Henry V is among the most famous of England’s monarchs, beautifully immortalized in Shakespeare’s play. He led the English to numerous victories in France, most notably at Agincourt, and was named heir to Charles VI’s French throne. But he died unexpectedly at 34, and left behind just one heir – an infant titled Henry VI […]
Henry III
By God’s word, if all abandoned the king, do you know what I would do? I would carry him on my shoulders step by step, from island to island, from country to country, and I would not fail him not even if it meant begging my bread’. William Marshal, guardian and protector of the young […]
Richard II
Richard II is perhaps best known for two events – his courageous response to the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 and the subsequent loss of his throne to his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke (who became Henry IV.) He undoubtedly led a tragic life, one filled with errors of judgment and needless confusion. But he was a product […]
Richard I – The Lion Heart
Richard I, called coeur de lion, or ‘Lionheart’, by his people, was one of the most savage and charismatic English kings. He inherited some of his father’s administrative ability, but his true passion was warfare – and he nearly bankrupted his vast empire to support his endless battles. He was the favorite child of his […]
The House of Plantagenet
Henry II ‘Curtmantle’ Henry of Anjou, called Henry FitzEmpress and Curtmantle parents – Empress Matilda, queen of England, and Geoffrey Plantagenet V, count of Anjou and Maine date and place of birth – 25 March 1133 at Le Mans, Anjou wife – Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine, former queen of France (as wife of Louis IX) date […]
Angevin or Plantagenet?
Henry II was the first Plantagenet king of England, but he is often referred to as the first Angevin king; likewise, his descendants are known as ‘the Angevin dynasty’. This has created understandable confusion, though the problem is quite simple. Unlike most kings, Henry is not known by one family name. His father was Geoffrey […]
Henry IV – Biography of the English King
Perhaps the unhappiest of the Plantagenet kings, Henry IV seized the throne from his cousin, Richard II, in 1399 – and thus inaugurated the Lancastrian dynasty which would rule England for sixty-two years. But his reign, which began with Richard’s murder, was destined to be troubled and miserable for Henry. He suffered from a painful […]
Consequences and Legacy of the Crusades
The original goal of the Crusades – capturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslims failed but the Crusades greatly influenced life in medieval Europe. Contact with different nationalities, cultures and religions resulted in the interchange of ideas and customs as well as in progress of science, techniques, medicine, literature, architecture, invention and geography. […]
Ninth Crusade (1271 – 1272)
The Ninth Crusade was launched by future Edward I of England who was on the way to the Eighth Crusade when Louis XI of France died. Edward landed in Sicily where he overwintered and sealed to Acre in spring of 1271 with hope to gather an army. However, the barons did not support him as […]
Eighth Crusade (1270)
Louis IX of France decided to launch another Crusade after the fall of Jaffa and Antioch to the Mamluks in 1268. However, instead of going to the Holy Land he decided to land in Tunis because of the rumors that Caliph of Tunis, Muhammad I al-Mustansir will convert to Christianity if the Crusaders would provide […]
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