King Edward I was famous for his temperament Read more about the King Edward I – Longshanks | Reign 1272-1307 >>
King Edward II was a failure as a king & ruler, his sexuality was questioned Read more about the King Edward II | Reign 1307-1327 >>
King Edward III restored Royal authority and also united the people of England against the French. Read more about the King Edward III | Reign 1327-1377 >>
King Henry II ruled from 1154 until 1189, he was described as a ruthless leader Read more about the King Henry II | Reign 1154-1189 >>
King Henry III's father left him a kingdom with many problems Read more about the King Henry III (Henry of Winchester) | Reign 1216-1272 >>
King Richard II was considered an intelligent King, he resolved the Peasants' Revolt with courage and cunning having the leaders killed. Read more about the King Richard II | Reign 1377-1399 >>
King Richard I was also commonly known as "Richard the Lionheart" for his bravery Read more about the Richard The Lionheart | Reign 1189-1199 >>
The era of the Plantagenet kings of England started in 1154 with the ascension of Henry II to the throne. Henry II ruled till his death in 1189 after which Richard the Lionheart ascended to the throne and ruled till his death in 1199.
Richard The Lionheart
The Plantagenet kings of England ruled the land till the end of the Hundred Years’ War in which they were conclusively defeated with the last king Richard III dying in the Battle of Bosworth also known as the Battle of Bosworth Field.
Battle of Bosworth
The Plantagenet Dynasty can be sub-divided into Angevins kings who ruled from 1154 till 1216. During this era, the rulers were Henry II, Richard I, and John I.
from 1216 to 1399, the Plantagenet rulers were Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, and Richard II.
After that, till 1485, rulers came from the houses of Lancaster and York. These rulers were Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Edward IV, Edward V, and Richard III.
Some of the most famous rulers of British history belonged to the Plantagenet Dynasty. For instance, Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart, was famous for leading the Third Crusade and conquering much of France.
Richard Lionheart
King John I was famous because it was during his reign that the Magna Carta was drafted and passed, although he was not a particularly successful king.
King John Signs the Magna Carta
Henry II, the first ruler in the Plantagenet Dynasty is often also considered one of the best rulers of the dynasty.
He laid the foundations of a unified Britain and also gave England its Common Law.
Henry III who ruled from 1216 to 1272 can also be considered one of the best rulers of the dynasty since it was during his era that Oxford and Cambridge universities were established and the parliament, known as the House of Commons, started.
Henry III ruled from 1216 to 1272
One of the worst rulers from the Plantagenet Dynasty was Edward II who ruled from 1307 to 1327. He invaded Scotland in 1314 to suppress the popular revolt but was defeated at Bannockburn.
He was eventually deposed by his wife Isabella in 1327 and her lover Roger de Mortimer and murdered.
Medieval King Edward II of England in full ceremonial costume and Crown
Various accomplishments can be attributed to the Plantagenet kings of England. To begin with, it was the first ruler of the dynasty Henry II who laid the basis of English Common Law.
It was also during the reign of the Plantagenet Kings that the House of Commons was established. Large towns were established during this era and trade flourished, although the Hundred Years’ War left the economy in shambles.
House of Commons
The Plantagenet kings of England ruled Britain from 1154 to 1485. The dynasty began with the ascension of Henry II to the throne and ended with the death of Richard III.
The kings of the dynasty mainly hailed from the houses of Angevins, Lancaster, and York.