With what political and administrative justification can the lands of the Kings of England be considered an empire in the period 1154-1204.
by
navkirankaur (student)
With what political and administrative justification can the lands of the Kings of England be considered and “empire” in the period 1154-1204.
The term “empire” being used for the lands of the Angevian kings all begins with a man named Henry, who became known as Henry II of England, when he was crowned king at the age of 21 in December 1154; by 1166, he had 6 territories to his name, all of which he had gained in different ways. Henry had been granted Normandy by his farther, and had inherited Anjou and Maine upon his father’s death. Aquitaine had been gained through marriage to the Eleanor, the duchess of Aquitaine and Brittany came to Henry’s name when his son was betrothed to heiress of Brittany.
For a group of countries being held together under one person in the medieval period, geographical unity is essential, which the Angevian lands had. On the map, the lands of Henry can be seen all very close together, stretching from Northumberland to the Pyrenees, focused around important towns and cities and the English Channel (which were very important for trading), bordered by natural defenses, such as the Pyrenees hills and large areas of uncultivated land. Trading is seen as very important within an empire, as it suggests unity, where the lands are working to provide each other with what they need in order prosper. Anjou had acted as a centre of communication for Henry’s lands, as it was geographically convenient. These characteristics of unity suggest that these lands were an empire. Another factor which suggests that the Angevian lands were an empire, is that most of the lands, especially England and Normandy were very similar in terms of law, administrative systems, justice and culture. This was due to the Norman invasion of England in 1066.
