Popular legends surrounding the Angevins suggested that they had corrupt or demonic origins. While the chronicler Gerald of Wales is the key contemporaneous source for these stories, they often borrowed elements of the wider Melusine  legend. For example, Gerald wrote in his De instructione principis of "a certain countess of Anjou" who rarely attended mass, and one day flew away, never to be seen again. A similar story was attached to Eleanor of Aquitaine in the thirteenth century romance Richard Coeur-de-lion. Gerald also presents a list of sins committed by Geoffrey V and Henry II as further evidence of their "corrupt" origins.

According to Gerald, these legends were not always discouraged by the Angevins. Richard the Lionheart was said to have often remarked of his family that they "come of the devil, and to the devil they would go." A similar statement is attributed to St. Bernard regarding Henry II. Henry II's sons reportedly defended their frequent infighting by saying "Do not deprive us of our heritage; we cannot help acting like devils." The legends surrounding the Angevins grew into English folklore and led some historians to give them the epithet "The Devil's Brood".

Matilda's son, the future King Henry II of England, became a skilled military tactician and arrived in England to pursue his family claim to the throne. By marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Duchy of Aquitaine had become part of the Plantagenet's vast land holdings in the emerging Angevin Empire. In November 1153, after arriving in England, Henry came to an agreement with Stephen and they signed the Treaty of Wallingford, recognising Henry as heir to Stephen's throne. Scholars regard Henry's reign as energetic with effective government. Henry overhauled the English judicial system, restoring royal authority to replace the manipulated feudal law of barons who had undermined Stephen's reign. The system and reforms put in place by Henry restored law and order to create a self-standing system which used competent government clerks and sheriffs. It could operate smoothly with common law prevailing, even if the king was absent or less skilled monarchs reigned.

When Dermot MacMurrough, then King of Leinster, was chased out of his lands by Tiernan O'Rourke in 1166, on behalf of Rory O'Connor (then High King of Ireland) he asked Henry for help. Henry allowed MacMurrough enough soldiers to instigate a Norman invasion of Ireland, restoring MacMurrough to Leinster and inserting his son John as Lord of Ireland. Henry also recovered Northumberland and Cumbria from the control of Scotland who had earlier seized the areas from the Kingdom of England, during the reigns of Malcolm II and David I of Scotland respectively. Henry's first son, William, died at age two. His second son, also named Henry, was crowned coregent at the age of fifteen and known thereafter as Henry the Young King. The coronation was performed by the Archbishop of York. This angered Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury and former close friend of Henry; Henry asked, "who would rid me of this turbulent priest?!", after which knights killed Becket. This caused the Pope to excommunicate the King. Henry regretted his friend's death and exhibited a penance in public; walking barefoot into Canterbury Cathedral, he allowed monks to scourge him. His excommunication was rescinded.

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