Fornham St Genevieve, battle of

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Fornham St Genevieve, battle of, 1173. Henry the Young King, eldest son of Henry II, rebelled in 1173, complaining of his inheritance. The support of Louis VII of France and William the Lion of Scotland made the revolt formidable. Henry II beat off an attack on Normandy, leaving Richard de Lucy, justiciar, to defend England. In September Robert, earl of Leicester, landed in Suffolk and joined forces with Hugh, earl of Norfolk. De Lucy abandoned the siege of Leicester castle and marched to intercept the rebels. On 17 October at Fornham St Genevieve, just north of Bury St Edmunds, though outnumbered, he defeated and captured the earl of Leicester. The lucky capture of William the Lion at Alnwick the following year broke the back of the revolt.

J. A. Cannon