For Want of Strong Kingship: Castles, Property, and Conflict in the First Decade of Henry II’s Reign, 1154-1165

This honors thesis, working with administrative records and narrative sources, examines the first ten years of the reign of King Henry II of England (r. 1154-1189). It views his reign from the lenses of legal property history and political history to explore how Henry II and his government strengthened royal authority in England after the long period of political instability in England during King Stephen's reign (r. 1135-1154), known to historians as “the Anarchy.” These dual focuses allow the paper to explore England's internal tenurial history, the conflicts with the king of France and other French princes, and the interactions between English lords and the neighboring Scots and Welsh.