History
House of Plantagenet: England's Longest Ruling Dynasty
Explore the House of Plantagenet, the royal dynasty that ruled England for over 300 years and shaped the course of British and European history.
What is it?
The House of Plantagenet was a royal dynasty of French origin that ruled England from 1154 to 1485. The line began with Henry II, son of Geoffrey, Count of Anjou. The name "Plantagenet" was a nickname for Geoffrey, who wore a sprig of broom (planta genista) in his hat, and it was later adopted by historians to define the dynasty. The Plantagenet kings' territories were vast, initially stretching from Scotland to the Pyrenees in what is known as the Angevin Empire. The dynasty produced fourteen kings, whose reigns were marked by significant turmoil and transformation, including the cadet branches of Lancaster and York.
Why is it trending?
The Plantagenet era remains a topic of fascination due to its dramatic and pivotal events that fundamentally shaped England. This period saw the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, a landmark document that limited the monarch's power and established principles of law. The dynasty's history is filled with iconic and controversial figures like Richard the Lionheart and King John. Furthermore, the Plantagenets led England through the lengthy Hundred Years' War against France and ultimately fought amongst themselves in the brutal Wars of the Roses, a dynastic struggle that has inspired countless books and series.
How does it affect people?
The legacy of the Plantagenets is deeply embedded in the foundations of modern governance and law. Their reign saw the development of a more structured government and the origins of Parliament as a permanent institution. The legal reforms under Henry II laid the groundwork for English common law, a system that influences legal practices in many countries today. The eventual decline of the Plantagenets at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 ushered in the Tudor dynasty, setting England on the path to becoming a centralized, early modern state.