Henry II: A Prince Among Princes PDF
Preview Henry II: A Prince Among Princes
Richard Barber HENRY II A Prince Among Princes Contents Genealogical Table Map HENRY II 1. The Man 2. His Story 3. His Achievements Illustrations Picture Credits Further Reading Notes Follow Penguin Penguin Monarchs THE HOUSES OF WESSEX AND DENMARK Athelstan Tom Holland Aethelred the Unready Richard Abels Cnut Ryan Lavelle Edward the Confessor James Campbell THE HOUSES OF NORMANDY, BLOIS AND ANJOU William I Marc Morris William II John Gillingham Henry I Edmund King Stephen Carl Watkins Henry II Richard Barber Richard I Thomas Asbridge John Nicholas Vincent THE HOUSE OF PLANTAGENET Henry III Stephen Church Edward I Andy King Edward II Christopher Given-Wilson Edward III Jonathan Sumption Richard II Laura Ashe THE HOUSES OF LANCASTER AND YORK Henry IV Catherine Nall Henry V Anne Curry Henry VI James Ross Edward IV A. J. Pollard Edward V Thomas Penn Richard III Rosemary Horrox THE HOUSE OF TUDOR Henry VII Sean Cunningham Henry VIII John Guy Edward VI Stephen Alford Mary I John Edwards Helen Castor Helen Castor Elizabeth I THE HOUSE OF STUART James I Thomas Cogswell Charles I Mark Kishlansky [Cromwell David Horspool] Charles II Clare Jackson James II David Womersley William III & Mary II Jonathan Keates Anne Richard Hewlings THE HOUSE OF HANOVER George I Tim Blanning George II Norman Davies George III Amanda Foreman George IV Stella Tillyard William IV Roger Knight Victoria Jane Ridley THE HOUSES OF SAXE-COBURG & GOTHA AND WINDSOR Edward VII Richard Davenport-Hines George V David Cannadine Edward VIII Piers Brendon George VI Philip Ziegler Elizabeth II Douglas Hurd For Gay 1 The Man ‘I saw King Henry, many times. Yet I still remember the first time I encountered him and looked at him: and I knew at once this was a man I would not forget. He was very handsome, with a face that men and women never tired of looking at, however often they had already seen him; his complexion was freckled, and his grey eyes were set off by his close-cropped tawny hair. He was usually calm, but if something angered him, his look would suddenly become fierce; his face flushed red, while his eyes became bloodshot. His head was large and round, with a short neck. He was only of middling height, and yet seemed taller than he was, for he always wore a short cloak, unlike other Normans – hence his nickname “Curtmantle”. He was well built, of good proportions, and sound in wind and limb, agile and energetic, with broad shoulders and sturdy limbs: he had extraordinary stamina. He was bow-legged from riding, and had the powerful shins of a man who spent his life in the saddle. Naturally corpulent, he had a large stomach; to avoid becoming too fat, he was careful to eat and drink in moderation. To keep himself fit, he adopted a harsh physical regime for the same reason. ‘As he grew older, his hair began to turn grey, and his habit of riding all day and then standing whenever he was in public – whether at Mass, in council or transacting the business of the kingdom – caused his legs to swell, and he suffered badly from an ingrowing toenail. His endless life on horseback meant that he was often kicked by horses and injured himself by frequently spurring on recalcitrant animals. In fact, although he kept himself fit, he did not trouble about the care of his body in other ways: he only wore gloves when hawking, and his hands were rough as a result. He dressed simply, without any regard to fashion: his boots were plain, his caps had no decoration, and his clothes were
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