Henry+II,+Legal+and+Political+Reform

King Henry II  Reform and Innovations Concerning Law and the Church
 * __**Introduction: **__

Henry Plantagenet II of England (r. 1154-1189) is remarkable in relation to the governance of Britain during the time of his contemporaries and when considering his surviving legacy today. King Henry II was sovereign during a period in which localised nobility and the church contested the control of the economy and authority over the governance of state[1] ; however what is so remarkable are the innovations in the legal and political domains that through his determination challenged the influence of the church  and unjust governance of corrupt barons over state affairs, and the creation of laws from which elements are still in existence today.

__**Civil War & Consolidation: **__

Degraded conditions of economic and political stability in the early twelfth century England were the product of a fifteen year civil war between factions loyal to Henry’s family and supporters of King Stephen of Blois (r.1135-1154).[2] Instability reached a zenith by Henry’s succession and coronation, thus the ability of his leadership to re-unite the Kingdom and expand English territory far beyond the borders held prior to the last Norman King[3], attests to Henry II’s reputation as an exceptionally competent monarch.

Having secured vast land holdings through marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine, the enhanced wealth provided by these lands in South-Western France ensured Henry had the means to achieve a great deal towards strengthening his influence and establishing peace within the English Kingdom.[4] In 1156 he had succeeded in disarming hostile factions among the English nobility still harbouring animosity towards the Plantagenet line.[5] This peace contributed to the improving of state efficiency but equally as important for Henry, added security to the succession of his family line to the throne.[6]

__**Corruption & Legal Reform: **__

<span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">During the civil war the absence of unified sovereignty saw matters of law and administration localised to baronial nobility and the church.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[7] Consequentially royal administration dissolved into disarray, vulnerable to exploitation by corrupt laymen and ecclesiastic authorities.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[8] <span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">To combat civil unrest and disorder and to manage unjust treatment of the lower class, Henry extended royal jurisdiction over secular and ecclesiastic criminal law and introduced the role of Circuit Judges to his administration.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[9] Essentially allowing accused persons trial by an unbiased, inter-regional jury through application by //novel disseisin// writs, often regarding property and land theft.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[10]

__**<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">Conflict with the Church: **__

<span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Church tension grew with the refusal to discriminate between Church and nobility in the use of Henry’s royal courts.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[11] Ecclesiastics had previously practiced trial and punishment for church related lawbreakers separately; however convictions and sentences were drastically lighter than secular courts.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[12] <span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Eventually reforms drafted by Henry known as the //Constitutions of Clarendon// stating that matters of the Church were included under Royal jurisdiction sparked opposition from the Archbishop of Canterbury and former friend of Henry’s, Thomas Becket.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[13]



__**<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">Henry II’s Legacy: **__

<span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">In 1170 Becket’s refusal to participate in the coronation of Henry’s son following his exile, lead misguided knights to brutally murder Beckett following Henry’s infamously regretted question “will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[14] By 1171, Henry met representatives of the Pope and negotiated conditions for penance, however this event marks the somewhat spotless history of his reign.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Henry regained some favour with the Church and managed to rule successfully until the betrayal of his wife and sons in 1173 tainted the last years of his reign.<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[15] Regardless of the final years, Henry is best remembered for introducing royally appointed justice and the creation of England’s //Common Law,// the most highly developed judicial system in Western Christendom, of which elements are still in practice in our contemporary systems.

**<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Further Reading Regarding Henry's Laws and Important Personalities: **
<span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Gerald of Wales. (c.1190). (trans. Scott McLetchie, 1994). ‘The Life of Archbishop Geoffrey of York: The Death of King Henry II’, //Medieval Sourcebook//. Fordham University: New York. ===== =====

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Henry II. (1164). 'Constitutions of Clarendon.' In<span class="H_body_text"> Albert Beebe White and Wallce Notestein, (eds.). (1915). //Source Problems in English History//. Harper and Brothers: New York ===== <span class="H_body_text">===== =====

<span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Henry II. (c.1170). ‘Concerning Loans From The Jews.’ In Stubbs, W. & Davis, H. (eds.). (1913). //Select Charters of English Constitutional History,// p.256. Clarendon Press: Oxford ===== =====

<span style="display: block; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Henry II. (1170). ‘Inquest of Sheriffs Regarding the Forests.’ In Stubbs, W. & Davis, H. (eds.). (1913). //Select Charters of English Constitutional History,// p.177. Clarendon Press: Oxford ===== =====

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa. (1275). (Trans. William Caxton, 1483). ‘<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Golden Legend: St. Thomas Becket,’ //Medieval Sourcebook//. Fordham University: New York. ===== =====

=Image References:=


 * =====Map of English Possessions at the height of Henry’s reign : http://0.tqn.com/d/atheism/1/0/m/I/EnglandUnderHenryII-l.jpg=====
 * =====<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">King Henry in conference with Thomas Becket : http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/history/henry2.jpg=====
 * =====<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">The tomb of Henry II in Fontevraud Abbey, Anjou : http://xenophongroup.com/montjoie/fontevra.htm=====
 * Manuscript Image of Henry II : http://www.fotosearch.com/IST528/1223216/

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[1] Cavendish, R. (2007). //Kings & Queens: A Concise Guide//. David & Charles: London. P.150 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[2] Bjork, R.E. (2010). ‘Stephen, King of England,’ //The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages//. Oxford University Press [online] at: http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t303.e5483&srn=1&ssid=1013005827#FIRSTHIT <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[3] Diggelmann, L. (2004). ‘Marriage as Tactical Response: Henry II and the Royal Wedding of 1160’, //English Historical Review,// vol.119. Oxford University Press: Oxford. P.954 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[4] Vincent, N. (2004). ‘Henry II’, //History Today//, vol.54. History Today Ltd: London. P.46 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[5] Jordan, W.C. (2001). //The Penguin History of Europe: Europe in the High Middle Ages//. Pp. 152-156. Penguin Books: London. P.152 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[6] Vincent, N. (2004). ‘Henry II’, //History Today//, vol.54. History Today Ltd: London. P.48 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[7] Jordan, W.C. (2001). //The Penguin History of Europe: Europe in the High Middle Ages.// Penguin Books: London. P.152 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[8] Ibid. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[9] Cavendish, R. (2007). //Kings & Queens: A Concise Guide//. David & Charles: London. P.153; Vincent, N. (2004). ‘Henry II’, //History Today//, vol.54, History Today Ltd: London. P48 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[10] Gerald of Wales. (c.1190). (trans. Scott McLetchie, 1994). ‘The Life of Archbishop Geoffrey of York: The Death of King Henry II’, //Medieval Sourcebook//. Fordham University: New York; Jordan, W.C. (2001). //The Penguin History of Europe: Europe in the High Middle Ages//. Penguin Books: London. P.153 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[11] Duggan, A. (2000). ‘Ne in Dubium: The official record of Henry II's reconciliation at Avranches, 21 May 1172’, //English Historical Review,// vol.115. Oxford University Press: Oxford. P.643 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[12] Ibid. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[13] Cavendish, R. (2007). //Kings & Queens: A Concise Guide//. David & Charles: London. P.155 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[14] Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa. (1275). (Trans. William Caxton, 1483). ‘The Golden Legend: St. Thomas Becket,’ //Medieval Sourcebook//. Fordham University: New York. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">[15] Diggelmann, L. (2004). ‘Marriage as Tactical Response: Henry II and the Royal Wedding of 1160’, //English Historical Review,// vol.119. Oxford University Press: Oxford. P.965 ||