EPISODE · Jul 8, 2026 · 7 MIN
Henry II and the Birth of English Common Law
from The History of England: Kings, Empires, and the Birth of Britain — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Henry II transformed English justice in the 12th century, creating the foundations of common law. They examine the Assize of Clarendon (1166), the introduction of juries, the rise of royal justices like Ranulf de Glanvill, and the tensions with Thomas Becket that erupted over clerical immunity. The episode unpacks key concepts like the possessory assizes (novel disseisin, mort d'ancestor), the eyre system, and how customary law became standardized. They also touch on the Constitutions of Clarendon and the murder that made Becket a martyr. A deep dive into a legal revolution that still echoes today. #HenryII #CommonLaw #AngevinEmpire #ThomasBecket #AssizeOfClarendon #RanulfDeGlanvill #JurySystem #MedievalJustice #EnglishLaw #Plantagenet #ConstitutionsOfClarendon #BecketMurder #12thCentury #LegalHistory #TractatusDeLegibus #History #FexingoHistory #England Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Henry II and the Birth of English Common Law
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