Henry II of England ruled from 1154 to 1189 CE. He gained the throne by negotiation with his predecessor King Stephen of England (r. 1135-1154 CE) following the civil war that had raged between that monarch and Henry's mother Empress Matilda (l. 1102-1167 CE). Henry would begin a new ruling dynasty, the Angevins-Plantagenets, and he would rule until 1189 CE, forming the largest 'empire' in western Europe and establishing himself as one of England's greatest ever kings. Two black marks which became impossible to erase from memory, however, were the murder of his chancellor and then archbishop, Thomas Becket in 1170 CE and the rebellions led by his own sons at the end of his reign. Henry was succeeded by his son Richard I of England, aka Richard 'the Lionheart' (r. 1189-1199 CE) and then his other son King John of England (r. 1199-1216 CE).
More about: Henry II of EnglandDefinition
Timeline
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5 Mar 1133Hanry of Anjou, future Henry II of England, is born in Le Mans.
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1147Henry of Anjou (future Henry II of England) invades England but runs out of money and is forced to withdraw.
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1149Henry of Anjou (future Henry II of England) attacks the north of England with the assistance of David I of Scotland but is defeated by King Stephen of England.
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1151Henry of Anjou (future Henry II of England) inherits his father’s lands in Normandy, Anjou, Touraine and Maine.
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1152Eleanor of Aquitaine's marriage to Louis VII of France annulled.
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May 1152Henry of Anjou (future Henry II of England) marries Eleanor of Aquitaine.
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1153Henry of Anjou (future Henry II of England) invades England.
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6 Nov 1153King Stephen of England signs with Henry of Anjou (future Henry II of England) the Treaty of Wallingford which recognises Henry as Stephen's heir.
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1154 - 1189Eleanor of Aquitaine is Queen of England.
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Dec 1154 - Jul 1189Reign of Henry II of England.
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19 Dec 1154Henry of Anjou is crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey to become Henry II of England.
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1155Thomas Becket is appointed chancellor by Henry II of England.
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1155Birth of Henry the Young King, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
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8 Sep 1157Birth of Richard I of England, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine
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1158Birth of Geoffrey, Count of Brittany, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
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1162 - 1170Thomas Becket serves as Archbishop of Canterbury.
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1163Henry II of England's overlordship of Wales is recognised by treaty.
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1164In the Constitutions of Clarendon Henry II of England sets out the primacy of Common Law.
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Oct 1164A meeting of nobles called by Henry II of England at Northampton rules that Thomas Becket is guilty of contempt of royal authority.
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Oct 1164 - Dec 1170Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, lives in exile in a monastery in France.
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1165 - 1173Orford Castle, Suffolk, England is built and has a circular tower keep with attached rectangular turrets.
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1166The Assizes of Clarendon establish the principles of Common Law in England.
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24 Dec 1167Birth of King John of England, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
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c. 1170 - 1189Henry II extends Dover Castle in southern England, adding outer walls and a keep.
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c. 1170Henry II builds the Round Tower of Windsor Castle, England.
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c. 1170 - 1174Eleanor separates from Henry II of England; holds court at Poitiers, inspires development of courtly love poetry.
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1170 - 1183Henry the Young King reigns as junior king to his father Henry II of England.
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29 Dec 1170Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral.
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1171Henry II of England launches a series of invasions of Ireland.
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c. 1172Henry II of England spends 100 pounds improving Rochester Castle.
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1173Future Richard I of England, his brother Henry and Geoffrey, the Count of Brittany engage the support of Louis VII, king of France, and rebel against the Henry II of England
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1173Thomas Becket is made a saint by the Pope.
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1174 - 1189Eleanor is imprisoned by Henry II following the revolt of her sons which she may have encouraged.
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1174Henry II of England is obliged to perform penance for the murder of Thomas Becket.
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Dec 1174Henry II of England's overlordship of Scotland is recognised by the Treaty of Falaise.
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1175Henry II of England's overlordship of Ireland is recognised by treaty.
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10 Aug 1175William I of Scotland pays public homage to Henry II of England at York.
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11 Jun 1183Henry the Young King, son and heir to Henry II of England, dies of dysentery.
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1185Henry II of England sends his son John to rule Ireland with the title of 'Lord of Ireland'.
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19 Aug 1186Geoffrey, Count of Brittany and son of Henry II of England, dies in an accident at a medieval tournament.
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1188 - 1189Future Richard I of England, his brother future King John of England and Philip II of France rebel against Henry II of England
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1189Henry II of England is obliged to declare his son Richard as his heir.
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6 Jul 1189Death by natural causes of Henry II of England. He is buried at Fontevrault Abbey in France.
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2 Sep 1189Richard I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey.
