Birth of Henry II
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
Role range: 1154-1189
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Henry II Biography and Timeline
Follow Henry II through 124 dated historical records for England.
Henry II, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
124Distinct records
1 of 4Page
1133–1154Years on this page
1133
Birth of Henry II
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.
Role range: 1154-1189
Birth of Henry II
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
Role range: 1154-1189
Birth of Henry II
whose father was Malcolm III of Scotland and whose mother was Margaret of Wessex.
Role range: 1154-1189
1142
Education
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
Role range: 1154-1189
1144
Education
Returned to Normandy where his education was continued by William of Conches
Role range: 1154-1189
1147
Invasion of England
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
Role range: 1154-1189
Succession
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
Role range: 1154-1189
1149
Knighthood
Knighted by King David I of Scotland, his great uncle, at Carlisle
Role range: 1154-1189
1150
Rule of Normandy
Geoffrey of Anjou conquered Normandy and in 1150 invested Henry with the Duchy
Role range: 1154-1189
Succession
Succeeds as King of England
Role range: 1154-1189
Succession
Geoffrey of Anjou conquered Normandy and in 1150 invested Henry with the Duchy
Role range: 1154-1189
1151
Death of Henry II
Death of Geoffrey of Anjou, Henry IIs father
Role range: 1154-1189
Succession
Succeeds as Count of Anjou
Role range: 1154-1189
1152
Marriage
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
Role range: 1154-1189
Marriage
Marries Eleanor of Aquitaine, daughter of the late Duke of Aquitaine
Role range: 1154-1189
Marriage
Henry IIs marriage is celebrated in the Cathedral of Poitiers. Given Aquitaine as part of the marriage dowry, remains English until 1452
Role range: 1154-1189
Rule of Aquitaine
Given Aquitaine as part of the marriage dowry, remains English until 1452
Role range: 1154-1189
1153
Invasion of France
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
Role range: 1154-1189
Death of Henry II
Death of Eustace, followed by reconcilliation between Stephen & Henry II
Role range: 1154-1189
Succession
Stephen names Henry II as his successor
Role range: 1154-1189
Peace
Barons conclude peace, the Treaty recognizes his succession to the English throne
Role range: 1154-1189
Treaty of Winchester
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
Role range: 1154-1189
Invasion 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
Role range: 1154-1189
Succession
Succeeds as King of England, adopted as successor by Stephen. Succeeds as King of England
Role range: 1154-1189
Succession
Henry moved quickly and within the year he had secured his right to succession via the Treaty of Wallingford with Stephen of England
Role range: 1154-1189
Treaty of Wallingford
Henry moved quickly and within the year he had secured his right to succession via the Treaty of Wallingford with Stephen of England
Role range: 1154-1189
Treaty of Westminster
Stephen is allowed to keep the throne under the condition that Henry become his heir
Role range: 1154-1189
1154
Death of Henry II
Death of Stephen
Role range: 1154-1189
Accession
Accedes to the throne upon the death of his second cousin, Stephen
Role range: 1154-1189
Coronation
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".
Role range: 1154-1189
Coronation
Henry used the title Rex Angliae, Dux Normaniae et Aquitaniae et Comes Andigaviae (King of England, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, Count of Anjou).
Role range: 1154-1189
Coronation
The 1st Angevin King.
Role range: 1154-1189
Coronation
The Count of Anjou, son of Matilda daughter of Henry I & Geoffrey Plantagenet.
Role range: 1154-1189
Rex Angliae
Henry used the title Rex Angliae, Dux Normaniae et Aquitaniae et Comes Andigaviae (King of England, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, Count of Anjou)
Role range: 1154-1189
Papal Bull
Adrian IV Issues a Papal Bull giving Ireland to Henry II of England
Role range: 1154-1189
Parliament
Orders an early form of Parliament to open at Bermondsey Abbey
Role range: 1154-1189
Rule of Ireland
Adrian IV Issues a Papal Bull giving Ireland to Henry II of England
Role range: 1154-1189
Rule of Bordeaux
Comes under English rule after Henrys marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152. Bordeaux comes under English rule, 1154-1453
Role range: 1154-1189
Rule of Ireland
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
Role range: 1154-1189
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.