The old king at bay

Henry II was denied the peaceful and honourable end to his reign which he so fully deserved. This was largely because of the dissensions within his own family. Although the death of the Young King in 1183 removed a dangerous threat -- a hostile and cunning crowned heir in league with the old king's enemies -- the remaining sons were anxious to know what was going to happen. Henry quickly forced Richard to return to Aquitaine to his mother, and sent John to Ireland on what proved to be an abortive expedition, but otherwise kept his intentions secret. His sons steadily became more angry and restive.

Family relationships deteriorated from then on, and in 1188, two years after Geoffrey had died, Richard and Philip of France resolved their many differences and united against Henry II. In 1189 Philip and Richard together attacked Normandy. Henry at first put up a spirited defence but his phenomenal energy suddenly left him and he fell ill. Accompanied by only a few retainers, he left his army and retreated to Chinon, the heart of his Angevin lands, to die.

Philip and Rhcard overran Normandy and Maine and forced the sick king to travel to Ballan, where they compelled himto accept humiliating terms. Henry was to do homage to Philip for all his French lands, and place himself in his hands, while Richard was to inherit all the Plantagenet dominions, including England. Henry was carried back to Chinon in a litter where, the next day, he learned that John, his favourite son, had deserted him. He became delirious and died the next day, 6 July.

One chronicler describes how, when Richard went to attend the corpse lying in state and Fontevrault Abbey, blood gushed from the dead king's nostrils as a sign of anger with his faithless son. Henry II's reign, which had begun in triumph, ended in defeat and tragedy.

Below The tomb of Henry II as well as his queen,
Eleanor of Aquitane, at Fontevrault Abbey in France.