Plantagenet, << plan TAJ uh niht >>, was the family name of a line of kings that ruled England from 1154 to 1399. These kings descended from the marriage of Matilda, daughter of King Henry I, to Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, France. According to legend, Geoffrey was nicknamed Plantagenet because he wore a sprig of the broom (genet) plant in his cap. Historians also call these kings Angevins, meaning from Anjou.
The Plantagenet dynasty began with Henry II, son of Matilda and Geoffrey. Henry ruled from 1154 to 1189 over England and vast possessions in France. He centralized the English government, established peace and order, and founded the English common law system. His son Richard the Lion-Hearted led the Third Crusade and ruled from 1189 to 1199. Richard’s brother John succeeded him and ruled from 1199 to 1216. John lost most of England’s French possessions. He was forced to grant Magna Carta in 1215 (see Magna Carta).
John’s son Henry III ruled ineffectively from 1216 to 1272. Henry’s son, Edward I, ruled from 1272 to 1307. He conquered Wales, invaded Scotland and proclaimed himself its king, and improved the English government and legal system. Edward’s son Edward II lost Scotland. In 1327, he was forced by some of England’s nobles to give up his throne and then was murdered. His son Edward III ruled from 1327 to 1377 and began the Hundred Years’ War with France.
After Edward III’s grandson Richard II was deposed in 1399, the Plantagenets split into the houses of Lancaster and York. These two houses then ruled England until 1485 (see Lancaster; York).
See also the separate biographies in World Book for each ruler mentioned, such as Henry II [of England].
