Join historian Nick Barratt to explore how Henry II and the next two generations of his family governed England, first as a rulers of a remote territory on the edge of their continental lands, and then as resident kings of England for the first time since the 11th century.
This is a story of a family at war with itself, from the revolt against Henry II in 1172-3 led by his wife and sons, to the sibling rivalry between Richard and John that culminated in the loss of their lands in France in 1204, a seismic event that redrew the political map of western Europe.
As a direct consequence of John’s efforts to regain his possessions, we can trace the development of concepts of royal accountability to the will of the people, first expressed in Magna Carta in 1215 followed by the emergence of a more representative parliamentary system in 1265.
Nick Barratt is a historian, author and broadcaster best known for his work on Who Do You Think You Are. He is a medieval historian at heart, and wrote about Henry II and his sons in his book The Restless Kings.
The Long 12th Century. Conquest and rebellion, betrayal and murder, warring queens and sibling rivalry. This is the story of the long 12th century, a four part series exploring the legacy of this turbulent period of British history. Each week join our collection specialists and special guests to discover the key characters and events that shaped this time of extraordinary change.
Image credit - King Henry II of England and his children 2BN0WF0 courtesy of Alamy
