10 Facts about Medieval Kings

Post On: May 15, 2018
By: Andi

In this article, I want to tell you the 10 facts about medieval kings. I will focus to discuss on the Angevin kings of England. The Angevins were a royal house that ruled in England between the 12th and early 13th century, its monarch was Henry II, Richard I and John. For further information of medieval kings, please read the descriptions below.

Facts about Medieval Kings 1: The Terminology of Angevin

To refer to the kings who were also counts of Anjou – Started with Henry II – descended from Geoffrey and Matilda, the word of “Angevin” commonly used.

Facts about Medieval Kings 2: Angevin Empire

In 1887, the term “Angevin Empire” was coined by Kate Norgate.

facts about medieval kings

Facts about Medieval Kings 3: The Origin of Angevins

The Angevins descend from Geoffrey II, Count of Gatinais and Ermengarde of Anjou. In  1060 this couple inherited, via cognati kinship, the county of Anjou from an older dating from 870 and a noble called Ingelger. The marriage of Count Geoffrey to Matilda is believed as the only surviving legitimate child of Henry I of England.

Facts about Medieval Kings 4: House of Plantagenet of Angevins Legacy

Historians argue that the period of Prince Louis’s invasion to mark the end of the Angevin period and the initial of the Plantagenet dynasty. At this time, some facets have changed in economic power, growing cultural differences between England and Normandy and (in particular) the fragile, familial nature of Henry’s empire.

Facts about Medieval Kings 5: The Legacy of Angevin Decent

The descent through descent from the Angevins (legitimate and illegitimate) is widespread and includes all subsequent monarchs of England and the United Kingdom. The children he had with Isabela including Henry III (the king of England for most of the 13th century), Richard, Joan, Isabella and Eleanor.

Facts about Medieval Kings 6: Contemporary Opinion

Unfortunately, King Henry was an unpopular king. William of Newburgh wrote during in the 1190s, “In his own time he was hated by almost everyone”. He was widely criticised by contemporaries, even in his own court.

facts about medieval kings

Facts about Medieval Kings 7: The Legacy of Constitutional Impact

King Henry made long-term consequences on the development of their societies and governments.

Facts about Medieval Kings 8: The Legacy of Architecture

There are no differences between Angevin and Plantagenet culture that would distinguish or set them apart from their neighbours in this period. Historians recorded that Henry built or renovated the castles throughout his domain in Normandy, England, Aquitaine, Anjou, Maine, and Torraine.

Facts about Medieval Kings 9: The Legacy of Historiography

Based on the recorded by John Gillingham, Henry was a bad son, a bad husband and a bad king, on the other hand, he was a gallant and splendid soldier.

facts about medieval kings

Facts about Medieval Kings 10: The Legacy of Angevin in the Medieval Folklore

During the 13th century, the story was the foundation of Andre Ernest Modeste Gretry’s opera Richard Coeur-de-Lion, and inspired the opening of Richard Thrope’s film version of Ivanhoe.

The 10 amazing facts about medieval kings have been presented above, hope you love reading it.