the expectation of titles & land + vassals did homage to them. HOWEVER, Henry was king of England by 19, therefore failed to give any of his sons the same opportunity at the same age.

• Henry expected their full obedience to him as father, King AND overlord
• His sons expected far more than what Henry was willing to give

John 'Lackland' (b.1167)

• 2 years old during the treaty of Montmirail - never had any inheritance settled for him
• 1172 - married Alice of Maurienne => would bring 3 strategic castles (i.e, Chinon, etc.) BUT, were all part of young king's French territory so it was a loss for him & made him upset.

Limoges (1173)

• 1158 - Henry attacked Toulouse - tried to take it from Raymond, but failed. Raymond initially had the support of Louis VII BUT they fell out and R. switched his support to Henry.
• Feb 1173 - Raymond acknowledged Eleanor's claim to Aquitaine.
• After R's change of allegiance + acknowledgement of  E's claim to Toulouse, he performed homage to Henry and Young King => so they were the overlords of Toulouse, NOT Eleanor or Richard (this made them angry asf)

The Young King's frustrations

• Didn't have power or revenues to run the territories he was given + in Henry's absence, England was run by Richard de lucy (no responsibilities for YK)
• Henry considered YK too immature to take on major responsibilities => by 1172, YK was v. frustarted 
• Louis VII (father-in-law) encouraged YK to demand for his territories (instigator of GR)
• YK also had little/no authority => 1173 - he failed to reverse the new election of an archbishop of C. (Richard of Dover) by sending a letter to rome (ignored).
• Treaty of Montmirail was ineffectual; promised too much, delivered little. (Key issue)

Henry's son's flight to Paris

Louis VII

The marriage between YK & Margaret of France (1160) was now useful to Louis - potentially widen the plantagenet family rifts + destroy Henry's power base in France.

• 1172 - Louis held a familty reunion including Margaret and YK - he encouraged YK to demand his inheritance from Hnery II TWICE, again both (refused).

YK flight to Paris

1173 - fled to France

• Reason: Henry II kept the YK v. close to him (didn't let him rule) -> therefore, when YK fled to France and Louis VII treated him really well, he subsided w. him instead.

The YK in Paris

• Louis gave YK a seal, where he could make/autheticate his own charters (responsibility - Henry never gave YK this) -> allowed YK to purchase lands

Richard & Geoffrey's flight to Paris

• Richard & Geoffrey after hearing of YK's treatment also wanted to go to Paris.
• Richard still too young to rule Aquitaine & Eleanor didn't have enough autority + Henry controlled financial & military resources, so little could be achieved for them.
• Richard was knighted when he went to Paris
• Geoffrey also went to Paris (encouraged by mother)

Eleanor of Aq's opposition to the king

• She hoped to gain her political influence in Aq back, through the Great Rebellion.
• Since 1168 - Eleanor lived away from Henry & established her own court in her duchy of Aquitaine -> built relations w. local barons/lords.
• She was angry due to Henry's supposed affair with Rosamund.
• As a woman in medieval times, she had lots of social constraints -> could NOT massively influence barons/gain authority THEREFORE influenced Richard (also fav son)
• She wanted Richard to continue in Aq from where her father left off from (KEY REASON FOR HER OPPOSITION)
• HOWEVER, Henry II had most of the financial/military so most ppl considered him to be in control -> further frustration for Eleanor
• She encouraged lords of S. Aquitaine to rebel against Henry II, with the help of her uncle

The Queen's capture

• Whilst her sons were in Paris, she tried to support their cause in Aq (encouraging barons to rebel)
• BUT she was captured en route Louis's court disguised as a man.

Overall Eleanor's role in the GR: significant

• she instigated her son's rebellion & had sympathy for their causes (also given that Henry had more authority over Aq, not her)
• Her rebellion was shortlived but significant 
• Her capture did NOT reconcile Richard & Henry

Henry's victories in England & the Angevin lands

Great Rebellion begun - 1173

Henry's allies

• Richard de Lucy - justicar of England, v. loyal, Ruled the barons of the Exchequer.
• Towns (I.e, London)
• Welsh
• Church
• Flemish mercenaries (military)

After Owain's death (1170), there was a rapproachement between Wales and England -> held firm during the rebellion + offered Henry support.

1173: Hostilities & Parley

• 1173 - Assaults on Normandy (by Henry's sons) + SIMULTANEOUSLY in England, rebels attacked Leicster -> Henry gathered supplies from England to use in Normandy.

Henry's victories could be measure through the poor leadership of the rebels;

1. Philip of Flanders withdrew from rebelling after he heard the count of Boulogne (brother) died -> rebels lacked cohesion to coordiante the rebellion effectively + YK could NOT take over.

Other hostilities;

2. Anjou & Maine renounced their loyalty to Henry + Guy de Lusignan, and others, removed Henry's official from their land in Pitou.

Henry reacted using violence -> sent a large army of mercenaries to destroy land surrounding Pitou (destroyed castles - scorched Earth policy)

Parley (conference between opposing sides) (1173) - Henry not willing to delegate any power to his sons STILL. The fighting continued...

The GR in England, 1173

• Scotland invaded England and destroyed most Northern counties (I.e, Yorkshire)
• Richard de Lucy called a truce and forced the Scots back over the border (v. useful).
• Captured the Earl of Leicster's wife -> stopped Leicester's rebellion.
• King William of Scotland called a truce.

The capture of William of Scotland

• the state of England was deteriorating - Carlisle captured + Nottingham
• July 1173 - William the Lion was captured at Alnwick & taken as prisoner (End of rebellion in England)
• Whilst Henry was England, Louis VII launched further attacks on Henry's French territories -> Beseiged Rouen. BUT, he failed to maintain the city despite agreeing to a seige, and failed to capture it a second time (POOR LEADER) -> sued for peace

Richard fights on

Richard lost Saintes (part of Aquitaine) to Henry II becuase he has much more experience and power -> R. lost military power & was convinced he'd lost the rebellion after hearing Louis & the YK sued for peace

• Richard begged Henry II for forgiveness (lack of experience as a leader) -> peace negotiations made 1 week after.
• The terms included; YK had to agree that John would be provided with castles & revenue from England, Normandy & Anjou. YK would get residencies in Normandy (Richard angry), Richard given residencies/revenues in Poitou, Geoffrey get half the revenues of Brittany.

Treaty of Falaise, 1174 - V. SIGNIFICANT (It ended Scotland's rebellion)

Henry II & William I agreed on these terms, after william was released;

• William to pay homage to Henry for lands
• Bishops & abbots of Scotland had to recognise Henry II as their leige lord
• England given 5 key castles (including Stirling & Edinburgh)
• Wiliam gave Henry 21 hostages (Including David - his brother)

Short-term impact on Henry's victories on royal power

• GR lasted 18 months
• Henry emerged stronger: Defeated 3/4 of his sons, 2 kings + several barons & his wife.
• GR reinforced H's good relationship w. Welsh (returned land back to them)
• Treaty of Falaise ensured Scotland's good behaviour.

The Assize of Northampton & the eyre of 1176

• During the GR, royal authority was undermined - barons challenged the crown. THEREFORE, H. put into effect the assize of Northampton (tightened punishments + allowed king's justiciars to hear a range of cases) -> also introuced standardised writs for novel disseisin & mort d'ancestor. 
• 1176 - H's justices sent on eyre to ensure that illegal castles had been destroyed/demolished.

Henry's French lands

• 1177 - H. met Louis VII to sign the Treaty of Ivry (freindship treaty to respect each other's rights)
• Henry gave Richard more responsibility than his brothers - gave him suffiient resources to govern Aquitaine. Allowed R. to successfully put down rebellions independently.

• 1183 - Death of YK & end of his rebellion (not family conflicts)
• The foundations for the rebellions rested on jealousy & lack of trust -> allowed Philip to capitalise on these opportunities
• Philip wanted to return his sister + dowry, & the vexin, to France
• Henry could keep it if Richard married Alice.

Rivalry: Richard & John

• The death of YK meant that Richard was heir of England, Anjou, Normandy and Aquitaine.
• BUT Henry wanted John to be given Aquitaine - R. refused. -> H. gave John permission to invade
• 1184: J & G attacked Richard's lands/ in reatliation, R attacked Brittany.
• Richard had developed strong lack of trust towards Henry II & w his favouratism to John, esp concerning his ownership of Aquitaine (only willing to have it jointly ruled w him, Eleanor and then Henry).
• Philip II exploted this. BUT, first he worked on Geoffrey

Intrigue: Philip & Geoffrey

• Geoffrey knew his parents had favourites -> Philip exploited this by making G. seneschal of France which gave G. status in French court.
• 1186 - G. did homage to Philip for Brittany
• G. died in 1186
• As overlord of France, philip claimed wardship of G's children BUT so did Henry -> conflict created + Philip increasingly frustrated with Alice (sister) not being married to Richard (Richard supposedly in love w. Berengaria)

Richard's & John's ambitions & treachery

• Fears present over who would dominate Aquitaine
• W. the death of YK & Geoffrey, the territories each son would control would be greater -> Richard expected to take the YK's lands as he was now the eldest son BUT this didn't happen.
• 1186 onwards - Philip's relationship w. Henry deteriorated (Henry did nothing against Richard's attacks on Toulouse, despite Ph. asking him to)

Philip had several reasons to attack Henry;

• H. was still holding his sister, Alice
• H. had control of the Vexin
• H. was still holding Brittany through Geoffrey's grandchildren DESPITE philip being overlord.
• H. did nothing in response to Philip's command to stop R. attacking Toulouse.

Soon later, Pope urban called for all Christians to crusade (Holy war) so a bond alliance formed between Richard & Philip;

They both never trusted Henry.

The alliance of Philip & Richard against Henry

• Due to Richard's distrust of his father (feared Henry would make him give up his alnds + succession still not settled - R. wanted to be H's principal heir)
• 1188 - R. did homage to Philip due to this fear, for Aq, Normandy, Anjou ...
• 1189 - R. & Ph. joined forces against H. therefore, Ph able to capitalise on R.s fear & dysfunctional family dynamics
• Ph.'s ultimate aim = destroy angevin power bloc in France

Henry II's defeat in 1189

H. found costs becoming increasingly burdensome & Ph. made the following demands to Henry at Maine;

• Alice marry Richard
• Richard be given security of his inheritance
• John join the crusade to the holy land

In return, Philip would restore all of H's land he took.

Henry also becoming increasingly ill, in comparison to Ph & R. who were increasing in momentum & gaining territory;

• I.e, Capture on Tours

The terms of Henry's defeat

• H. place himself at the will of Philip
• H. do homage to Philip for his French possessions
• King Philip receive 20,000 marks
• Alice & R. marry
• Major castles + vexin handed over to Philip

Henry agreed but died soon after.