The Plantagenets..

Ammo08

I'm reading a history of this great family and it has struck me that we, that is the English speaking world, owe so much to Henry I and Henry II. They redefined English law and the relationship of authority to the people.

The invasions of Wales, Scotland and Ireland forever changed those countries as well...

and it seems that they put the English and French on a collision course that would last for 700 years...

always shaken

I probably like most Brits ,don't know much about these people , but I am glad you have chosen to study this part of our islands history .

Chriscoop

I watched an excellent series on them, done by that blonde lady who was dating Tom hiddleston. Dr Robert Bartlett also did an excellent bbc2 series.

Napoleon Plural

Ammo08 wrote:

I'm reading a history of this great family and it has struck me that we, that is the English speaking world, owe so much to Henry I and Henry II. They redefined English law and the relationship of authority to the people.

The invasions of Wales, Scotland and Ireland forever changed those countries as well...

and it seems that they put the English and French on a collision course that would last for 700 years...

Yay, what's not to like? )

Ammo08

I love history in general, and to understand American history you have to know English history..our Revolution did not come out of a vacuum, it came from the islands that our ancestors were from...

I remember an English actor telling someone that, "It took good English stock to throw us out."

Napoleon Plural

Well, to add something constructive to the debate, perhaps you have seen Beckett and The Lion in Winter?

Both star Peter O'Toole (Casino Royale ) as Henry II, though the films are otherwise unconnected. Richard Burton plays Beckett, and some years later O'Toole (Diamonds are Forever ) reprised the role, with Anthony Hopkins, Katherine Hepburn and our Timothy Dalton, also John Barry did the brilliant score.

They are worth catching, the second one is set at Christmas, appropriate for this time of year.

Ammo08

I've seen both movies many times....when I was young It was hard to visualize when all these things took place in history...as I've gotten older and more educated things fall into place. One of my college professors encouraged us to do timelines so we could compare what was happening in England vis-à-vis what was happening in France, the Holy Land etc..it's very helpful really.

Napoleon Plural

That does sound helpful... one of the problems with British history imo is that it can be stop-start. I mean, you have the fightback against the Viking invaders by King Alfred, but then doesn't King Cnut come along anyway and just assume the throne much later?

Then you have the 100 years war, and Agincourt is touted as a great English victory. Which it was, but unnecessary in that Henry V didn't actually need to fight the French anyway. Added to which, it never reaped dividends as Joan of Arc led the fightback and it was all reversed within a few decades if that.

Robin and Marion is another good film with a John Barry score and of course Sean Connery. It doesn't quite hit the spot for me, and of course if in doubt print the legend - that's The Adventures of Robin Hood with Flynn. Of course, Richard I didn't care much for England and didn't spend much time there, so it is all very romantic.

Black Death is a more recent movie, quite atmospheric and worth catching. I expect you've seen all these however.

Ammo08

I like your point....the Plantagenets fought to take Wales,,,,and then are succeeded by the Tudors who are Welsh...

I'm reading about Wat Tyler and the Peasant's Revolt right now...you have to be stupid to ride out as he did and be surrounded by the enemy and expect nothing will happen...