Plantagenet Ancestry

"In 1128 Henry I knighted his son-in-law Geoffrey and granted him a badge of gold lions (or leopards) on a blue background" (English Monarchs: Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou via FamilySearch: Geoffrey V 'le Bel' Comte de Anjou et Maine).

"At the age of fifteen he was married to Matilda, the daughter of Henry I and and widow of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor. The pair never cared for each other, their's was a union of convenience. Henry I, chose Geoffrey to sire his grandchildren because his lands were strategically placed on the Norman frontiers and he required the support of Geoffrey's father Fulk, his erstwhile enemy. He accordingly forced his highly reluctant daughter to marry Geoffrey" (English Monarchs: Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou via FamilySearch: Geoffrey V 'le Bel' Comte de Anjou et Maine)

Bast shares of this scandalous marriage as "Eleanor had previously been married to the King of France, but annulled the marriage on the grounds that they were too closely related. Eight weeks later, Eleanor and Henry married -- though they were just as closely related!" Bast further shares that the marriage was policially beneficial to Henry and Eleanor and they had chemistry, but "things turned sour when Henry put Eleanor under (very luxurious) house arrest for 16 years." Bast further shares difficulty in the marriage occurred before Eleanor was imprisoned, mentioning that Henry had an affair with Rosamund Clifford while Eleanor was pregnant. "While Henry II is considered one of the best kings of England (at least by medieval standards), his rule was not without controversy. Henry elevated his friend, Thomas Becket, to Archbishop of Canterbury, which prompted a major character shift in Becket. After one too many arguments, Henry's knights got rid of the turbulent priest" (Bast).

His first marriage to Isabella of Gloucester was annulled.

Marriage contract confirmed 22 June 1235 according to Howell.
Marriage: 14 January 1236 (Sadler)

Researching:

• WikiPedia
• WikiTree
• Geni.com
• FamilySearch
• and sources thereof