Richard Plantagenet, the Lionheart

Notes:

Henry was crowned king in Dec 1154 at Westminster. He was 21.

He was King of England, and also ruled the whole western coastal region of France.

He is the king who did penance at the tomb of Thomas a Becket, accepting responsibility for his murder at Centerbury Cathedral.

Although Henry was a powerful king, the latter years of his reign were plagued by numerous revolts of his sons, egged on by their mother, Eleanor.

Eleanor and Henry were third cousins through their common ancestor Ermengarde of Anjou (wife to Robert I, Duke of Burgundy and Geoffrey, Count of G

Henry married Eleanor of AQUITAINE 18 May 1152. Eleanor (daughter of William X, Duke of AQUITAINE and AENOR de Ch) was born 1122, Aquitaine, France; died 1 Apr 1204, Fontevraud Abbey, France. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Eleanor was the divorced wife of Louis VII, King of France.

Source for the following excerpt: http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=aquitaine_fredericksburg_04

"She became a queen at age fifteen in the year 1137 when her father died and she married Prince Louis of France, who became king less than a month after their marriage . . . This marriage, though considered perfect in state because of the joining of the two estates, was extremely ill-matched in personality. Eleanor was out-spoken, loved color, and did things on the spur-of-the-moment. Louis, who had been brought up to become an officer in the church, was a weak, dull, grave, and pious man (Sam Behling) who only inherited the throne when his older brother died. Even though they did have two children together (both girls), they were so poorly matched that they divorced when Eleanor was twenty-nine after a major falling out on the Second Crusade, on which both traveled. Although it was extremely unconventional for women to go on crusade, Eleanor did, along with three hundred of her ladies . . . Only eight months after returning from the Second Crusade, Eleanor remarried -- this time to Prince Henry of France who was eleven years her junior, who made her queen about two years after their marriage in 1154. Throughout this marriage, Eleanor was constantly pregnant, and produced eight children (five sons and three daughters), three of which were eventually kings, themselves."

Much more is available online about this colorful woman.

From Wikipedia:

"Eleanor's father ensured that she had the best possible education. Although her native tongue was Poitevin, she was taught to read and speak Latin, was well versed in music and literature, and schooled in riding, hawking, and hunting. Eleanor was extroverted, lively, intelligent, and strong willed."

"On 25 October 1154, Eleanor's second husband became King of the English. Eleanor was crowned Queen of the English by the Arcbishop of Canterbury on 19 December 1154."

Also see: http://www.alicemariebeard.com/law/eleanor.htm

Notes:

Geoffrey was of the House of Plantagenet in Anjou, France.

The name Plantagenet was given as a nickname to Geoffrey because of the sprig of the broom plant (planta genista) he wore in his helmet. This was later incorporated into the family coat of arms.

Geoffrey married Matilda BEAUCLERC 1128. Matilda (daughter of Henry BEAUCLERC, I, of Normandy and Matilda or Edith of Scotland) was born Abt 1102. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

When Matilda's first husband died, her father gave her in marriage to a 16-year-old teenager, Geoffrey of Anjou.

Matilda was named as successor to the throne by her father, King Henry I. However, when he died, the Council offered the throne to her cousin, Stephen of Blois, who proved to be a weak king. At one point her father's illegitimate son, Earl Robert, gave his support to Matilda, who installed herself as monarch at Arundel. The nobles took sides and a decade of civil war ensued. Eventually the crown passed to Matilda's son, Henry Plantagenet.

Notes:

Married:
From Wikipedia:
"Geoffrey and Matilda's marriage took place in 1128. The marriage was meant to seal a lasting peace between England, Normandy (an English possession since William I) and Anjou. She was eleven years older than Geoffrey, and very proud of her status as dowager Empress (as opposed to being a mere countess), and which she kept for the remainder of her life. Their marriage was a stormy but happy one with frequent long separations; she bore him three sons and survived him by over 15 years."

William — AENOR de Ch. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

King Henry I of England

While Henry had many known illegitimate children, he was survived by only one legitimate heir, his daughter Matilda.

Henry married Matilda or Edith of Scotland Nov 1100. Matilda (daughter of King of Scotland MALCOLM) died 1118. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Matilda was daughter of Malcolm, King of Scotland.

I — Dangereuse. [Group Sheet]