The Winter Crown

1154 in London Henry and Eleanor have just been crowned King and Queen of England.  In a few months, Eleanor would give birth to their second son, also named Henry.  Unfortunately, two years later their firstborn, William would die, just before he was three years old.  Shortly afterwards they became parents to Matilda.

Eleanor is still Duchess of Aquitaine, so visits there afterwards in order to remind her citizens of her role.  It isn’t long before she falls pregnant again.  In 1157 Richard is born to the couple.  She is sure that he is going to a great ruler for Aquitaine and also a great warrior.  Whilst she is pregnant with another child, Henry and his chancellor, Thomas Becket arrange a marriage between young Henry and Louis of France’s baby daughter.  It is not a match that Eleanor approves of.  In 1158, Geoffrey is born.

A year later five year old Henry is married to three year old Margaret, daughter of Louis, King of France.  As a result King Henry gains more lands and castles.

Although Eleanor had told Henry she didn’t want to be a brood mare, they were blessed with another daughter in 1861, named for her mother.

In 1862, Henry decides to appoint Becket Archbishop of Canterbury.  He will continue in his role as chancellor.  Later that same year Becket resigned the latter position much to the chagrin of Henry.  It isn’t long before the two men are at odds.  Becket offers his resignation to Pope Alexander, but is told to pray instead.  This angers Henry more so, and at the same time Eleanor finds herself becoming at odds with her husband.

In 1865, Joanna was added to the family.  Not long after this, while campaigning against the Welsh, Henry takes a new mistress, a girl barely into her teen years.  He sets up Rosamund de Clifford in a home near Oxford.  It is also at this time that the last child of Henry and Eleanor is born; the future King John.

 After the birth of John, Eleanor returns to Aquitaine with all of her children except Matilda who has been sent to her husband, a German Prince thirty years older than her, and Henry who is with his father.

In 1870, Henry arranges to have his son, and namesake crowned as his co-King.  Not long after, the elder King falls gravely ill.  Eleanor is afraid that if he dies, the younger Henry will be too young to govern. Later in that same year, knights of Henry’s cut down Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury as he was saying mass in the cathedral.  How will this affect the king and his family?

Conflict within the family will come.  Young Henry will abscond to Paris, in direct conflict with his father.  Richard and Geoffrey will join him, while Eleanor remains in Aquitaine.

What follows will be a tumultuous time for the family.  Author Elizabeth Chadwick has done a great deal of research to bring this story to life.  This is an excellent historical fictional read for fans of this genre.