Angevin Empire: Map & History
Angevin Empire is mapped in the atlas for 1147 CE – 1209 CE, with a peak mapped extent of about 426,192 km².
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Angevin Empire was the collection of territories held by the House of Plantagenet during the 12th and 13th centuries, when they ruled over an area covering roughly all of present-day England, half of France, and parts of Ireland and Wales, and claiming overlordship and some influence over the remaining parts of Wales, Scotland and Ireland. It may be described as an early example of a composite monarchy. The empire was established by Henry II of England, who succeeded his father Geoffrey as duke of Normandy and count of Anjou. Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152, acquiring the Duchy of Aquitaine, and inherited his mother Empress Matilda's claim to the English throne, succeeding his rival Stephen in 1154. Although their title of highest rank came from the Kingdom of England, the Plantagenets held court primarily on the continent at Angers in Anjou and at Chinon in Touraine.
Modern Countries Once Part of Angevin Empire
At its mapped extent, Angevin Empire covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- United Kingdom1169–1209 CE · most
- Ireland1177–1209 CE · a large part
- France1147–1209 CE · a large part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Angevin Empire's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Angevin Empire in Depth
Geography and administration
At its largest extent, the Angevin Empire consisted of the Kingdom of England, the Lordship of Ireland (which was considered illegitimate since Henry II broke the Treaty of Windsor), the Duchies of Normandy (which included the Channel Islands), Gascony and Aquitaine, as well as of the counties of Anjou, Poitou, Maine, Touraine, Saintonge, La Marche, Périgord, Limousin, Nantes and Quercy. While the duchies and counties were held with various levels of vassalage to the king of France, the Plantagenets held various levels of control over the duchies of Brittany and Cornwall, the Welsh princedoms, the County of Toulouse, and the Kingdom of Scotland, although those regions were not formal parts of the empire.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Angevin Empire (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Angevin Empire: Key Facts
| Official language | Old French |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1154 |
| Dissolved | 1242 |
Succeeded by
- Kingdom of France
Facts from Wikidata Q538677 (CC0).
Angevin Empire Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Angevin Empire appears, with the other states of the time.
Angevin Empire Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 426,192 km² in 1204 CE.
Angevin Empire: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Angevin Empire exist?
The Angevin Empire is dated to 1147 CE – 1209 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Angevin Empire?
The capital of the Angevin Empire was No official capital. Court was generally held at Angers and Chinon..
How large was the Angevin Empire at its peak?
At its peak in 1204 AD the Angevin Empire covered about 426,192 km².
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