Who was to blame for the rebellion?

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King Henry II to blame:

Rebellion instigated by YH who was annoyed with his father - expected a degree of authority and autonomy, but didn't receive this (did Henry II not think his son was capable?) Also threatened his inheritance through granting land promised to YH to his youngest son John. Not assigned lands to YH or his queen

Restoration of royal authority restricted the barons' control, which infringed on their rule. Resented Henry's control : Hugh, Earl of Chester, was denied lands, Hugh Bigod’s lands were threatened by new royal castles, and the Earl of

Leicester was made to pay scrutage. He further aggravated barons in Normandy by introducing a new form of

doomsday book to eliminate existing corruption

However, Henry II adopted a lenient approach towards the punishment of

the rebels involved, as he did not want an endless cycle of war and

disturbances. Furthermore, Henry did not have the manpower available for the

potential threat of war. These imply that Henry did not intentionally provoke,

or even anticipate, the Great rebellion

His influence had become increasingly unpopular, especially after he allegedly arranged the murder of Thomas Beckett in

1170

reasons for Eleanor’s involvement in the rebellion were largely due to

King Henry through his treatment of her; similarly to YH she was politically disenchanted - deeply resented her position as a non-entity in the reign and government

of Henry II, having neither power nor influence. King Henry appeared to be exerting a pyramid of power in his Angevin

Empire, placing England and Normandy before Eleanor’s beloved Acquitaine. She

therefore joined the uprising to prevent Acquitaine being anonymously absorbed

into Henry’s Empire

Eleanor was to blame

stirred her sons to revolt (At only 15 and 14, Richard and Geoffrey would not have rallied to anyone

else in defiance of their father)

rising Pointou in rebellion against her husband.

McLynn “Eleanor was the guiding spirit of the conspiracy”.

Captured early on in the rebellion and imprisoned by Henry. Despite being lenient towards the rebels, Henry severely punished his wife. Henry, by his treatment of her, showed that he felt her to be largely

responsible for the rebellion” (Barber).

Young Henry to blame

Henry II took back the control of three key fortresses, the castles of

Chinon, Loudum and Mirebeau, as his eldest son had angered him with his greed

and imperative demands, and his liaisons with Louis VII; the loss of his

inheritance was ultimately the Young King’s fault

withdrew from his father’s court in March 1173 to join Louis VII. After

creating this alliance, the Young King and Capetian mentor recruited other

rebels, ultimately forming the uprising. However, at the time of the revolt Henry was only young, and was advised to rebel

by many aristocrats; he is not solely to blame for the uprising

Young Henry was not overly punished by his father, suggesting that King

Henry II did not perceive his son as a threat or responsible for the uprising.

Instead he was given two castles in Normandy and £15 000 annually, but still

had to grant some of his lands to John in England, Normandy and Anjou

Louis VII to blame

Louis VII of France resented the extent of King Henry II’s territory in

France, and was interested in weakening the towering edifice of authority built

by Henry which overshadowed his small territories

Singlehandedly, Louis had neither the military competence nor the

resources to do more than contain Henry. He therefore joined Young Henry in an

uprising against his rival when the opportunity arose

Louis was mostly responsible for the recruitment of rebels by promising

land in England and Anjou to the major Counts of Flanders, Boulogne and Blois,

if they participated in the rebellion.

Poole, “The rebellion was inspired and managed by Louis of France who

saw it as an easy way to embarrass and weaken his dangerous rival”.

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