Henry II (reigned in England 1154-1189) and Ranulf de Glanville (died 1190), Chief Justiciar of England beginning in 1180 had a good working relationship and Ranulf was known as the King’s “eyes”.  He was Henry’s right hand man, learned, clever, talented and faithful.  For Henry faithfulness would be very important.

Read more: Henry II King of England

There is some disagreement over whether or not Ranulf wrote the document shown below: ‘Treatise on the Laws and Customs of England’ but he was certainly involved. He was the King’s man when Henry was outside of England as he indeed was during the justiciarship of Ranulf.

Ranulf was also a military man who captured William the Lion, King of Scotland even as Henry was doing penance at the burial site of Thomas Becket. He acted as ambassador to Flanders, led armed men into Wales in 1183, was a diplomat to Norway, and acted on the King’s behalf diplomatically in both Wales and France.

In his many roles in the service of the crown and himself he succeeded and even survived the transfer of power upon Henry II’s death to Richard I. When Richard I took the throne in 1189 or shortly thereafter Ranulf left on Crusade where he died. 

But we are getting way ahead in the story as a matter of fact the part where these two men are dead is indeed the end.

Here is Henry II’s family tree. Pretty impressive!