h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Henry II - the 'First' King of England - A2576991
Author: Paully_C - U705659

Hello all! Well, here it is - my first attempt at an entry for the Edited Guide. I hope you think it's okay, but please don't be shy if you've got any corrections, amendments or suggestions you'd like to make.

Cheers everyone!

Paul

Hi Paul,

I don't just think its ok - I think its superb! Its an excellent account, and it reads really well. I didn't know much about this king so it was a very interesting read.

I guess the only thing I can think of would be how he was able to expand his realm so much. The account tends to focus on all the things that went wrong during his reign (naughty children, nasty wife, horrible monks, Vatican whipping boy etc), but it doesn't sufficiently bring out his successes. Maybe something on his achievements in this regard might be useful.

That's all I can think of - I *love* the paragraph headings!

Take care,

Woodpigeon

Good point Woodpigeon - and thanks for your comments! I'll write up something to incorporate HOW Henry took control of so much of Europe before his useless kids lost it all again!

Cheers!

Paul

This entry is fantastic! Well done!

Henry II is one of my favourites; I'm glad someone's written him up for the Guide. Personally, I'd add just a *bit* more about the legal reforms, which are about the only lasting vestiges of Angevin rule. (I found out a while ago that 'time immemorial' has an actual meaning in law; it's all the time prior to Henry's accession and the institution of a recognisable legal system.)

As for his deathbed - apparently he was attended by one of his illegitimate sons, as the legitimate brood were fighting against him at the time. Henry was heard to make a comment about his legitimate sons being the real bastards...

Ivan.

Not a subject I know anything about, so I'll restrict myself to the usual list of typos and grammaticals

"How did this man... be less famous than his own children, who became little more than self-obsessed squabbling failures?"
How about 'How did this man... end up less well known than his own children, who themselves became little more than self-obsessed squabbling failures?'

"staggering, wide-ranging and many endure"
Needs a comma after 'ranging'.

"more-than-doubled"
Does that need hyphens?

"Not bad for somebody who's not remembered anymore"
A few people - like yourself - still remember him, so how about something like 'Not bad for somebody who's only remembered today by academics and a handful of others with an interest in English history.'?

"However the throne instead went to her cousin Stephen"
Any way of including a brief explanation of why, without spoiling the flow of the entry?

"to gain control over his servants"
Do you mean 'subjects'? Or were the barons and nobles considered servants of the king?

'legal system'
Probably doesn't need the inverted commas.

"a new series of courts around the country and used these courts to enforce his own rules"
It would look a bit tidier if you replaced 'and used these courts' with 'which he used'.

"the basis of what we still know today as the Common Law"
I think 'still' is superfluous.

"Such behaviour simultaneously alienated both Eleanor, Louis and Richard"
'Both' means two doesn't it?

"but the donations by pilgrims and sales of souvenirs"
Needs a comma after 'pilgrims'.

"Henry was attacked and his army defeated on 4 July, 1189, dying some two days later at Chinon"
'Henry was attacked and his army defeated on 4 July, 1189; he died a few days later at Chinon'

"natural courses"
causes

You thought that being the new Italic made you eligible for an easy ride through PR... you were wrong! Mwahahahahahahaha

Have a nice day


Scout

Oh blimey, have I scared him off?

Propose a move to the Flea Market - author Elvised

Oi oi oi! I might be a newbie, but you can't get rid of me and my insane scribblings THAT easily, you know!

Hoping to have some time very soon to incorporate everyone's lovely comments into the Entry. Ta luvs!

Paul

Really good - my only quibble would be the last paragraph' which succumbs to the populist view of Richard and John. (Unless you're going to write another on Richard's squandering of his inheritence, and his appalling blood letting on the crusades.)

I think I'd really like to have a go at an entry on Richard and John - are the rumours of Richard the Lionheart's homosexuality true? Was 'Bad King John' anything of the sort? So I think I'd prefer to leave it to another entry if that's okay!

Paul

"but you can't get rid of me and my insane scribblings THAT easily, you know"

Oh, I didn't want to get rid of it, just pick it up from the FM and then submit it to PR myself

How about a link to the Canterbury Cathedral website - http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org ?

Two more history entries are fine by me

Great entry, Paully!

It might be worth adding in the bit about the Common Law that legally, 'time immemorial' - used to establish the right to customary right is 1189 - the date of Henry's death: http://www.revision-notes.co.uk/revision/902.html.

I think his secret was amazing will and self discipline.

Looks terrific, especially for a first entry. Although I assume you got some help?

I like the headers

Thanks for your comments everyone - keep 'em coming! And yes, I did get a bit of help with the GuideML - but I've been trained in HTML so it wasn't too hard to pick up. Not an expert yet by any means, but I'm getting there!

Paully

I'll launch objections from the Scottish researcher grouplater.

English-centric staff.

Well I might have written an article about an English king, but don't assume I'm Anglocentric, DD... I'm 50% Irish and 50% Scots by birth, and raised in the North-West of England. So there. Nyerrr!

Paully

Excellent entry. And it looks like a real dream for whichever Sub gets it too!

Great entry.

Just one point, I seem to recall from the lord of history, Simon Schama, that John was the favorite son and that his betrayl by being first on a list of Richards supporters when he challenged his father was a big deal. Which led Henry to say on his deathbed to one of his illigitimate children something to the effect that John and Richard were the real bastards.

It really isn't important, as your summation seems to cover the whole situation very well, but I just remembered it and thought I would mention it

Researcher PSG

Were you ignoring the bit about 'time immemorial' dating to his death, Paully? I learned it when I was studying law for my degree, so legal people think it's siginificant.

Well, I've now incorporated most of the suggestions and amendments that you lovely people have suggested - any more for any more, or do you think this is nearly done?

Paully