Henry II

French Henry II was the first of the Angevins who were the first Plantagenet kings. A young king who came to the throne at only 21, he ruled for a long 34 years, however Henry II only spent 14 of those years in England, or Britain.

Henry got his English kingship thanks to his Norman mother Matilda, who fought long and hard for it. The king Henry II received his lands from his wife and father, who were both wealthy land owners. Henry is often remembered in the history books for having a disagreement with his chancellor (and later Archbishop of Canterbury), who was then later murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. Thomas Becket was murdered by 4 knights sent by the king. Thomas Becket's death was known to be part-accident. The knights took his words literally when cursing to himself. As a punishment Henry II ordered hundreds of lashes on himself. Henry built a very impressive keep at Dover Castle in Kent. Over one quarter of the Kings annual income was spent on it in the 1180's. This keep was thought to have been built as a way to impress foreign pilgrims and dignitaries on their was to Thomas Becket's shrine. Henry II accommplished lots in his time, including the introduction of trial by jury, civil courts in each sounty and brought the church under the rule of the civil courts. King Henry II son died before the king did, so his second son Richard succeeded him.