| − | He was from the Royal House of Plantagenet, although this name was not adopted until later. At the time his Father (King [[Henry II]]) and brother ([[King John]]) were collectively known as the House of Anjou (or the Angevins) as they descended from Count Geoffrey of Anjou, (whose nickname was Plantagenet, from the sprig of 'planta genesta', a type of broom, worn as the family emblem) who married the Empress Matilda, (aka Maud) daughter of the English King [[Henry I]], who fought her cousin King Stephen, for the English throne. The treaty which ended this struggle saw her cede the throne to Stephen in return for her son (King [[Henry II]]) being made his heir. | + | He was from the Royal House of [[Plantagenet]], although this name was not adopted until later. At the time his Father (King [[Henry II]]) and brother ([[King John]]) were collectively known as the House of [[Anjou]] (or the [[Angevin]]s) as they descended from Count Geoffrey of Anjou, (whose nickname was Plantagenet, from the sprig of 'planta genesta', a type of broom, worn as the family emblem) who married the Empress [[Matilda]], (aka Maud) daughter of the English King [[Henry I]], who fought her cousin King [[Stephen]], for the English throne. The treaty which ended this struggle saw her cede the throne to Stephen in return for her son (King [[Henry II]]) being made his heir. |