Intro to the Tragedy of Henry II
A short historical introduction to the story of King Henry II and Thomas Becket
A HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TO
MY FORTHCOMING PLAY
THE TRAGEDY OF KING HENRY II
Through inheritance, marriage, diplomacy, and conquest, Henry II of the Plantagenet royal line has become King of England, much of Wales, half of France (Normandy, Aquitaine and Anjou), and now Ireland.
Henry is the most powerful and influential ruler in Europe at this time. His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is one of the most powerful, fascinating, and personally formidable women of this age. They have several famous children, four sons of various strengths and weaknesses, who themselves would later be immortalized or made infamous during their lives and long after their deaths. Their most famous sons are Richard, later known as “the Lion-Heart”, and Prince John, later called “Lackland.”
Thomas Becket is a commoner who, due to his intelligence, ambition, and friendly relationship with King Henry, becomes Lord Chancellor of England and then Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry places his friend and ally into the highest ecclesial position in England in the hope that he can raise his influence and change the relationship between his kingdom and the Church, especially where legalities are concerned. But The friendship between Henry and Becket sours shortly thereafter because of those many heated disputes between the Crown and the Church that Henry hoped to win.
These disputes lead to an intense personal feud between Henry and Thomas Becket. To Henry’s thinking, Becket has changed completely, and he has not only chosen the wrong side, but betrayed him personally. Henry is famous for getting his way, venting his bad temper when he doesn’t, and keeping grudges long after he is crossed.
Queen Eleanor is similar in temperament to Henry in these regards, but she has never trusted Becket, and thinks it was foolishness to give him so much power in the first place. Her marriage to Henry is extremely rocky, to the point that she will eventually conspire with her sons and vassals to attempt an uprising against Henry’s rule.
And then, during a Christmas feast, a messenger brings word to King Henry. More bad news. The Archbishop of Canterbury has rescinded Henry’s last orders and is making even more brazen moves against the king’s wishes. Thomas seems unshakeable in his newfound Faith. And then Henry shouts the fatal words that would go down in history:
“What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and promoted in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born clerk! Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”
Four knights hear their king and leave the hall to do his bidding.
And thus, a great Tragedy begins…
