The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England

As Eleanor gave birth to a series of heirs, Henry II was a pro-active new king, traveling constantly throughout his enormous territories. He was resolute in centering authority in his rule and overcoming challengers.

Henry used diplomacy and force to secure his enormous territories. In 1159, he marched on Toulouse under a tangential claim of Eleanor’s. However, the French king came to the city, highlighting their complex diplomatic relationship: as Duke of Normandy, Henry was his vassal, but as King of England, he was his equal. Continuing the campaign would have serious consequences; he withdrew.

Thomas Beckett was Henry’s right-hand man, rising to prominence as Chancellor in the late 1150s. In 1161, Henry pushed for his controversial appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury, hoping to cement his authority against the Church’s independence. Instead, Beckett became a staunch defender of church rights, causing a rift. Antagonism escalated, coming to a head over Henry’s Constitutions of Clarendon in 1164. Each appealed to outside authorities including the pope and the French king, but Henry seized the upper hand. Beckett fled to France.