Who was to blame for the rebellion?

King Henry II to blame: Rebellion instigated by YH who was annoyed with his father - expected a degree of authority and autonomy, but didn't receive this (did Henry II not think his son was capable?) Also threatened his inheritance through granting land promised to YH to his youngest son John. Not assigned lands to YH or his queen   Restoration of royal authority restricted the barons' control, which infringed on their rule. Resented Henry's control : Hugh, Earl of Chester, was denied lands, Hugh Bigod’s lands were threatened by new royal castles, and the Earl of Leicester was made to pay scrutage. He further aggravated barons in Normandy by introducing a new form of doomsday book to eliminate existing corruption However, Henry II adopted a lenient approach towards the punishment of the rebels involved, as he did not want an endless cycle of war and disturbances. Furthermore, Henry did not have the manpower available for the potential threat of war. These imply that Henry did not intentionally provoke, or even anticipate, the Great rebellion His influence had become increasingly unpopular, especially after he allegedly arranged the murder of Thomas Beckett in 1170 reasons for Eleanor’s involvement in the rebellion were largely due to King Henry through his treatment of her; similarly to YH she was politically disenchanted - deeply resented her position as a non-entity in the reign and government of Henry II, having neither power nor influence. King Henry appeared to be exerting a pyramid of power in his Angevin Empire, placing England and Normandy before Eleanor’s beloved Acquitaine. She therefore joined the uprising to prevent Acquitaine being anonymously absorbed into Henry’s Empire

Eleanor was to blame stirred her sons to revolt (At only 15 and 14, Richard and Geoffrey would not have rallied to anyone else in defiance of their father) rising Pointou in rebellion against her husband. McLynn “Eleanor was the guiding spirit of the conspiracy”.  Captured early on in the rebellion and imprisoned by Henry. Despite being lenient towards the rebels, Henry severely punished his wife. Henry, by his treatment of her, showed that he felt her to be largely responsible for the rebellion” (Barber). 

Young Henry to blame Henry II took back the control of three key fortresses, the castles of Chinon, Loudum and Mirebeau, as his eldest son had angered him with his greed and imperative demands, and his liaisons with Louis VII; the loss of his inheritance was ultimately the Young King’s fault withdrew from his father’s court in March 1173 to join Louis VII. After creating this alliance, the Young King and Capetian mentor recruited other rebels, ultimately forming the uprising. However, at the time of the revolt Henry was only young, and was advised to rebel by many aristocrats; he is not solely to blame for the uprising Young Henry was not overly punished by his father, suggesting that King Henry II did not perceive his son as a threat or responsible for the uprising. Instead he was given two castles in Normandy and £15 000 annually, but still had to grant some of his lands to John in England, Normandy and Anjou

Louis VII to blame Louis VII of France resented the extent of King Henry II’s territory in France, and was interested in weakening the towering edifice of authority built by Henry which overshadowed his small territories Singlehandedly, Louis had neither the military competence nor the resources to do more than contain Henry. He therefore joined Young Henry in an uprising against his rival when the opportunity arose Louis was mostly responsible for the recruitment of rebels by promising land in England and Anjou to the major Counts of Flanders, Boulogne and Blois, if they participated in the rebellion. Poole, “The rebellion was inspired and managed by Louis of France who saw it as an easy way to embarrass and weaken his dangerous rival”. 

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