Henry II of England

EnglandPlantagenet1154-1189
RealmEngland
Reign1154-1189
HousePlantagenet
LegacyAngevin empire builder and legal reformer

Biography

From his Angevin inheritance, Henry ruled England plus western France, the largest realm in Western Europe. His legal reforms, itinerant justices, juries, common law, created English justice. His quarrel with Thomas Becket, will no one rid me of this turbulent priest, ended in cathedral murder and sainthood. Sons Richard and John rebelled. The Plantagenet line he founded ruled England 331 years.

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