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: Wales, Scotland and Ireland: making peace in Wales; the submission of Malcolm IV; the submission of the Irish kings and bishops.
[Final Result: Content Corrected] Henry II secured frontiers via military pressure and submissions.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 4
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
[Final Result: Content Corrected] Henry II secured frontiers via military pressure and submissions. Making peace in Wales involved the 1157 campaign where Owain Gwynedd submitted, though the 1165 campaign failed. In Scotland, the submission of Malcolm IV occurred at Chester in 1157, surrendering northern counties. In Ireland, following the 1171–72 expedition, Henry received the submission of the Irish kings and bishops at Dublin and Cashel, reforming the church. These submissions extended Angevin authority without constant war, but relied on personal oaths and local cooperation, so control remained fragile.
What earns the marks
- Explains making peace in Wales, noting Owain Gwynedd's 1157 submission and the limits of royal power shown by the failed 1165 campaign.
- Identifies the submission of Malcolm IV at Chester in 1157, where he surrendered claims to Northumbria, Cumberland and Westmorland.
- Describes the submission of the Irish kings and bishops in 1171–72 at Dublin and Cashel, linking this to church reforms.
- Assesses the significance of these submissions in extending royal authority cheaply while depending on fragile personal loyalty.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the Welsh peace as a single event.
Put it right by distinguishing the 1157 submission from the failed 1165 campaign.
Confusing Malcolm IV's 1157 submission with the 1174 Treaty of Falaise.
Put it right by stating Malcolm submitted voluntarily at Chester.
Claiming Henry conquered all Ireland.
Put it right by explaining he received submissions from kings and bishops but lacked full administration.
Exam tips
- Anchor each submission to a named place and date (Chester 1157, Dublin 1171) to show precise knowledge.
- Link each submission to the theme of restoring royal authority: explain what Henry gained and what limits remained.
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: Wales, Scotland and Ireland: making peace in Wales; the submission of Malcolm IV; the submission of the Irish kings and bishops. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which king of Scotland submitted to Henry II in 1157, restoring to him the northern English lands that had been held under King Stephen?
Listen
Final Result: Content Corrected] Henry II secured frontiers via military pressure and submissions. Making peace in Wales involved the 1157 campaign where Owain Gwynedd submitted, though the 1165 campaign failed. In Scotland, the submission of Malcolm IV occurred at Chester in 1157, surrendering northern counties. In Ireland, following the 1171–72 expedition, Henry received the submission of the Irish kings and bishops at Dublin and Cashel, reforming the church. These submissions extended Angevin authority without constant war, but relied on personal oaths and local cooperation, so control remained fragile. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains making peace in Wales, noting Owain Gwynedd's 1157 submission and the limits of royal power shown by the failed 1165 campaign. Identifies the submission of Malcolm IV at Chester in 1157, where he surrendered claims to Northumbria, Cumberland and Westmorland. Describes the submission of the Irish kings and bishops in 1171–72 at Dublin and Cashel, linking this to church reforms. Assesses the significance of these submissions in extending royal authority cheaply while depending on fragile personal loyalty. A common slip: Treating the Welsh peace as a single event. Instead, distinguishing the 1157 submission from the failed 1165 campaign. Exam tip: Anchor each submission to a named place and date (Chester 1157, Dublin 1171) to show precise knowledge.
See it
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Owain Gwynedd submitted during the campaign in Wales
- 2. Henry received the submission of the Irish kings and bishops
- 3. The campaign in Wales failed
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Royal authority and overlordship
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Frontier security and vassalage
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Limits of Angevin control
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Royal authority and overlordship
- Extended through military pressure and submissions, as when Owain Gwynedd submitted in 1157 and Malcolm IV surrendered northern counties at Chester in 1157.
- Frontier security and vassalage
- Secured by submissions such as that of the Irish kings and bishops at Dublin and Cashel in 1171–72, which extended Angevin authority without constant war.
- Limits of Angevin control
- Control remained fragile because it relied on personal oaths and local cooperation, and the failed 1165 campaign showed the limits of royal power.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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