Henry II: An Imperialist King?

Page 2 of 9

• 1. Approach to empire
• 2. Relations with France
• 3. Campaigns in Wales
• 4. Approach to Ireland
• 5. Henry lands in Ireland
• 6. Conclusions on Ireland
• 7. Henry and Scotland
• 8. Feudal control
• 9. Find out more
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Relations with France

Added to this was Aquitaine, placed into his responsibility by his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152. If we are talking in terms of imperialism, the acquisition of Aquitaine can be seen as the first great coup of Henry II. It occurred even before he became king, and it completely redefined the map of France. Eleanor had been the queen of King Louis VII of France until he had the marriage annulled because she had not borne him a son. While she and Louis were aligned, the King of France directly controlled three quarters of his country; but the minute Henry married Eleanor, control of more than half the country fell into the hands of one single over-powerful vassal, the duke of Normandy. The relationship between Louis and his vassal Henry would never be the same again, and from that point on, one overriding aim of the French kings was to prevent the dukes of Normandy from seizing control of any more of their land. Henry, on the other hand, had secured the southern borders of Anjou, and at a single stroke had elevated his status from duke of Normandy and pretender to the English throne, to major European player. It was a great coup, but it was to dog the kings of England for centuries to come.

'...the acquisition of Aquitaine can be seen as the first great coup of Henry II.'

Its long-term implications can be seen in the first real 'imperial' venture of Henry's actual reign. Henry gained an interest in Toulouse (south-eastern France) through his marriage to Eleanor, who claimed it as part of the Duchy of Aquitaine. However, Louis could not afford to let Henry gain control of it, and had a duty of care to the Count of Toulouse as his vassal. After some failed diplomatic efforts, Henry prepared a massive campaign in 1159, intended to browbeat the Count of Toulouse into submission; but Louis pre-empted him, marching an army into Toulouse and daring Henry to attack him.

This, Henry could not afford to do. Not only was he not powerful enough to take on the French army in a heavily-defended city, but he had only just succeeded in stamping his authority on his own recalcitrant barons. He dared not set his vassals the very bad example of attacking his technical overlord, so he was forced to back off ignominiously. It was one of the few miscalculations of his reign, caused by the brash assertiveness of youth and the failure to recognise that there were limits beyond which he should not push. The King of France could countenance his claims to Toulouse just so long as he did not seek to enforce them. As soon as Henry tried to set those rights in stone, Louis was forced to act.

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Published: 2001-04-01