Henry the Second
1888
Henry the Second
1888
Alice Stopford Green wrote this book in 1888, when a woman publishing serious history was still a radical act. She approaches Henry II not as a distant monarch but as a living force: a French-speaking king who barely knew English, yet somehow forged a unified kingdom from the wreckage of the Norman Conquest. The narrative crackles with the drama of 12th-century power politics: the king's explosive confrontation with Thomas Becket, the endless territorial wars in France, the heartbreaking rebellion of his own sons against him. Green is particularly attentive to what made Henry revolutionary, showing how his legal reforms the creation of common law, the system of royal justices wandering the countryside planted the seeds of modern governance. This is Victorian history at its most vivid and argumentative, written by a historian who believed the past was anything but dead.
About Henry the Second
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- Introduces Henry II's background, inheritance, and early life. Describes his rise to power through marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine and his claim to the English throne during the civil war between Stephen and Matilda.
- 2
- Details Henry's vast continental dominions and the challenges of governing territories from Scotland to the Pyrenees. Explores the diplomatic and military efforts required to maintain this empire.
- 3
- Examines the state of English government and society when Henry became king, including the breakdown of order under Stephen and the challenges facing the new administration.
Key Themes
- Royal Authority vs. Traditional Privileges
- Henry's systematic effort to establish centralized royal authority conflicted with the traditional privileges of the Church, feudal lords, and local jurisdictions, creating the central tension of his reign.
- Church and State Relations
- The bitter conflict with Thomas Becket exemplified the broader medieval struggle between secular and ecclesiastical authority, with lasting implications for English governance.
- Family Loyalty and Betrayal
- Henry's relationships with his wife and sons reveal the tragic contradiction between personal affection and political necessity, culminating in repeated family betrayals.
Characters
- Henry II (Henry Plantagenet)(protagonist)
- King of England from 1154-1189, founder of the Angevin Empire. A brilliant administrator and legal reformer who transformed English government and law, but struggled with family rebellions and conflicts with the Church.
- Thomas Becket(antagonist)
- Archbishop of Canterbury, former chancellor to Henry II. Transformed from loyal servant to fierce defender of Church rights, leading to his murder in 1170 and subsequent martyrdom.
- Eleanor of Aquitaine(major)
- Queen of England, Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right. Divorced from Louis VII of France to marry Henry, later led rebellions against her husband and was imprisoned.
- Young Henry(major)
- Henry's eldest son, crowned as co-king in 1170. Led multiple rebellions against his father before dying in 1183.
- Richard (later Richard I)(major)
- Henry's second son, Duke of Aquitaine. A skilled military commander who repeatedly rebelled against his father and eventually succeeded him as king.
- Geoffrey(major)
- Henry's third son, Duke of Brittany. Participated in family rebellions and died in 1186 while plotting with Philip of France.
