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The first of the Angevin kings of England, he brought with him the titles of Count of Anjou from his father, Duke of Normandy from his mother’s line, and Duke of Aquitaine as right of his marriage to [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]]. He was lord of three fifths of what is now France, as well as England; an enormous area given the atrocious roads of the time and the notoriously fickle sea conditions between England and the Continent. That he kept his lands under a good degree of control for most of his reign, and managed to improve the civic, justice and economic institutions, indicate not only ability, but enormous stamina. He spent most of his reign travelling.

The first of the Angevin kings of England, he brought with him the titles of Count of Anjou from his father, Duke of Normandy from his mother’s line, and Duke of Aquitaine as right of his marriage to [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]]. He was lord of three fifths of what is now France, as well as England; an enormous area given the atrocious roads of the time and the notoriously fickle sea conditions between England and the Continent. That he kept his lands under a good degree of control for most of his reign, and managed to improve the civic, justice and economic institutions, indicate not only ability, but enormous stamina. He spent most of his reign travelling.

Whilst expert in statecraft, he was still given to bouts of temper and passion, especially when he perceived himself thwarted in his aims. The tragedy of T[[homas Becket]] is an example here. A fit of temper and thoughtless words brought about the death of a good  

Whilst expert in statecraft, he was still given to bouts of temper and passion, especially when he perceived himself thwarted in his aims. The tragedy of T[[homas Becket]] is an example here. A fit of temper and thoughtless words brought about the death of a good  

His reforms in the administration of his realms, and his strengthening of the rule of law enabled these institutions to withstand, by and large, the prolonged absences of Richard I and the struggle between King John and the barons during the following two and a half decades.

His reforms in the administration of his realms, and his strengthening of the rule of law enabled these institutions to withstand, by and large, the prolonged absences of Richard I and the struggle between King John and the barons during the following two and a half decades.