The Plantagenet Dynasty

 Artist's concept - Geoffrey le Bel

The fourteen successive kings of the House of Plantagenet reigned from 1154 to 1485. 

This royal dynasty evolved when Geoffrey, Count of Anjou (France) married Mathilda, the daughter and heir of England's King Henry I, the fourth son of William the Conqueror.  Mathilda, known as Maude, had been married to, and was the widow of, the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V.  

For Maude, marrying Count Geoffrey was a considerable step down in the world and she resented being forced by her father to marry beneath her.  

Needless to say, theirs was not a happy marriage!

Planta genista - common broom plant

Geoffrey, known as 'le bel' was quite handsome and said to have worn a sprig of yellow bloom in his hat.  This personal touch of panache engendered the family name, Plantagenet, from the Latin for the floral sprig, Planta genista.

Although the bitterness of their union was widely known, Geoffrey and Maude did their 'duty' and produced three sons, the eldest holding claim to the throne of  England through Maude. Young Henry would eventually win the English throne thus becoming patriarch of the Plantagenet dynasty.

Henry, at only nineteen, was astute enough to recognize a golden opporunity when he was presented with one.  He met the alluring Queen Eleanor, then wife of Louis VII of France, when he accompanied his father to the French court.  Eleanor of Aquitaine had married Louis VII of France when she was just fifteen but after fifteen years of marriage and giving birth to only two daughters, one might say she had her fill of 'Louis the Pious'.  The legend holds that she contrived (convinced Louis) to have their marriage annulled, thus freeing herself to marry a man more suited to her fiery and passionate temperament. 

Why did the Catholic Church permit the anulment?  On the grounds of consanguinity - the couple were related to each other through their grandparents.

Artist's Concept of Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine

An heiress in her own right, as Duchess of Aquitaine, Eleanor was quite a catch and many a savvy noble schemed to trap her into marriage.  As soon as her annulment was finalized, at great risk of being kidnapped, Eleanor fled to the relative safety of Poitiers (part of her own lands) where as prearranged, she and Henry tied the knot. Through Eleanor, Henry's lands expanded the length of what is now western France, from Brittany and Anjou, south to the Pyrenees.  When he became king of England, Henry added Ireland, England, Normandy and Poitou to his holdings. 

Thus begins the saga of Henry and Eleanor and their devil's brood.  Within the first year,  Eleanor gave birth to a son, William, then four more: Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, and John.  Eat your heart out Louis!  She also bore three daughters: Mathilda (Duchess of Saxony & Bavaria), Eleanor (Queen of Castile), and Joan (Queen of Sicily).  

Should you be interested, watch the award-winning film, The Lion in Winter.  The original 1969 version won six Oscars: Best Actor, Actress, Screenplay, Music, Costumes and Best Picture.  You can't beat that! 
In addition to seasoned thespians, Kate and Peter, a very young Anthony Hopkins plays the part of their son Richard, the Lionheart in his youth.  The true dysfunction in this family outstrips anything Hollywood writers could ever create.