21) King of England: Henry II Plantagenet, 1154 -1189

The history of England's kings is rich and complex, marked by powerful dynasties, wars of succession, political reforms and events that profoundly influenced the course of British and world history.
Henry II Plantagenet, 1154 -1189
King of England
Plantagenêts dynasty
Henry II Plantagenet, born March 5, 1133 - July 6, 1189, was king of England from 1154 to 1189. He is also known as Henry II of England and was the first king of the Plantagenet dynasty .
Summary of his reign:
Rise to power:
Henry II is the son of Geoffrey V of Anjou and Mathilde the Emperor, daughter of King Henry I of England. He became Duke of Normandy in 1150, then Count of Anjou, Touraine and Maine in 1151. In 1152, he married Eleanor of Aquitaine, which brought him immense territories in France.
He became king of England in 1154 after the death of his cousin Stephen of Blois, ending a period of civil war known as the Anarchy.
Administrative and judicial reforms:
Henry II is known for his legal and administrative reforms, establishing a solid foundation for the English legal system. He set up the Assizes, traveling justice sessions, and developed the common law system.
He also reformed the administration of the kingdom, strengthening royal power and reducing the influence of the barons.
Conflict with Thomas Becket:
Henry II comes into conflict with Thomas Becket, his former chancellor who became Archbishop of Canterbury, over the rights and privileges of the Church. The conflict culminated in the assassination of Becket in 1170, which caused a scandal and forced Henry to do penance.
Relations with France:
Henry II spent much of his reign defending his continental possessions against the ambitions of the kings of France. His territories in France, known as the Plantagenet Empire, encompassed Normandy, Anjou, Aquitaine and other regions.
Frequent conflicts with the King of France, Louis VII, and later Philip Augustus, mark his reign.
Family rebellion:
Henry II had to face several rebellions led by his sons, encouraged by their mother Eleanor of Aquitaine. His sons, Henry the Younger, Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey II of Brittany and John Lackland, revolted against him several times.
Family tensions weaken his authority and complicate the management of his vast territories.
Death and inheritance:
Henry II died in 1189 in Chinon, France, after being defeated by the forces of his son Richard and King Philip II of France. He is buried at Fontevraud Abbey.
His son Richard the Lionheart succeeds him on the throne of England.
Henry II Plantagenet is an important king in medieval history, whose reign had a lasting impact on the political and judicial structure of England.