Sovereignty Unbound?

1
Sovereignty Unbound?

• When William I died in 1087 England appeared to
  be a unified state. This was an illusion.
• Between 1087-1314 the issue of sovereignty was an
  elusive matter that decided the fate of the
  British nations.
• Would England dominate a Britain or would a
  collection of sometimes warring, sometimes united
  states emerge?

Henry IIBy the Grace of God, King of the
Englishand Duke of the Normans and
Aquitaniansand Count of the Angevins, Poitou,
Maine, Gascony, Touraine, Bearne, Brittany
The Murder of Beckett-13th century manuscript.
2
Angevin Empire

• Angevin Empire is a modern term, applied to the
  territories under the personal rule of Henry II.
  It is generally considered the height of
  Plantagenet power.

3
Angevin Empire contd.

• William I was followed by his 2nd son William II
  Rufus who was killed in a hunting accident in
  1100.
• Following Rufus was Henry I, youngest of the
  Conquerors sons. Henry seized the treasury
  then married Matilda, the daughter of King
  Malcolm III of Scotland.
• Matildas mother was a Wessex, thus Henry, in two
  days seized Englands tied together blood
  lines.
• Henry I had no sons-throne was left to his
  daughter Matilda.. The barons swore to uphold
  Matilda, who proclaimed herself Empress, but
  her cousin Stephen of Blois staged a coup.
• Matilda was victorious but alienated everyone,
  and was eventually rejected in favor of Stephen.