Henry the Younger

    The second son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, called Henry the Younger, was born on 28 February 1155, and given his father’s name.  At an early age, he was designated future heir of Henry II’s own inheritance, which consisted of England, Normandy, and greater Anjou.  Henry the Younger was betrothed to Margaret Capet, Princess of France, while they were both less than five years old so Henry II could gain control over the Vexin, her dowry.  When the territory was threatened in 1160 by King Louis’ marriage to Adela of Blois, who was from a rival family, they were married as soon as it could be arranged.  Henry was also used again to strategically announce his accession in 1170, when his father, during an illness, had him crowned joint king by the Archbishop of York. The ceremony was usually performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and as a result it caused controversy, but Henry II was in the midst of a break with the holder of that position, Thomas Becket.  Henry the Younger and Margaret were both crowned two years later by the new Archbishop of Canterbury after Becket’s death. 

    Henry II’s biographer W.L. Warren describes the young heir as “tall and handsome…gracious, benign, affable, courteous, the soul of liberality and generosity… also shallow, vein, careless, empty-headed, incompetent, improvident, and irresponsible” (Warren, 580).  Henry was fond of the code of chivalry, and enjoyed the company of troubadours and attendance at tournaments.  Unfortunately, the courtly ideal of generosity contributed to his debts.  To enhance his prestige and income, Henry the Younger willingly engaged in rebellion against his father and attempted to undermine his brother Richard’s control over Aquitaine.  This was done in a quest to gain control over his territorial inheritance and the revenues that they would generate.  Henry had never shown any interest in managing the administrative affairs of his lands, and he shirked these duties whenever possible (Warren, 581-82).  In the course of two rebellions against his father he demanded control over at least one part of his inheritance, but in the first instance was placated by a larger allowance and ownership of two castles.  It was while in the midst of campaigning in Aquitaine that Henry the Younger caught dysentery and eventually died on the 11 June 1183.      

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