King Henry II (1133-1189)

King Henry II was England's first Plantagenet king. He was the son of the Empress Matilda and Geoffrey Plantagenet. Henry was born on 5 March 1133 at Le Mans, France.

In 1152 Henry married Eleanor, daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine.

As well as England, Henry was lord of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and Count of Anjou, Brittany, Poitou, Normandy, Maine, and Gascony plus Aquitaine due to his marriage to Eleanor. With so many French possessions Henry lived for more than half his reign outside England.

After the death of King Stephen, Henry became the English king in 1154. He was crowned king at Westminster Abbey on 19 December 1154.

Henry and Eleanor had five sons - William (died aged 3), Henry, Richard, Geoffrey and John - and three daughters - Matilda who married Henry Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, Eleanor who married Alphonso VIII, king of Castile and Joan who married firstly William II, king of Sicily then Raymond IV, count of Toulouse. Consequently the family cemented relationships in many parts of Europe.

The children of Henry II and Eleanor.

Henry II became king after The Anarchy - a long battle between his mother and her cousin, Stephen. During this time many castles had been built illegally by some of the barons. Henry II insisted that the castles were to be destroyed.

He was still able to build up and count on support from loyal barons who supported the crown.

Henry needed the support of the barons especially as he spent much of his time in France where there were constant tensions with the French king. Eleanor was actively involved in the administration of England when Henry was absent as well as managing her own domains in France.

In England Henry II established a new judicial and administrative system in England as well as improving the financial administration of the country. This included introducing his own courts and magistrates, roles traditionally under the control of the church. In 1166 trial by jury was introduced in England. He also attempted to exert royal power over the church in England which increased friction with the Pope.

In 1155 Henry II appointed Thomas à Becket Chancellor of England, a post that he held for seven years. Henry appointed Thomas à Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury hoping that he would introduce Church reforms.

However Thomas à Becket supported the church much to the displeasure of the king. This resulted in four of Henry's knights killing Thomas à Becket in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170. This event was regretted by the king and overshadowed most of the achievements undertaken by Henry II.

Thomas à Becket memorial.

Henry II died at Chinon Castle, Anjou, on 6 July 1189, aged 56 years. He was buried at Fontevraud Abbey in France.

Henry II had been king of England for 34 years. His son, Richard, became the next king of England from 1189 - 1199.