| − | If you are reading this and are not an evil, lying, blasphemous, leftist, socialist, liberal subversive, you are probably a stupid, easily tricked, obsessed, rightist, fascist, bible-thumping, obsolete conservative. But what do I know, I'm just the 800lb gorrilla in the room.
| + | '''Arthur of Brittany''' (1187-1202) was the posthumous son of Geoffrey of [[Brittany]], the fourth son of King [[Henry II]] of England. He was the grandson of Henry and under succession protocol of the time was the rightful successor to [[Richard I]]. (Exactly the same principle would be used when [[Richard II]] succeeded his grandfather [[Edward III]] in 1377.) |
| | + | Richard’s younger brother, John, claimed the throne and this was supported by John's mother,[[Eleanor of Aquitaine]] (with the considerable forces of her dominions), the much respected [[William Marshal]] and many of the English [[barons]]. Arthur, through his mother (he was only 12) had an inevitable ally in King Philip II of [[France]], who sent troops for the cause. The usual [[Angevan]] fracas ensued (the family had been at it on and off for over 25 years) with the usual French involvement. |