Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
England and the Angevin Empire in the reign of Henry II, 1154–89 - 1 The…
Full specification wording
Paper 2, Option 2A.2: England and the Angevin Empire in the reign of Henry II, 1154–89 - 1 The restoration and extension of royal authority, 1154–72: The Angevin lands in France: Henry’s restoration of control in Normandy; acquisition and control of Brittany; relations and conflict with Louis VII of France; the significance of the peace of Montmirail.
Henry II worked to restore ducal authority in his French lands.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Henry II worked to restore ducal authority in his French lands. His restoration of control in Normandy involved recovering castles and reasserting justice after Stephen's reign. The acquisition and control of Brittany began with establishing overlordship in 1158 when Conan IV did homage, culminating in 1166 when Conan was forced to abdicate, giving Henry direct control, though local lords resisted. Relations and conflict with Louis VII of France were tense, as Louis supported Henry's enemies, leading to campaigns like that of 1167. The significance of the peace of Montmirail (1169) lies in its attempt to settle disputes, confirming homage for Brittany and succession plans, but it failed to end the underlying Anglo-French rivalry.
What earns the marks
- Explains Henry's restoration of control in Normandy after 1154 by recovering castles and reasserting ducal justice.
- Describes the acquisition and control of Brittany, noting overlordship in 1158, Conan IV's abdication in 1166, and resistance from Breton lords.
- Analyses relations and conflict with Louis VII of France, including military campaigns such as 1167 and Louis's support for Henry's rivals.
- Evaluates the significance of the peace of Montmirail (1169) as a settlement that confirmed homage but failed to remove underlying tensions.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming Henry recovered Normandy from his brother Geoffrey.
Put it right by noting Geoffrey's 1156 rebellion concerned Anjou, not Normandy.
Dating the establishment of overlordship of Brittany to 1166.
Put it right by explaining overlordship was established in 1158, while 1166 marked Conan IV's forced abdication and direct control.
Treating the peace of Montmirail as a final settlement.
Put it right by showing it was a temporary agreement that did not stop later conflict.
Exam tips
- Focus strictly on the 1154–1172 timeframe, avoiding later events like the 1173–74 revolt or 1181 marriage.
- For Montmirail, state the date (1169) and explain both what it settled and what it left unresolved.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 2, Option 2A.2: England and the Angevin Empire in the reign of Henry II, 1154–89 - 1 The restoration and extension of royal authority, 1154–72: The Angevin lands in France: Henry’s restoration of control in Normandy; acquisition and control of Brittany; relations and conflict with Louis VII of France; the significance of the peace of Montmirail. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
How did Henry II establish direct control over the Duchy of Brittany in 1166?
Listen
Henry II worked to restore ducal authority in his French lands. His restoration of control in Normandy involved recovering castles and reasserting justice after Stephen's reign. The acquisition and control of Brittany began with establishing overlordship in 1158 when Conan IV did homage, culminating in 1166 when Conan was forced to abdicate, giving Henry direct control, though local lords resisted. Relations and conflict with Louis VII of France were tense, as Louis supported Henry's enemies, leading to campaigns like that of 1167. The significance of the peace of Montmirail (1169) lies in its attempt to settle disputes, confirming homage for Brittany and succession plans, but it failed to end the underlying Anglo-French rivalry. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains Henry's restoration of control in Normandy after 1154 by recovering castles and reasserting ducal justice. Describes the acquisition and control of Brittany, noting overlordship in 1158, Conan IV's abdication in 1166, and resistance from Breton lords. Analyses relations and conflict with Louis VII of France, including military campaigns such as 1167 and Louis's support for Henry's rivals. Evaluates the significance of the peace of Montmirail (1169) as a settlement that confirmed homage but failed to remove underlying tensions. A common slip: Assuming Henry recovered Normandy from his brother Geoffrey. Instead, noting Geoffrey's 1156 rebellion concerned Anjou, not Normandy. Exam tip: Focus strictly on the 1154–1172 timeframe, avoiding later events like the 1173–74 revolt or 1181 marriage.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Peace of Montmirail attempted to settle disputes
- 2. Conan IV did homage, establishing Henry's overlordship of Brittany
- 3. Military campaign against Louis VII of France
- 4. Conan IV forced to abdicate, giving Henry direct control of Brittany
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Angevin territorial power
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Anglo-French rivalry
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Feudal overlordship and homage
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Angevin territorial power
- Henry II's lands in France, where he worked to restore ducal authority, recovering castles and reasserting justice in Normandy and gaining control of Brittany.
- Anglo-French rivalry
- Tense relations and conflict with Louis VII of France, who supported Henry's enemies, leading to campaigns such as that of 1167.
- Feudal overlordship and homage
- Establishing overlordship in Brittany in 1158 when Conan IV did homage, culminating in 1166 when Conan was forced to abdicate, giving Henry direct control.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Paper 2, Option 2A.2: England and the Angevin Empire in the reign of Henry II, 1154–89 - 1 The restoration and extension of royal authority, 1154–72: The Angevin lands in France: Henry’s restoration of control in Normandy; acquisition and control of Brittany; relations and conflict with Louis VII of France; the significance of the peace of Montmirail.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge