I've always pictured him as bullish & hard-headed, not attributes I'd apply to Sheeran.
Tend to agree with one of the other comments that Peter O'Toole filled Henry's shoes admirably in the imagination. Very interesting to read Peter of Blois's account though. Thanks for your insights, Dan. I'm just about to start "The Plantagenets" on Audible, so looking forward to what's to come
This post really made Henry II come alive for me. The passage about his hobby of going out and hunting in the forest made me wonder if there are any famous monarchs that had well known weird hobbies or obsessions (like Louis IX and holy relics)?
Hum I wonder if there would have been a change in views if Joanna married Saphadin... Maybe a piece of The true Cross could have been a wedding present for the Hareem?
When I picture Henry II in my mind, it’s Kristopher Hivju (Tormund from Game of Thrones) furiously munching on a pile of straw. Although, he might be too tall!
There seems to be a consensus amongst contemporary writers that Henry FitzEmpress was of average height. I’ve always imagined him to have been somewhere around 5’ 8”—5’ 10”. It wasn’t height which struck contemporaries but his presence or “genuine charisma” and “keen intelligence” as David Starkey once wrote of him. He must have been fearsome to behold—those grey, blue Angevin eyes piercing everything and everyone they met; the sharp wit which could burst into a fiery reproach; yet behind that all, lay a calculating, lawyerly mind which forged a great empire. Perhaps even deeper lay the heart of the man who it seemed to loved his children deeply, even as his sons betrayed him, yet dealt so imperiously with them.
It’s dripping with flattery but I’ve always found Walter Map’s account of Henry II to have a kernel of truth, giving us an insight into what kind of ‘draw’ Henry II must have had, “His countenance was one upon which a man might gaze a thousand times, yet still feel drawn to return to gaze upon again.” To my mind, all things considered, it’s difficult to find his match amongst English monarchs.
"in a certain joint of his foot the part of the toenail is grown into the flesh of his foot, to the vehement outrage of the whole foot." I HATE when that happens! I totally enjoyed this one Thanks!
Thank you so much for this. It was a great read at 4:00 this morning. But I would have loved it just as much at any other time as well.
Your writing style is perfection and now I must compile a list of your books and catch up on what I've missed all these years. Do you recommend a certain order they should be read?
I hate that I am so late to the party. You are much appreciated!
I love when you revisit things, and by that I mean you personally. I’ve read all your books and you’re always expanding your expertise on an area, that it always shows up in the next book. Makes it always exciting to see where you’ll go next, book wise (Essex Dogs notwithstanding).
As an aside, I love that Peter described Henry as round headed and square faced. Conjures up really confusing anatomy.
Don't really see Henry as Ed Sheeran.
I've always pictured him as bullish & hard-headed, not attributes I'd apply to Sheeran.
Tend to agree with one of the other comments that Peter O'Toole filled Henry's shoes admirably in the imagination. Very interesting to read Peter of Blois's account though. Thanks for your insights, Dan. I'm just about to start "The Plantagenets" on Audible, so looking forward to what's to come
This post really made Henry II come alive for me. The passage about his hobby of going out and hunting in the forest made me wonder if there are any famous monarchs that had well known weird hobbies or obsessions (like Louis IX and holy relics)?
How many red-heads ruled England?
Πόσο κοκκινομαλλες κυριάρχησε Αγγλία;
I disagree on the Ed Sheeran comparison.
I'm picturing him like the football jocks (and, their fraternity bros to follow) while reading this description.
-Maybe not classically handsome, but well built and physical enough to keep an older desirable woman in bed and knocked up.
-Emotional (not literate) in nature and temper
-Has enough adoring dudes around him that are willing to commit murder for him.
Frankly, somewhere, somehow, there is a medieval portrait of him in a letter jacket with the prom queen (Ellie, head cheerleader) on his arm.
Hum I wonder if there would have been a change in views if Joanna married Saphadin... Maybe a piece of The true Cross could have been a wedding present for the Hareem?
So intermittent fasting was a thing back then? Hmm....
When I picture Henry II in my mind, it’s Kristopher Hivju (Tormund from Game of Thrones) furiously munching on a pile of straw. Although, he might be too tall!
There seems to be a consensus amongst contemporary writers that Henry FitzEmpress was of average height. I’ve always imagined him to have been somewhere around 5’ 8”—5’ 10”. It wasn’t height which struck contemporaries but his presence or “genuine charisma” and “keen intelligence” as David Starkey once wrote of him. He must have been fearsome to behold—those grey, blue Angevin eyes piercing everything and everyone they met; the sharp wit which could burst into a fiery reproach; yet behind that all, lay a calculating, lawyerly mind which forged a great empire. Perhaps even deeper lay the heart of the man who it seemed to loved his children deeply, even as his sons betrayed him, yet dealt so imperiously with them.
It’s dripping with flattery but I’ve always found Walter Map’s account of Henry II to have a kernel of truth, giving us an insight into what kind of ‘draw’ Henry II must have had, “His countenance was one upon which a man might gaze a thousand times, yet still feel drawn to return to gaze upon again.” To my mind, all things considered, it’s difficult to find his match amongst English monarchs.
"in a certain joint of his foot the part of the toenail is grown into the flesh of his foot, to the vehement outrage of the whole foot." I HATE when that happens! I totally enjoyed this one Thanks!
I've read this post between pillows and a cup of hot chocolate, and I loved it.
My vision- Peter O’Toole and a perfectly cast Lion in Winter
And I loved reading a some point a description of him gnashing on hay when he got mad.
Do you think Becket’s bones are stashed away in the Cathedral?
Even though Henry was evidently no underwear model, I still like to (metaphorally) cuddle up against my favourite royal family in English history.
Thank you so much for this. It was a great read at 4:00 this morning. But I would have loved it just as much at any other time as well.
Your writing style is perfection and now I must compile a list of your books and catch up on what I've missed all these years. Do you recommend a certain order they should be read?
I hate that I am so late to the party. You are much appreciated!
A new fan in the US.
Thanks Dan, I really enjoyed this
I love when you revisit things, and by that I mean you personally. I’ve read all your books and you’re always expanding your expertise on an area, that it always shows up in the next book. Makes it always exciting to see where you’ll go next, book wise (Essex Dogs notwithstanding).
As an aside, I love that Peter described Henry as round headed and square faced. Conjures up really confusing anatomy.