Why Are the English Royal Dynasty Called the Plantagenets?
Discover why the English royal family of Plantagenets got their unique name from Geoffrey of Anjou's distinctive plant emblem.
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They are called Plantagenets due to a nickname originating from Geoffrey of Anjou, the father of King Henry II and the man who started the royal dynasty. Geoffrey was known to wear a sprig of broom (Latin: Planta Genista) in his hat. This distinctive habit led to his descendants, a line of English kings that spanned from Henry II in the mid-12th century to Richard III in the late 15th century, being collectively known as the Plantagenets. This name was initially used by historians long after the dynasty itself ended.
FAQs & Answers
- Who was Geoffrey of Anjou? Geoffrey of Anjou was a 12th-century nobleman, father of King Henry II, and the founder of the Plantagenet royal dynasty in England.
- What does Plantagenet mean? The name Plantagenet comes from the Latin Planta Genista, a sprig of broom plant that Geoffrey of Anjou wore in his hat as a personal emblem.
- When did the Plantagenet dynasty rule England? The Plantagenet dynasty ruled England from the mid-12th century, starting with Henry II, until the late 15th century, ending with Richard III.