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Was Henry II's reign a time of stability or chaos in England?

Yancy Sullivan

Well, well, well, my dear fellows, it is time to delve into the lively debate about Henry II's reign in England. Was it a time of stability or chaos? The answer is...it depends on who you ask.

Let's start by asking the royals. Henry II came to the throne in 1154 and if you were a king looking for a steady reign, H2 was your guy. He was a savvy politician and law enforcer who established a well-organized government that was able to keep the nobles in line. He was also the mastermind behind the Common Law system, which ensured that people from all over the country were subjected to the same rules. So, if you were a king, life was pretty stable under Henry II.

But, what about the peasants? The commoners? They may have had a different take on things. Henry II was infamous for instituting heavy taxes on the poor as well as the wealthy. Some historians even argue that the taxes during his reign were so outrageous that they led to the peasants' revolt in 1173. Additionally, Henry's marriage to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine was a rocky one, as she participated in multiple rebellions against him. This unrest was not solely from the peasants, but suppressed from the king's propaganda machine.

Ok, let's consider the Church. Henry II quarreled with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, back in 1162. The beef was over the claim that church officials couldn't be tried in courts outside of the church. Long story short, Henry was like "oh no you didn't" and Becket was like "oh yes I did!" Unfortunately, this argument ended in tragedy, as Becket was ultimately killed by Henry's knights. The Church may have proven to be an unpredictable wildcard for Henry.

But, there's one other element that would have certainly considered Henry II's reign as a time of chaos. That element would be his own family...oh, the drama! His sons were a gang of a rebellious bunch, who plotted against their dad more times than you can shake a stick at. Trees were used to kick and beat officials loyal to their father. Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, was in on the action too and encouraged her sons to revolt against their dad. This family feud was a hot mess and probably left Henry feeling like he needed a vacation.

The answer to whether Henry II's reign was one of stability or chaos really isn't that simple. There were good parts and bad parts, stable times and unstable times. It just depends on who you ask. So, ask around and find out!