PLANTAGENET Dynasty Reading List (Books In Historical Order)

The Plantagenet dynasty is the one that made England, “England.” This Plantagenet dynasty reading list are books in historical order spanning a dynasty that lasted over 330 years! Henry II inherited an challengingly complex kingdom from the previous Norman Dynasty.

You may have your own favourite English dynasty, of course; however, there is no skirting about the fact that the Plantagenets were one of the most influential in English history as they contributed so much to our way of thinking, made advances in culture, technology, finance, dress, language, and even heraldry & arms, all of which have been passed down to us today.

Heck, we’re even speaking English because of Edward I.

What follows are actually THREE SUGGESTED Plantagenet reading lists.

The FIRST is my recommended reading strategy in historical order. There are fewer books in this list but by the time you complete this reading list you will have gained a thorough understanding of the entire Plantagenet Dynasty from Henry II all the way down to Richard III and the Wars of the Roses – over 330 years.

Some books focus on a single monarch, others on a period in history where several are coalesced and covered.

The SECOND is a customizable Plantagenet dynasty reading list, with options, covering each individual King, and/or Queen, focusing on their singular contribution to the Plantagenet Dynasty. There are a few overlaps from the first list; however, the list is ultimately there for you to customize as you see fit and enjoy.

Basically, the second list just contains multiple books to choose from for each Plantagenet, how convenient is that?

The THIRD is a list of suggested “spanning biographies,” as I call them. That is to say that they are books that span either part, or all, of the Plantagenet Dynasty, some scholarly, others coffee table-type books. Each of these encompasses a larger swathe of history and can be thought of as supplemental reading.

Don’t be a spanner! These books are just as good to read as any full-fledged biography.

All in all, the Plantagenet Dynasty included 14 kings from Henry II (reign 1154-1189) to Richard III (reign 1483-1485), that’s 331 years. Aside from a single King John, the dynasty was dominated by Henrys, Edwards, and Richards: 5 Henrys, 5 Edwards, and 3 Richards!

Your Plantagenet Dynasty Reading List (Books In Historical Order)

1. Henry II (English Monarchs Series) by W. L. Warren
2. The Plantagenets by Dan Jones
3. A Great and Terrible King by Marc Morris
4. The Three Edwards by Michael Prestwich
5. Richard II: A True King’s Fall by Katheryn Warner
6. Henry IV (English Monarchs Series) by Chris Given-Wilson
7. The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones

---

The foundation of the Plantagenets lies with king Henry II of England. As the son of Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou and Empress Matilda (granddaughter of William the Conqueror), he was “the chosen one.” This book is extremely detailed and the best place to start any Plantagenet dynasty reading list, and besides W.L. Warren’s treatise on this period is just about legendary in and of itself.

---

I’m recommending Dan Jones’ book for the second read only because of the way he treats the hyper-complex era between Richard I (the Lionheart), King John, and Henry III. There is A LOT of minutiae that comes with this period that can be best left for follow-up reads and Dan Jones does an excellent job in synthesizing the importance of these particular monarchs.

---

Edward I’s reign is a hallmark in English history in so many ways. From castle building to language to forging a new British identity, Edward I is truly a king that requires his own biography as a part of your Plantagenet dynasty reading list. Marc Morris absolutely captures the spirit of the age and the importance of the dynasty at the height of the Plantagenet kings.

---

With a bit of overlap on Edward I, “The Three Edwards” covers the next three monarchs in the Plantagenet Dynasty: Edward I (‘Longshanks’), Edward II (‘Caernarfon’), and Edward III (‘of Windsor’). Michael Prestwich is one of the most thorough and trusted English medieval authors, so you’re definitely in good hands with this book.

---

So many important aspects of the Plantagenet Dynasty happened under the guise of Richard II. His reign requires a certain amount of scrutiny in order to understand the changing political landscape of the late 14th and early 15th century. With a more modern perspective on Richard II, you will get a balanced narrative on this monarch and his contemporaries.

---

Get ready for a roller coaster ride through history. The reign of Henry IV was chock full of alliances, revolts, and changes in the affairs of state that were to permanently effect the future of the English political landscape. One might even argue that the reign of Henry IV was the beginning of the end for the Plantagenets. It’s 608 pages, but damn it’s worth it!

---

As your final book on my suggested Plantagenet dynasty reading list, this book covering the play-by-play of the Wars of the Roses is just perfect. Dispelling rumours and igniting intrigue, Dan Jones takes you along the twists and turns and even salacious behaviour of the outgoing Richard III and the crown-stealing Tudors.

---

A Customizable Plantagenet Dynasty Reading List (With Options)

You can cherry-pick any of the books you like in this list! Each monarch has suggested books with great reviews or that I have read and recommend that will not waste your time nor disappoint. Feel free to read any or all of them.

HENRY II

Henry II by W. L. Warren (English Monarchs Series)

Henry Plantagenet by Richard Barber

---

Richard I ‘The Lionheart’

Richard the Lionheart: The Mighty Crusader by David Miller

Richard the Lionheart: The Crusader King of England by W. B. Bartlett

Richard the Lionheart by John Gillingham

---

King John ‘Lackland’

King John: Treachery and Tyranny in Medieval England by Marc Morris

King John by William Shakespeare (Barnes & Noble Complete Works)

---

Henry III ‘of Winchester’

Henry III: The Great King England Never Knew it Had by Darren Baker

Herny III: The Rise to Power and Personal Rule, 1207-1258 by David Carpenter

Henry III: The Son of Magna Carta by Matthew Lewis

---

Edward I ‘Longshanks’ (‘The Hammer of the Scots’)

Edward I: A Great and Terrible King by Marc Morris

Edward I (Yale English Monarchs) by Michael Prestwich

---

Edward II ‘of Caernarfon’

The Three Edwards: War and State in England 1272-1377 by Michael Prestwich

Edward II (English Monarchs Series) by Seymour Phillips

Edward II: The Unconventional King by Kathryn Warner

---

Edward III ‘of Windsor’

Edward III (English Monarchs Series) by Mark Ormrod

---

Richard II ‘of Bordeaux’

Richard II: A True King’s Fall by Kathryn Warner

Richard II (English Monarchs Series) by Nigel Saul

Richard II by William Shakespeare (Barnes & Noble Complete Works)

---

Henry IV ‘Bolingbroke’

Henry IV (English Monarchs Series) by Chris Given-Wilson

The Fears of Henry IV: The Life of England’s Self-Made King by Ian Mortimer

Henry IV (Part 1 & 2) by William Shakespeare (Barnes & Noble Complete Works)

---

Henry V ‘of Monmouth’

Henry V (English Monarchs Series) by Christopher Allmand

Henry V: The Life of the Warrior King & The Battle of Agincourt by Teresa Cole

Henry V by William Shakespeare (Barnes & Noble Complete Works)

---

Henry VI ‘of England’

Henry VI (Routledge Historical Biographies) by David Grummitt

The Shadow King: The Life and Death of Henry VI by Lauren Johnson

The Reign of King Henry VI by R. A. Griffiths

Henry VI (Part 1, 2, & 3) by William Shakespeare (Barnes & Noble Complete Works)

---

Edward IV

Edward IV (English Monarchs Series) by Charles Ross

Edward IV: Glorious Son of York by Jeffrey James

---

Edward V ‘The Prince in the Tower’

Edward V: The Prince in the Tower by Michael Hicks

The Princes in the Tower by Alison Weir

---

Richard III

Richard III: England’s Most Controversial King by Chris Skidmore

Richard III: The Self-Made King (Yale Monarchs) by Michael Hicks

Richard III: The Maligned King by Annette Carson

Eleanor, The Secret Queen: The Woman Who Put Richard III on the Throne by John Ashdown-Hill

The King’s Grave: The Discovery of Richard III’s Lost Burial Place and the Clues it Holds by Philippa Langley and Michael Jones

Digging for Richard III: The Search for the Lost King by Michael Pitts

The Last Days of Richard III and the Fate of his DNA: The Book that Inspired the Dig by John Ashdown-Hill

Richard III by William Shakespeare (Barnes & Noble Complete Works)

---

Spanning Biographies For Your Plantagenet Dynasty Reading List

This section is a great place to start if you’re not sure where to begin or simply looking for a single read or creating your own Plantagenet dynasty reading list. You can cherry-pick books that look or sound good to match your interest, several of the titles have Family History Foundation review links so you can get a better glimpse into what you will be encountering.

Images of the book covers are below. Happy reading!

1. The Plantagenet Chronicles: 1154-1485 by Derek Wilson [a great read!]
2. The Plantagenets by Ben Hubbard [rubbish book, don’t even know why it’s here!]
3. The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones [absolute masterpiece!]
4. Daughters of Chivalry: The Forgotten Children of Edward I by Kelcey Wilson-Lee [awesome book!]
5. Queens of the Conquest: England’s Medieval Queens, Book One by Alison Weir [awesome book and series!]
6. 1215: The Year of the Magna Carta by Danny Danzinger and John Gillingham [really cool little read!]
7. Plantagenets by Dan Jones
8. Foundation: The History of England from its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors by Peter Ackroyd [superb must-read!]
9. The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal by Thomas Asbridge [5-star epic!]
10. Wales and the Wars of the Roses by H. T. Evans [a nifty Welsh perspective on their Tudors]

List of Ruling Plantagenet Monarchs (For Reference)

HENRY II
Bio= b. 05 March 1133 – d. 06 July 1189
Reign= 19 Dec 1154 – 06 July 1189
Queen= Eleanor of Aquitaine
Nickname= ‘Henry Curtmantle’

Richard I
Bio= b. 08 Sept 1157 – d. 06 April 1199
Reign= 03 Sept 1189 – 06 April 1199
Queen= Berengaria of Navarre
Nickname= ‘Richard the Lionheart (Cœur de Lion)’

King John
Bio= b. 24 Dec 1166 – d. 19 Oct 1216
Reign= 27 May 1199 – 19 Oct 1216
Queen= Isabella, Countess of Gloucester; Isabella of Angoulême
Nickname= ‘John Lackland’

Henry III
Bio= b. 01 Oct 1207 – d. 16 Nov 1272
Reign= 28 Oct 1216 – 16 Nov 1272
Queen= Eleanor of Provence
Nickname= ‘Henry of Winchester’

Edward I
Bio= b. 17 June 1239 – d. 07 July 1307
Reign= 20 Nov 1272 – 07 July 1307
Queen= Eleanor of Castile
Nickname= ‘Edward Longshanks’

Edward II
Bio= b. 25 Apr 1284 – d. 21 Sept 1327
Reign= 07 July 1307 – 13/25 Jan 1327
Queen= Isabella of France
Nickname= ‘Edward of Caernarfon’

Edward III
Bio= b. 13 Nov 1312 – d. 21 June 1377
Reign= 25 Jan 1327 – 21 June 1377
Queen= Philippa of Hainault
Nickname= ‘Edward of Windsor’

Richard II
Bio= b. 06 Jan 1367 – d. 14 Feb 1400
Reign= 22 June 1377 – 29 Sept 1399
Queen= Anne of Bohemia; Isabella de Valois
Nickname= ‘Richard of Bordeaux’

Henry IV
Bio= b. Apr 1367 – d. 20 March 1413
Reign= 30 Sept 1399 – 20 Mar 1413
Queen= Mary de Bohun; Joan of Navarre
Nickname= ‘Henry Bolingbroke’

Henry V
Bio= b. 16 Sept 1386 – d. 31 Aug 1422
Reign= 21 Mar 1413 – 31 Aug 1422
Queen= Catherine de Valois
Nickname= ‘Henry of Monmouth’

Henry VI
Bio= b. 06 Dec 1421 – d. 21 May 1471
Reign= 01 Sept 1422 – 04 Mar 1461
Queen= Margaret of Anjou
Nickname= ‘Henry VI of England’

Edward IV
Bio= b. 28 Apr 1422 – d. 09 Apr 1483
Reign= 04 Mar 1461 – 03 Oct 1470
Queen= Elizabeth Woodville
Nickname= ‘Edward IV of England’

Edward V
Bio= b. 02 Nov 1470 – d. June/July 1483
Reign= 09 Apr 1483 – 25 June 1483
Queen= none
Nickname= ‘The Prince in the Tower’

Richard III
Bio= b. 02 Oct 1452 – d. 22 Aug 1485
Reign= 26 June 1483 – 22 Aug 1485
Queen= Anne Neville
Nickname= ‘Richard III!’

Not quite satiated yet? Then you definitely want to read my “Books About Books: A Few Couture Recommendations” post!

Plantagenet Dynasty Reading List on YouTube