other · France and the Low Countries

Angevin Empire

1154 CE – 1214 CE · capital Chinon

The vast assemblage of lands ruled by Henry II and his sons, from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees, which collapsed in the wars with Philip II.

Origins

Henry II inherited Anjou, Maine and Touraine from his father Geoffrey Plantagenet and Normandy through his mother Matilda, gained Aquitaine by marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152, and became king of England in 1154. He also asserted lordship over Ireland from 1171 and over Brittany through his son Geoffrey.

Rule and society

There was no single government: each land kept its own customs, though Henry built strong royal justice in England and moved constantly between his territories. Chinon was a favourite residence and treasury. Henry's sons rebelled repeatedly, backed by the French kings. Richard I spent most of his reign on crusade and in France, building Château Gaillard to guard Normandy.

Decline and legacy

King John lost Normandy, Anjou and Maine to Philip II in 1202–1204, and his allies' defeat at Bouvines in 1214 ended hopes of recovery. England kept Gascony, and the term Angevin Empire was coined by modern historians.

Connections (5)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Angevin Empire. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/angevin-empire
MLA
“Angevin Empire.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/angevin-empire. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Angevin Empire.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/angevin-empire.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Angevin Empire’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/angevin-empire (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻