III. "Dynasty"

Henry II Eleanor of Aquitaine

1087–1216. There is no saga more powerful than that of the warring dynasty – domineering father, beautiful, scheming mother and squabbling, murderous sons and daughters, (particularly the nieces). In the years that followed the Norman Conquest, this was the drama played out on the stage of British history.

Task 1. Listen to the introduction and fill in the gaps in the text.

England 1154, nearly a century after the …… of …….. . The country was torn apart by a savage ….. war. ……. the ……… was long dead. For thirty years his children were in struggle. The realm was in ruins. And then there appeared a young king, brave and charismatic who stopped the anarchy. His name was Henry. And he would become the greatest of all the …….. …... He should be as well known as Henry VIII or Elizabeth I, but if he is remembered at all today, it is as the king who ordered …… in the ………, or as the father of the impossibly bad …. …. and the impossibly glamorous ……. the …. ….. . Henry II has no great monument. Yet, he made an indelible mark (неизгладимый след) on the country: the father of Common Law*, the Godfather of the English State. But Henry II was cursed, brought down by the ……, his children, and most of all by his wife, the beautiful all-powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine*.

*Common law – англо-саксонское право: система, основанная на интерпретации прецедентов

*Eleanor of Aquitaine - (1122 or 1124 - 1204) was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages, a member of a dynasty of rulers in southwestern France. She became Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right while she was still a child, then later queen consort of France (1137–1152) and England (1154–1189). Eleanor's succession to the duchy of Aquitaine in 1137 made her the most eligible bride in Europe. 

Task 2. Answer the following questions using the key words and phrases in brackets.

• What was the origin of the Angevin dynasty on the English throne?

(named after the French province Anjou; had their roots in the civil war between two cousins, Stephen and Matilda; Stephen seized (захватил) the crown; Matilda married Jeffrey of Anjou, nicknamed Plantagenet; the son, Henry)

• What can you say about the early years of Henry II ?

(inherited steely single-mindedness, physical courage and foul (скверный) temper (характер); charm and military intelligence; a perfect candidate became available; Aquitaine was the greatest prize; grandeur, territory, wealth and glamour; a deal was struck; heir; crowned in Westminster Abby; colossal inheritance)

• What were Henry’s main steps in strengthening the royal power and administration in England? (monasteries were founded at a record pace; shire courts; sheriffs; judge and war lord; protect the church, preserve intact the lands of your ancestors, do justice, suppress evil laws and customs; professional courts; Law now had its own kind of majesty)

• Describe the development of relations and conflict between Henry II and Thomas Becket (spiritual civil war; the strongest pillar (оплот) of Henry’s administration; the first commoner; a merchant’s son; he enjoyed good food and drink; Chancellor*; the match of opposites; the Archbishop of Canterbury; directly anointed by God; subordinate relation of Church to King; “No traitor to the King, the priest of God”)

government in exile – правительство в изгнании ;

sense of self-righteousness - уверенность в своей правоте;

traitor archbishop – архиепископ - предатель;

reconcile - помириться;

excommunicate – отлучить от церкви;

arrogance - высокомерие;

• What events marked the last years of Henry II reign?

(pilgrimage to Canterbury; barefoot; confessed his sins; whipped by the monks; crowned criminals; a thriving (процветающая) network of courts; humiliation (унижение) of a string of mistresses; betrayed and alienated Eleanor turned her formidable energy and intellect to get her justice through her children; rebelled only to die of dysentery; trampled to death (затоптан насмерть) by a horse; chivalrous (рыцарственный), brutally ambitious; vindictive (мстительный); pinned her hopes; faced defeat; )

• What were the main features of Henry’s sons Richard and John’s reigns?

(the darling (любимец) of popular folklore and legend; mercenary army(армия наемников); plight (несчастье); ransom (выкуп); wretched failure; blackmail and extortion; loss of Normandy;)