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Henry II and his wife Eleanor had five sons, who squabbled among themselves and with their parents about who would inherit which part of Henry's kingdom. When Henry died it was Richard (later nicknamed 'Lionheart' for his bravery in battle) the oldest surviving son, who became king of England. The crusades and the state of his French territories preoccupied Richard, such that he spent less than a year of his 10-year reign in England.

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Following the death of his brother, William II, Henry moved swiftly to establish his hold on the English throne. Within days he had seized control of the royal treasure at Winchester and had himself crowned king at Westminster. The coronation was performed by Maurice, Bishop of London, because the archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm, was out of the country as a result of a quarrel with William II.

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The accession and coronation of Henry II took place on the same day. He was not only king of England, but also ruled over most of Wales, Normandy, Anjou, Gascony and other parts of France (acquired through his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine). Henry, son of Empress Matilda, established stability after civil war between his mother and her rival Stephen. He asserted his authority over the barons and enforced law and governance. Regular financial rolls of government began in his reign.

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Henry I had forced his nobles to swear to recognise his daughter Matilda as his heir. But many considered a woman unfit to rule and further resentment was generated by her marriage into the Anjou family in 1127. Henry's nephew, Stephen of Blois, took advantage of the discord and secured support for his own succession from key political and administrative figures in England. He was crowned king by William of Corbel, Archbishop of Canterbury.

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The fifth son of Henry II, John, stayed in England during Richard's crusading absences, where he schemed against his brother. Despite this, Richard forgave him and named John as his successor. John’s young nephew Arthur, who some regarded as the rightful heir, disappeared.

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Following his victory at the Battle of Hastings, William of Normandy progressed slowly towards London, his forces depleted by battle and hindered by disease. Some attempts were made to resist him, but he gradually received the submission of many Saxon nobles. He was crowned William I (although is more commonly referred to as William the Conqueror) in Westminster Abbey, the burial place of Edward the Confessor, the king from whom William derived his claim to the throne.

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William Rufus, second son of William the Conqueror, left his father a day or two before he died. He had to move swiftly if he was to lay claim to the crown of England, to which he had not been specifically named as heir. Having arrived in England, he met with Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, who performed William's coronation at Westminster Abbey.