The Plantagenet family tree traces the English royal dynasty that ruled from 1154 to 1485, encompassing 14 monarchs across three main branches: the Angevins, the Lancasters, and the Yorks. The dynasty began with Henry II, son of Geoffrey of Anjou and Empress Matilda, and ended with Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
Origins and the Angevin Inheritance
The Plantagenet name derives from Geoffrey of Anjou’s habit of wearing a sprig of broom (Latin planta genista) in his cap. Geoffrey married Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I of England, in 1128. Their son Henry II inherited Normandy and Anjou from his father and, through his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, acquired vast French territories. When King Stephen died in 1154, Henry II became the first Plantagenet king, founding the Angevin Empire that stretched from Scotland to the Pyrenees.
The early Plantagenets—Henry II, Richard I, and John—are often called Angevins. Henry II’s sons rebelled against him repeatedly, and Richard I spent most of his reign on crusade or in France. John’s disastrous rule led to Magna Carta in 1215 and the loss of Normandy. His son Henry III and grandson Edward I consolidated royal authority, while Edward II’s deposition in 1327 marked the first time a Plantagenet king was forcibly removed from the throne.
The Main Line of Descent
The direct male line from Henry II to Edward III is straightforward, but the dynasty’s later complexity stems from Edward III’s many children. Here is the core descent:
- Henry II (r. 1154–1189) → Richard I and John
- John (r. 1199–1216) → Henry III
- Henry III (r. 1216–1272) → Edward I
- Edward I (r. 1272–1307) → Edward II
- Edward II (r. 1307–1327) → Edward III
Edward III (r. 1327–1377) had seven sons who survived infancy. Two of them, John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster) and Edmund of Langley (Duke of York), founded the cadet branches that later fought the Wars of the Roses. The legitimate Plantagenet male line ended with Richard III in 1485, though several illegitimate lines, such as the Beauforts, carried Plantagenet blood.
The Lancastrian Branch
The House of Lancaster descended from John of Gaunt, Edward III’s third son. John’s son Henry Bolingbroke overthrew Richard II in 1399 and became Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king. His son Henry V won the Battle of Agincourt (1415) and was named heir to the French throne, but his early death left his infant son Henry VI to inherit both England and France. Henry VI’s mental instability and the loss of French territories during the Hundred Years’ War triggered the Wars of the Roses.
The Lancastrian claim to the throne was legally shaky because it passed through John of Gaunt’s first wife, Blanche of Lancaster, but the dynasty’s legitimacy was also challenged by the fact that Henry IV usurped the crown. The Beauforts, children of John of Gaunt by his mistress (later wife) Katherine Swynford, were legitimized by Richard II but explicitly barred from the succession—a clause that later Yorkists used to delegitimize Henry VII’s claim.
The Yorkist Branch
The House of York descended from Edmund of Langley, Edward III’s fourth son, and also from Lionel of Antwerp (second son) through the female line. Richard, Duke of York, pressed his claim against Henry VI in the 1450s, leading to open war in 1455. His son Edward IV seized the throne in 1461, lost it briefly in 1470, and regained it in 1471. After Edward IV’s death in 1483, his brother Richard III took the throne, allegedly imprisoning and possibly murdering Edward’s sons, the Princes in the Tower.
Richard III’s reign lasted only two years. Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian claimant through his mother Margaret Beaufort, defeated Richard at Bosworth Field in 1485 and became Henry VII. He married Elizabeth of York, Edward IV’s daughter, uniting the two houses and founding the Tudor dynasty. Many historians mark 1485 as the end of the Plantagenet line, though Henry VII’s claim was technically through an illegitimate line.
Key Figures and Their Relationships
Some Plantagenet relationships are frequently confused. For example:
- Richard I had no legitimate children; his successor John was his younger brother.
- Edward III’s son Edward the Black Prince died before his father, so Richard II succeeded his grandfather, not his father.
- Henry VI was the only child of Henry V and Catherine of Valois; his uncle Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, served as regent during his minority.
- Edward IV and Richard III were brothers, both sons of Richard, Duke of York and Cecily Neville.
- Henry VII’s claim came through his mother, Margaret Beaufort, a descendant of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford.
The dynasty also includes several notable women: Eleanor of Aquitaine, who outlived two husbands and two sons; Isabella of France, who led the invasion that deposed Edward II; and Margaret of Anjou, who fought fiercely for her husband Henry VI’s cause.
The Wars of the Roses and the Dynasty’s End
The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) were a series of civil wars between the Lancastrian and Yorkist branches. The conflict was not a simple two-sided struggle; allegiances shifted frequently, and both houses had multiple claimants. Key battles included St. Albans (1455), Towton (1461), Tewkesbury (1471), and Bosworth Field (1485). The wars effectively ended with Henry VII’s victory, though a final Yorkist rising at Stoke Field in 1487 was suppressed.
The Plantagenet dynasty left a complex legal legacy. The principle of primogeniture—inheritance by the eldest son—was established but repeatedly challenged. The dynasty also saw the development of Parliament, the common law, and the English language’s rise in official use. Edward III’s reign saw the Statute of Pleading (1362) mandate English in courts, a landmark in the language’s history.
Common Misconceptions
One common misconception is that all Plantagenets were English. In fact, the early kings spent much of their time in France and spoke French as their first language. Henry II was born in Le Mans, Richard I in Oxford, but both were culturally French. Another error is the belief that the Wars of the Roses were fought solely between York and Lancaster; in reality, many nobles switched sides, and the conflict involved rival claims from other families like the Nevilles and Percys.
People also often assume that the Plantagenet line ended with Richard III, but several illegitimate descendants survived. For example, the Beauforts, though barred from the throne, continued through the Dukes of Somerset. The current British royal family descends from the Plantagenets through multiple lines, including via Margaret Tudor, Henry VII’s daughter, who married James IV of Scotland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first Plantagenet king?
Henry II, who ascended the throne in 1154, is generally considered the first Plantagenet king. His father Geoffrey of Anjou was the first to bear the Plantagenet name, but he never ruled England.
Why did the Plantagenet dynasty end?
The dynasty ended with the death of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. His defeat allowed Henry Tudor to take the throne as Henry VII, founding the Tudor dynasty. The Plantagenet male line had already been weakened by the Wars of the Roses, which killed many claimants.
Are the Tudors Plantagenets?
Henry VII, the first Tudor king, was a Plantagenet descendant through his mother Margaret Beaufort, who was a great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt. However, the Beauforts were legitimized with a bar to the succession, so Henry’s claim was legally weak. The Tudor dynasty is usually considered a separate house.
Who was the last Plantagenet king?
Richard III, who reigned from 1483 to 1485, was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty. His death at Bosworth Field ended the line of legitimate male heirs.
What does the name Plantagenet mean?
The name comes from the Latin planta genista, meaning broom plant. Geoffrey of Anjou, Henry II’s father, wore a broom sprig in his hat, and his descendants adopted the nickname. The name was not used as a surname until the 15th century; earlier kings were known by their first names or as Angevins.
How many Plantagenet kings were there?
There were 14 Plantagenet monarchs from Henry II (1154) to Richard III (1485). This count excludes the disputed reign of Empress Matilda, who was never crowned, and includes the Lancastrian and Yorkist kings.
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