Henry II's Angevin Empire: The Beginnings of English Common Law

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the reign of Henry II, the first Plantagenet king, and his creation of a vast Angevin Empire stretching from Scotland to the Pyrenees. They explore how Henry's legal reforms—the Assize of Clarendon, the introduction of the jury system, and the development of common law—transformed English governance and laid the groundwork for modern legal systems. The conversation also covers Henry's dramatic conflict with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the king's eventual penance at Canterbury. Along the way, they discuss key figures like Ranulf de Glanvill, whose legal treatise influenced English law for centuries, and the practical workings of the exchequer and eyre circuits. This episode offers a detailed look at how a medieval king's ambition and administrative genius shaped the very fabric of English society. #HenryII #AngevinEmpire #CommonLaw #AssizeOfClarendon #ThomasBecket #RanulfDeGlanvill #Exchequer #EyreCircuit #JurySystem #Plantagenet #MedievalEngland #LegalHistory #BecketControversy #EnglishConstitution #History #FexingoHistory #Europe #KingsAndQueens Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo