Was Henry II of England Like a Cowboy: Bowlegged from Years on Horseback as he Campaigned to Hold onto his Empire?

Henry II was described as being red-haired with bow legs

"His [Henry II] stature was of medium height, with a strong, square chest, and legs somewhat bowed from constant riding, yet his frame was robust and full of vigour, suited to the toils of war and the chase." [Peter de Blois]

Imagine the year, 1165. Henry II, King of England, swings into the saddle of his prized warhorse, kicks the beast's flanks and the destrier surges forwards, Henry's cloak billowing, his spurs glinting. 

Day after day, the restless king rides across muddy fields, through ancient forests, chasing rebellions whilst forging the Angevin Empire. Like a man with the Devil at his back, he gallops across his lands - England, Normandy, Aquitaine, Maine, Touraine, Anjou, and Brittany. From town to town, from hunting lodge hunting lodge, castle to castle, abbey to abbey, meeting bishops, nobles, and merchants; dispensing justice, dealing with rebellious vassals - even his own rebellious sons. 

As a consequence, Henry's legs, his courtiers whisper, are as bowed from riding as the arc of a hunter’s bow. 

Did those contemporary chroniclers speak the truth? Was Henry II truly bow-legged? And if so, could this medieval monarch, like the cowboys of the Wild West, have developed his bowlegged gait from a life astride? As a historical fiction author keen to show people as they were where possible, this is something I wanted to know. 

History's Whispers: The Chroniclers' Testimony

Lean closer, let the shadows of history envelop you. Unlike the silence often shrouding royal flaws, they noted his bowlegged gate - a detail both mundane and profound. Gerald of Wales and Peter of Blois, among others, described Henry as a man of vigour, yet marked by legs curved from years in the saddle. This wasn't mockery but observation, a glimpse into the physical toll of medieval kingship. 

"He was a man of robust build, with a broad chest and strong limbs, his countenance ruddy and marked by a fierce energy, reflecting a spirit blown-up vigour that knew neither rest nor leisure. His activity was incessant, and he was always in motion, as if driven by an unquenchable fire." [Gerald of Wales]

"His stature was of medium height, with a strong, square chest, and legs somewhat bowed from constant riding, yet his frame was robust and full of vigor, suited to the toils of war and the chase." [Peter of Blois]

These accounts anchor our tale. No need for speculation when the quills of the past confirm Henry’s bowed legs. Yet, the question remains: was horse riding the culprit? The chroniclers don’t say, but their words paint a vivid picture—a king striding with a cowboy’s swagger, his legs a testament to a life of relentless motion. The image is irresistible, pulling us deeper into the mystery.

Henry II's Angevin Empire included half of modern France

A King in the Saddle: Henry II's Life on Horseback

Feel the rhythm of hoofbeats pounding the earth. Henry II, born in 1133, was a man of boundless energy, ruling England, Normandy, and vast swathes of what is now France. Chronicles paint him as a king who loathed idleness, often leaping onto his horse to inspect distant castles or quell uprisings. His court scrambled to keep pace, their quills scratching tales of a ruler who seemed welded to his steed.

Now, let your mind drift to the sensation of riding. Your thighs ache, your knees bend, your body moulds to the horse’s motion. For Henry, this was no occasional jaunt. Medieval roads were scarce, and horses were the arteries of power. A king’s life depended on mobility—rushing to battles, parleys, or hunts. But did these endless hours in the saddle shape his very bones?

The Cowboy Connection: Bowlegs in the Saddle

Shift your gaze to another time, another place. A time with photographs and real-life heroes. The American West, 19th, 20th, even 21st century. Cowboys, those knights of the plains, live in their saddles, herding cattle across endless horizons. Their legs, over years, can take on a distinctive curve—bowlegs, a hallmark of a life spent gripping a horse. Medical minds suggest that constant pressure on the femur and tibia, especially in youth, can subtly reshape bones. The cowboy’s bowlegged swagger wasn’t just myth; it was anatomy sculpted by necessity.

Don't believe me? Watch a few episodes of Yellowstone, particularly the ones with the real cowboys in. Forrie J. Smith, the actor who plays Lloyd Pierce, is a real-life cowboy who grew up on a ranch in Montana and started riding horses and competing in rodeos at the age of eight! Before becoming an actor he worked as a stuntman, performing in films like Rambo III and Tombstone. And Forrie has a typical cowboy stance and swagger - one I would call bowlegged - just look at the picture in this Facebook post! 

Now, weave these threads together. Henry II ascended the throne at 21, his body still pliable, his bones not fully hardened. Like a cowboy, he rode from adolescence into manhood, his days measured by the creak of leather and the snort of his mount. 

The Science of the Saddle: Could It Happen?

Let’s ground our tale in the physical world. Orthopaedic studies suggest that prolonged mechanical stress, like gripping a horse, can influence bone development, particularly in the young. Cowboys, riding from their teens, often showed mild bowing by their 30s. Henry, crowned young and riding incessantly, fits this mould. His femur, under constant lateral pressure, could have adapted, curving to match the chroniclers’ descriptions.

Yet, differences abound. Medieval saddles, often high-backed and rigid, distributed weight differently than cowboy saddles. Henry’s horses, bred for war, moved with a heavier gait than nimble mustangs. And genetics plays its part—some are predisposed to bowed legs, saddle or no. Still, the chroniclers’ testimony tilts the balance, suggesting that Henry’s life in the saddle likely contributed to his distinctive gait.

A King's Legacy: A Great Monarch

Step back now, let the hoofbeats fade. Henry II’s bowlegged stride adds a human brushstroke to his legend. His empire, stretching from Scotland to the Pyrenees, was built on those rides, bowed legs or not. Like a cowboy carving trails through untamed lands, Henry carved a legacy through kingdoms, leaving echoes that still resonate. But put aside the tales of boundless energy, the constant travelling and trouble-shooting. Even the story of his fight with Thomas Becket (for another blog). A BBC HistoryExtra article entitled "Who was Britain’s greatest monarch?" was published on February 7, 2022, featuring nominations from 12 experts for the title, including historian John Gillingham’s case for Henry II due to his legal reforms and imperial expansion. This article featured nominations from 12 experts, including historian John Gillingham’s case for Henry II as one of Britain’s greatest monarchs due to his legal reforms and imperial expansion.

Conclusion

So, was Henry II’s bowlegged gait, as chroniclers described, forged by excessive horse riding, like a cowboy’s? The evidence leans yes, blending science, history, and the vivid accounts of those who saw him stride. Picture him now, astride his charger, legs curved, galloping through time. The truth, etched in ancient ink, lives on in the story—a tale as enduring as the king himself.