The Angevin Empire is a modern term applied retrospectively to the lands of Henry II of England, consisting of at their largest extent, the Kingdom of England and duchies or counties of Normandy, Anjou, Poitou, Maine, Gascony, Touraine, Béarn and Aquitaine; with Brittany, Wales, Toulouse, and Ireland held in vassalage to some degree.

The term 'Angevin Empire'

As far as is know there was no contemporary term for the entirety of the lands under Angevin control, with contemporary descriptions using constructions such as 'our kingdom and everything subject to our rule whatever it may be'. John Gillingham: "The Angevin Empire", page 2. Arnold, 2001 The term 'Angecin Empire' was coined by Kate Norgate in her 1887 publication, "England under the Angevin Kings".

Historicaly both English and French historians had viewed the juxtoposition of England and French lands under Angevin control as something of an abberation, and an offence to national identity. To English historians the lands in France were an an encumbrance, while French historians considered the union to be an English empire. With the adoption of the Angevin label this marked a re-evaluation of the times, considering that both English and French influences were spread across the dominion in the half century the union lasted.

The use of the term Empire has courted controversy amongst some historians. As an assembledge of the inherited and aquired lands of Henry there is the question of whether a common identity existed across the dominions.

History

The lands of Normandy and England had been in personal union since the time of the Norman Conquest. The prospect of a union between the lands of Anjou and Normandy was first suggested during the time of Henry I, who intended his daughter, the dowager Empress Matilda (Maud) to succeed him as Queen. A dynastic alliance with the counts of Anjou made a lot of sense to Henry. The counts of Anjou had recently gained control of Maine though the marriage of Fulk V to Eremburge of La Flèche, and their increased power and influence in Northern France offered a potential threat to Henry's control over Normandy.

Unfortunately for Geoffrey and Matilda, this plan failed as the English Barons ignored the wishes of Henry, choosing Stephen of Blois as the next king. This led to a time of troubles known as The Anarchy in the Anglo-Norman nation as Matilda and Stephen fought for control, ending with the signing of the Treaty of Westminster which allowed Stephen to remain king, but ensuring Henry, the son of Geoffrey and Matilda, would succeed him.

The lands under direct control of the Empire were essentially complete with the marriage of Henry II to Eleanor of Aquitaine. Over the next two decades Henry consolidated his power, taking surrounding states, most notably the duchy of Brittany, into various forms of vassalage.

The height of the Angevin Empire came during the reign of Richard I of England, an avid imperialist and unquestionable patriot of Christendom. Richard wed Berengaria of Navarre, to provide a strong ally to the south of his realms, possibly with the hopes of inheriting the Kingdom of Navarre as part of her dowry. This was in like kind to his mother's Aquitaine being held by Henry and added to the English Crown. Richard's marital negotiations for his nephew Arthur of Brittany, were to add Sicily into the English Domain.

If the Third Crusade had met with success, Richard would have come back to regain the Kingdom of Cyprus and possibly even the Kingdom of Jerusalem (his great grandfather Fulk, was King of Jerusalem).

The fall of the Angevin empire can be traced to the capture and ransoming of Richard I by Leopold V of Austria and Henry VI of Germany. Philip Augustus took the opportunity of Richard's absence to pursue his claims to the lands, in part by encouraging rebellion amongst the vassals of the empire. His attempts were aided by the pressure put upon the economy of the region due to collection of the ransom. Upon his release Richard spent the remainder of his reign attempting to regain the territory he had lost to France.

The reign of John saw the end of the Angevin Empire. John can claim to be the first English king (as opposed to a king of England) as he was born in the lands, and spent much of his time within England. Contrary to received impressions of history, in the early part of his reign John was popular among his barons. However his political talents were no match for the successful expansionist strategies of Philip Augustus, and the French lands, with the exception of Gascony and the Channel Isles, were lost by 1202.

The true end of the Empire could be seen in 1216 when the Barons of England offered the crown to Prince Louis (future Louis VIII of France), thus confirming the supremacy of France. However ideas of reclaiming the Angevin lands in France remained a dream of English kings, and was a contributing factor to the Hundred Years' War.

Cultural Influence

The hypothetical continuation and expansion of the Angevin Empire over several centuries has been the subject of several tales of alternate history.

Other Angevins

At other times during history Angevin dynasties have ruled Hungary, Naples, France and Poland. However, these are not related to the Plantagenet dynasty in the Kingdom of England.

See also

• History of England
• History of France

Important Figures of the time

Angevin Dynasty - bold indicates reigning king of England.

• Geoffrey of Anjou
  • Henry II of England married Eleanor of Aquitaine
    • Henry the Young King (First born son of Henry II who he predeceased in 1183).
    • Richard I of England
    • Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany married Constance, Duchess of Brittany (Heir presumptive of Richard, who he predeceased in 1186).
      • Arthur I, Duke of Brittany
      • Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany
    • John I of England

French Kings

• Louis VII of France
  • Philip II of France
    • Louis VIII of France

Notes

History of Britain | History of France

Angevinisches Reich