Revolt of 1173-1174

The revolt of 1173-1174 is the rebellion against Henri II of England of three of its sons, his wife Aliénor of Aquitaine and barons who supported them. It lasted 18 months, and was a failure. The rebellious members of its family had to resign themselves vis-a-vis its power, and reconciled themselves with him.

Context

Henri II, often indicated “larger king medieval of England” , reigned on one of the most important whole of territories of Europe: the Empire Plantagenêt composed of the England, the Normandy, the Anjou and the Maine. His wife Aliénor had brought to him her vast domain of Aquitaine: Poitou, Aquitaine, Angoumois, Saintonge, the Limousin.

In 1173, it had four legitimate wire, by decreasing age: Henri, called the “young king” because it had been crowned in 1170, Richard (called “Lion-hearted later”), Geoffroy, and Jean “Without Ground,” all expecting to inherit whole or part the possessions of their father.

Henri the Young person had just been 18 years old in this year 1173, and recognized for his charm and his beauty. He had just married Marguerite, a girl of Louis VII of France, the ex-husband of his mother. He had an important continuation, but was attached by his lack of financial resources. Many knights were faithful for him, but it did not have any means of rewarding them. It was thus impatient to take the control of paternal territories and to control them by itself.

The release of this rebellion was the intention announced by the king to give the castles of Chinon, Loudun and Mirebeau with its young person Jean sons, like part of arrangement for its marriage projected with Alice, the girl of Humbert III, the count de Savoie and of Maurienne. With the revelation of this provision, the Henri young person, who for a long time sought an occasion to dispute with his father, was encouraged to rebel by many aristocrats who saw profit appropriatenesses in a passage of being able. His/her Aliénor mother, who had quarreled with her husband, united with this cause. She was followed per many others which, did not support any more Henri II since II had made assassinate the archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. This act had had as a consequence a reprobation of all Christendom towards the king of England.

Formation of alliance

The Henri young person took refuge at the court of his father-in-law, Louis VII, in France in March 1173, and was followed soon by his brothers Richard and Geoffroy. Their mother tried to join them, but was stopped in way and captive reserve. The French Henri young person and his mentor created a broad alliance against Henri II by promising grounds and incomes in England and Anjou with the counts of Flanders, Boulogne, Blois and with Guillaume the Lion, King d' Écosse. In fact, the young king wanted to seize his heritage by dispersing it.

It the Jura which he would give to Philippe of Alsace, Count de Flandre, for his homage, 1000 pounds of annual incomes in England, the Kent and castles of Dover and Rochester. With Mathieu of Alsace, Count de Boulogne, brother of the precedent, for his homage, the soke of Kirkeketon with Lindsey, the County of Mortain and honors of Hay. With Thibaut, Count de Blois, for its homage, 200 pounds of annual incomes in Anjou, the castle of Amboise with all the jurisdictions which he claimed in Touraine, and the abandonment of the claims of Plantagenêt on Castle-Renault. Guillaume the Lion, for its assistance, would receive the Northumberland with the river the Tyne for limit in the south. In David, the brother of the Lion, it promised the counties of Huntingdon and Cambridge, and with Hugues Bigot, the castle of Norwich.

The revolt

The Normandy constitutes a major stake at the time of this revolt. Indeed, it is at the borders of this duchy that the hostilities begin in April 1173. Moreover, Henri II orders the army in Normandy personally, role which it gives up with his faithful barons in England. To reduce the rebellion, the king uses a new weapon: he calls upon Mercenaire S brabançons of which mobility will put at evil the heavy feudal armies.

In April 1173, the counts of Flanders and Boulogne invade the Normandy by the east, the king of France and the Henri young person by the south, while the Breton ones attack by the west. Aumale and Gournay-in-Bray is taken. Verneuil-sur-Avre is burnt. But, with final, each attack shows a failure: the count of Boulogne is killed, Louis demolishes is expelled out of Normandy, and the Breton ones put in rout in front of Dol with heavy human losses and fiduciary. In spring 1174, Normandy is temporarily out of danger. In same time, Henri includes Mans. On the other side of the channel, the attacks of Guillaume the Lion in the north of England are also a failure. Negotiations are open with the rebels of Normandy between the father and the son, but in vain.

The chief of the rebellious Norman barons and thus in favor of Henri the Young person, the Count de Leicester Robert III of Beaumont known as Blanches hands takes the changing. He raises an army of Flemish mercenaries, and crosses the Manche towards England to join the other rebellious barons there, in particular Hugues Bigot, the Count de Norfolk. The count de Leicester meets the English forces ghost of the north of the kingdom, carried out by Richard de Lucy, and is completely demolishes. The barons remained faithful to Henri II would have said to him: “it is a bad year for your enemies”.

The rebellion nevertheless is not finished, and in spring 1174, the revolt continues. David of Scotland, brother of the “Lion”, turns over to the south to try to conquer the north of England, and takes the head of the rebellious barons. Guillaume de Ferrières, Count de Derby, a baron rebels, puts fire at the royal city of Nottingham while Bigot makes in the same way with Norwich.

The July 8th 1174, Henri II, which was in Normandy to fight its enemies, unloads in England. Its first gesture is to make penitence for the death of Thomas Becket, which, assassinated by some of its knights three years earlier, had just been canonized. The day following the ceremony of Canterbury, the July 13rd 1174, by a coincidence which known as caused by divine Providence, Guillaume the Lion and several of its partisans surprised and are captured with Alnwick by loyal supporters. Following this event, Henri II is able to sweep the opposition, walking on each rebel stronghold to receive his rendering.

After being itself occupied of England, the king turns over on the continent because Louis VII and the count de Flandres Philippe of Alsace metttent the seat in front of Rouen. After having locked up his prestigious prisoners with Cliff, Henri II engulfs himself in the capital Norman on August 11th. Surprised by this daring action, the king of France does not insist and folds up himself in his field. The September 30th, with Montlouis, the Henri young person and his brothers reconcile themselves with their father, sign peace, and turn over to its service, recognizing it like their lord.

Epilog

Many cities and castles were destroyed, and there were many deaths. The responsibility was allocated from there to the advisers of the Henri young person, and to the rebellious barons who handled the young unwise and inexperienced prince, in order to obtain fortune. Guillaume the Marshal, who was faithful to the Henri young person during the revolt, would have said : “cursed is the day when the traitors plotted to muddle the father and the son”.

Guillaume the Lion, captured and imprisoned with Cliff, does not have an other choice only to sign the treated Cliff in December 1174. By this treaty, Guillaume recognizes the suzerainty of the Royaume of England on the Royaume of Scotland.

Aliénor was held captive during almost fifteen years, initially with Chinon, then with Salisbury, and in various other castles of England.

Sources

The Revolt off 1173-74, from '' The Chronicle '', Roger off Hoveden
Chronicles off England, Scotland and Ireland, of Raphael Holinshed, on the Project Gutenberg

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