Henry II Biography

Birth of Henry II, son of Geoffrey V of Anjou (Geoffrey Plantagenet, son of Fulk of Jerusalem), was Count of Anjou and Count of Maine

Birth of Henry II, son of Matilda His mother, Empress Matilda, was a claimant to the English throne as the daughter of Henry I (1100-1135), son of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy.

His claim to the throne is strengthened by his descent from both the English Saxon kings and the kings of Scotland through his maternal grandmother Matilda of Scotland

whose father was Malcolm III of Scotland and whose mother was Margaret of Wessex.

At the age of nine, Robert of Gloucester took him to England, where he received education from Master Matthew at Bristol, with the assistance of Adelard of Bath and possibly Geoffrey of Monmouth

Returned to Normandy where his education was continued by William of Conches

Henry had accompanied Matilda on an invasion of England, it soon failed due to lack of preparation, but it made him determined that England was his mothers right, and so his own

Henry had accompanied Matilda on an invasion of England, it soon failed due to lack of preparation, but it made him determined that England was his mothers right, and so his own

Knighted by King David I of Scotland, his great uncle, at Carlisle

Geoffrey of Anjou conquered Normandy and in 1150 invested Henry with the Duchy

Succeeds as King of England

Geoffrey of Anjou conquered Normandy and in 1150 invested Henry with the Duchy

Death of Geoffrey of Anjou, Henry IIs father

Succeeds as Count of Anjou

The wedding was "without the pomp or ceremony that befitted their rank," partly because only two months previously Eleanors marriage to Louis VII of France had been annulled

Marries Eleanor of Aquitaine, daughter of the late Duke of Aquitaine

Henry IIs marriage is celebrated in the Cathedral of Poitiers. Given Aquitaine as part of the marriage dowry, remains English until 1452

Given Aquitaine as part of the marriage dowry, remains English until 1452

Henry moved quickly and within the year he had secured his right to succession via the Treaty of Wallingford with Stephen of England

Succeeds as King of England, adopted as successor by Stephen. Succeeds as King of England

Henry moved quickly and within the year he had secured his right to succession via the Treaty of Wallingford with Stephen of England

Henry moved quickly and within the year he had secured his right to succession via the Treaty of Wallingford with Stephen of England

Stephen is allowed to keep the throne under the condition that Henry become his heir

Early in January 1153, just months after his wedding, he crossed the Channel one more time, his fleet was 36 ships strong, transporting a force of 3,000 footmen and 140 horses

Death of Eustace, followed by reconcilliation between Stephen & Henry II

Barons conclude peace, the Treaty recognizes his succession to the English throne

Stephen names Henry II as his successor

Eustace dies, Stephen loses interest in the succession & the Treaty ends the war. Barons conclude peace, the Treaty recognizes his succession to the English throne

Adrian IV Issues a Papal Bull giving Ireland to Henry II of England

Orders an early form of Parliament to open at Bermondsey Abbey

Comes under English rule after Henrys marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152. Bordeaux comes under English rule, 1154-1453

Adrian IV Issues a Papal Bull giving Ireland to Henry II of England

Henry sent an embassy to the newly elected Pope Adrian IV. Led by Bishop Arnold of Lisieux, the group of clerics requested authorisation for Henry to invade Ireland

Death of Stephen

Accedes to the throne upon the death of his second cousin, Stephen

Crowned in Westminster Abbey, "By The Grace Of God, Henry II, King Of England", thus the first to be crowned "King of England", as opposed to "King of the English".

Henry used the title Rex Angliae, Dux Normaniae et Aquitaniae et Comes Andigaviae (King of England, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, Count of Anjou).

The 1st Angevin King.

The Count of Anjou, son of Matilda daughter of Henry I & Geoffrey Plantagenet.

Henry used the title Rex Angliae, Dux Normaniae et Aquitaniae et Comes Andigaviae (King of England, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, Count of Anjou)

Pope Adrian IV issues a Papal Bull to Henry II granting his overlordshi of Ireland

Grants Bristol a royal charter strengthening its borough privileges.

Pope Adrian IV issues a Papal Bull to Henry II granting his overlordshi of Ireland

Obtains the restoration of Northern Counties from Malcolm of Scotland

Obtains the restoration of Northern Counties from Malcolm of Scotland

Norwich is granted its 1st charter

Dedicates the nave of the cathedral

Henry II declares Mary of Scots Queen over England & Ireland

Henry II is defeated

Becket leads an English invasion of Toulouse to assert Eleanor of Aquitaines rights

Henry II is defeated. Becket leads an English invasion of Toulouse to assert Eleanor of Aquitaines rights

Takes a strip of land between the Duchy of Normandy & the French Royal lands

Takes a strip of land between the Duchy of Normandy & the French Royal lands

Takes a strip of land between the Duchy of Normandy & the French Royal lands

Henry II & Louis VII agree an unsteady peace

Takes a strip of land between the Duchy of Normandy & the French Royal lands

The marriage is orchestrated by Henrys father, Henry II, in order to gain control over Marguerites dowry, the strategically vital castles of the Vexin region between Normandy & Paris

Danegeld is collected for the last time

Rhys ap Gruffydd is imprisoned by Henry II

Wales rebels against English rule, the rebellion is suppressed

Claims power to punish criminal clerics after their conviction by Church orders

Thomas a Becket defeats Henry IIs attempts to raise a land tax

The legal rights of the Church & State are codified at the Council of Clarendon

The Constitutions of Clarendon place limitations on the clergy

The legal rights of the Church & State are codified at the Council of Clarendon

The legal rights of the Church & State are codified at the Council of Clarendon

Thomas Becket is accused of embezzlement & contempt of court

Becket flees to Louis VII of France

Captures Wales

Orders the creation of jails in all English counties at the Assize of Clarendon

Pope Alexander III appoints Thomas Beckett Papal legate against the will of Henry II

Issues the Assize of Clarendon, 22 articles setting au a jury system

Orders the creation of jails in all English counties at the Assize of Clarendon

Henry & Louis reconcile after betrothal of his son Richard to Louis daughter Alice

Henry & Louis reconcile after betrothal of his son Richard to Louis daughter Alice

Norman-Welsh barons land at Wexford supporting Dermot of Leinster

Henry II inherits Anjou

Henry II inherits Normandy

Richard will inherit Poitou & Geoffrey will inherit Brittany

Succeeds as King of England. Henry II will inherit England, Normandy & Anjou

Thomas Becket is murdered by four of Henrys knights

Thomas Becket is murdered by 4 of Henrys knights

Has his son Prince Henry crowned joint-king to ensure the succession

Never ruled & not counted in the monarchs of England, known as Henry the Young King. Has his son Prince Henry crowned joint-king to ensure the succession

Offers Becket the chance to return to England & recrown Prince Henry, Becket accepts

Offers Becket the chance to return to England & recrown Prince Henry, Becket accepts. Crowned by Archbishop Roger of York in violation of the rights of Thomas a Becket

Commences the construction of Dublin Castle

Invades Ireland with the full approval of the Pope & subjects it to his rule. Crosses to Ireland & forces Richard Strongbow to pay homage. Capture of southeastern Ireland. Appoints his son John as Lord of Ireland to rule on his behalf

Henry arrived from France with an army and declared himself "Lord of Ireland". Crosses to Ireland & forces Richard Strongbow to pay homage. All of the Normans, along with many Irish princes, took oaths of homage to Henry by November, and he left after six months, he never returned

Receives the feality of the King's of Ireland

Declares himself Lord of Ireland

Absolved of the murder of Thomas a Becket by Pope Alexander III

Receives homage from the Irish

Forced to reconcile with the Pope of Eleanors rebellion in Aquitaine

Eleanor of Aquitaine raises a rebellion against her husband

Absolved of the murder of Thomas a Becket by Pope Alexander III

Arrested when fleeing to Louis VII to hoin the rebellion against Henry II

Thomas a Becket is canonized

Gives Chinon to John in a marriage settlement, angers Henry & causes war with France

Gives Chinon to John in a marriage settlement, angers Henry & causes war with France

Gives Mirabeau to John in a marriage settlement, angers Henry & causes war with France

Makes a public penance for Beckets murder

Beckets tomb becomes a shrine & place of pilgrimage

William I agrees to Henrys terms for his release by becoming a vassal

All the native King's of Ireland are forced to pay homage to Henry II

Under the Treaty of Windsor Rory OConnor is recognized as King of Ireland

Under the Treaty of Windsor Rory O'Connor is recognized as King of Ireland

Purchases large amounts of grain to relieve famine in Maine & Anjou

Creates an alliance between Sicily & England

Henrys daughter Joanna marries William II of Sicily. Creates an alliance between Sicily & England

Names his youngest son, Prince John, as Lord of Ireland

Henry II reforms the coinage

Henry II reforms the coinage

Death of Henry, the "Young King"

Birth of Arthur of Brittany, son of Geoffrey, 4th son of Henry II

Death of Henry II

Maine is invaded by Phillip II & Henry is forced to surrender

Henry II loses control in Maine and returns from the confrontation in a weakened position.

Maine is invaded by Phillip II & Henry is forced to surrender

Assembles troops for the 3rd Crusade

Henry II agrees to make Richard his heir, arrange his marriage & pay 20,000 marks

Henry II agrees to make Richard his heir, arrange his marriage & pay 20,000 marks

Goes to Chinon where he learns that his favorite son, John, has deserted him

Buried in Fontevrault Abbey, France