Holinshed's Chronicles, vol. 2 of 6, slice 05 of 12: England, 1154-1189, Henry II

In Short

This historical volume chronicle the thirty-five-year reign of King Henry II of England, spanning from his accession in 1154 to his death in 1189. It documents his early administrative reforms, his protracted political and ecclesiastical feud with Archbishop Thomas Becket, military campaigns across Ireland and France, and the devastating rebellions mounted by his own sons. Raphael Holinshed’s work has endured as an essential foundation of Tudor historiography, famously serving as a primary source for Elizabethan literature and shaping how later generations conceptualized English medieval history, royal sovereignty, and the fragile nature of dynastic power.

The Story

The narrative begins with the arrival of Henry II, a young French-born prince of the Plantagenet line, who assumes the English crown following the death of King Stephen. Upon his coronation by Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, the twenty-three-year-old monarch immediately sets to work restoring order across his fractured realm. He appoints grave counselors, reviews and amends national laws, and elevates his trusted associate Thomas Becket to the office of lord chancellor.

This early harmony soon collapses into bitter internal strife. When Becket is named Archbishop of Canterbury, his allegiances shift from the crown to the Church. A rift opens over legal jurisdictions, ecclesiastical immunities, and royal authority. Henry demands that the clergy remain subject to temporal laws, while Becket fiercely defends the supremacy of the Papacy and the immunity of churchmen. Accused of perjury and treason by the King’s council, Becket appeals directly to Rome and flees into exile. The conflict escalates as Henry banishes Becket’s relatives and threatens the religious orders that harbor him, while Becket responds by excommunicating royal supporters. Though a formal reconciliation is eventually staged, suspicions linger; Henry refuses the traditional kiss of peace, signaling an unresolved grudge that hangs over the kingdom.

Simultaneously, Henry expands his continental influence and extends his reach into Ireland. English barons, led by Richard "Strongbow," Earl of Pembroke, invade Irish territories, capture key cities like Dublin and Waterford, and forge political marriages with local rulers. Henry moves to assert royal dominance over these Irish gains, accepting land grants and homage on behalf of his young son John, while enforcing international treaties to secure his borders.

Yet Henry’s greatest trial emerges from within his own household. Enticed by the King of France and ambitious foreign lords, Henry’s sons—led by Henry the Young King, Richard, and Geoffrey—rebel against their father. Foreign powers invade Normandy and England, while William, King of Scotland, marches into Cumberland. Through relentless military maneuvers, Henry repels the invaders and suppresses the uprisings. Seeing his allies falter, Richard surrenders to his father, prompting a brief period of family reconciliation and treaties.

This peace proves fragile. As the years progress, royal rivalries flare anew. Henry the Young King succumbs to a sudden, fatal fever, expressing deep remorse on his deathbed and begging for his father’s forgiveness. Prince Geoffrey meets a premature death following a tournament injury. In his final years, an aging Henry faces a renewed, devastating revolt led by his surviving son Richard, who joins forces with King Philip of France. Overwhelmed by betrayal and stripped of his continental strongholds, Henry’s health collapses, bringing a dramatic, tragic end to one of England's most powerful medieval rulers.

How It Unfolds

A crown secured Henry Plantagenet lands in England following King Stephen’s death, receives homage from the nobles at Winchester, and is crowned at London. He immediately moves to reform the laws of the realm alongside his newly appointed chancellor, Thomas Becket.

The breach with Becket A fierce dispute erupts between Henry and Becket over clerical immunities and royal authority. The bishops and lords judge Becket a traitor, prompting the archbishop to appeal to Rome and flee to France under the protection of the French king.

Expansion into Ireland Richard Strongbow leads an unauthorized military expedition into Ireland, seizing Dublin and marrying into local royalty. Henry asserts his royal authority over the conquered territories, securing land rights and oaths of fealty for his youngest son, John.

The sons rebel Encouraged by the French crown, Henry's sons revolt against him, sparking multi-front invasions across Normandy, Britain, and northern England. The King of Scotland besieges Carlisle but is ultimately driven back and captured.

Submission and reconciliation Recognizing the futility of the rebellion, Prince Richard surrenders to his father and receives a complete pardon. A formal peace treaty is established between Henry, the French king, and the rebellious princes, restoring lost lands and releasing prisoners.

Tragedy in the royal house The Young King Henry falls mortally ill, repenting of his rebellion on a bed of ashes before dying at twenty-eight. Prince Geoffrey dies shortly after from tournament injuries, leaving the succession once again in turmoil.

The final betrayal Prince Richard forms an alliance with the new French monarch, doing homage for Henry’s continental lands without his father's consent. Weakened by war and heart-broken by his family's ultimate betrayal, Henry II meets his demise.

The People

• King Henry II: The formidable Plantagenet monarch of England who seeks to establish absolute sovereignty, institute legal order, and expand his territorial domains. His relentless ambition is continually thwarted by church resistance and the betrayals of his immediate family, leaving him a tragic, isolated figure in his final years.
• Thomas Becket: The Lord Chancellor turned Archbishop of Canterbury who transforms from the King’s closest minister into his most uncompromising opponent. Driven to defend the liberties of the Church against royal overreach, he refuses to submit to temporal judgment, enduring exile and sparking a massive international controversy.
• Henry the Young King: The King’s eldest surviving son, crowned during his father's lifetime, who harbors intense frustration over his lack of actual governance and wealth. He repeatedly joins foreign leagues to wage war against his father, only to die in deep penitence.
• Richard, Earl of Poictou (Strongbow / Prince Richard): Initially represented by the ambitious Earl who leads the invasion of Ireland to restore his lost fortunes. Later, the title refers to Henry’s ambitious son Richard, a brilliant strategist who chafes under his father's control and eventually allies with France to secure his succession.
• King Philip of France: The shrewd young French monarch who expertly manipulates the internal rivalries of the Plantagenet family, offering support to Henry’s rebellious sons to weaken English influence on the continent.

In Its Own Voice

When accused of treason and pressured by the peers of the realm to submit to royal judgment, Thomas Becket refuses to recognize their authority:

"Judgement? Naie sonne earle, first heare thou: It is not vnknowne to thée how faithfull I haue béene to the king, in consideration whereof he aduanced me to the archbishops see against my will."

Following the collapse of his rebel alliance, Prince Richard recognizes his mistake and throws himself upon his father's mercy:

"Herevpon Richard laieng armour aside, came of his owne accord vnto his father on the 21. of September, and asked pardon."

Upon his deathbed, the repentant Young King Henry demands to be stripped of his fine garments and laid upon ashes:

"I deliuer my selfe an vnworthie and greeuous sinner vnto you the ministers of God by this cord, beséeching our Lord Jesus Christ, which pardoned the théefe confessing his faults on the crosse, that through your praiers and for his great mercies sake it may please him to be mercifull vnto my soule."

What It's Really About

At its core, this chronicle explores the fundamental conflict between temporal authority and spiritual power, alongside the volatile nature of dynastic ambition. It examines the inherent instability of an empire held together purely by military force and feudal oaths. Through the ongoing feud between Henry II and Thomas Becket, the text questions whether a monarch can ever truly claim absolute control over subjects whose highest allegiances lie with the Church. Furthermore, the narrative serves as a sobering meditation on earthly vanity and political betrayal; despite Henry's tactical genius and immense wealth, his reign is perpetually undermined by his own bloodline. The chronicle demonstrates how personal pride, territorial greed, and familial discord can erode the foundation of even the most powerful kingdom.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers interested in medieval history, political intrigue, and Tudor prose will find this text deeply compelling. Reading Holinshed offers a direct line into the raw material that inspired Renaissance dramatists, presenting historical figures not as distant icons, but as complex, flawed individuals driven by passion, piety, and spite. The narrative carries a swift, theatrical momentum, rich with dramatic speeches, tactical maneuvers, and vivid courtly confrontations.

However, readers should prepare for the distinctive challenges of the text. The prose uses sixteenth-century English orthography, archaic vocabulary, and dense sentence structures that require patient reading. The chronicle also incorporates period biases, particularly a strong anti-papal outlook reflecting the Protestant perspective of Holinshed’s Elizabethan era. Marginal side notes and Latin epitaphs frequently interrupt the main narrative flow. Yet for those willing to navigate these stylistic hurdles, the volume yields a remarkably vivid, human portrait of the Plantagenet era—a world where magnificent victories are constantly shadowed by the fragility of mortal power.