King Henry II Family Tree & Biography (1133-1189)

 

King Henry II (1133-1189) was a member of the House of Angevin branch of the House of Plantagenet and the first English king of both houses. He succeeded King Stephen as King of England, inherited Anjou through his father, Geoffrey of Anjou, and controlled Aquitaine through his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Contents

King Henry II Family Tree Image
King Henry II Family Tree in Table Form
King Henry II Short Biography

 

King Henry II Family Tree Image showing:

grandparents, parents, siblings, wife, children and grandchildren

 

 

King Henry II Family Tree in Table Form showing:

grandparents, parents, siblings, wife, children and grandchildren

 

 

King Henry II Short Biography

Early Years

King Henry II was born 5th March 1133, the son of Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I, and Geoffrey (Plantagenet) of Anjou.

In 1135 his grandfather, Henry I of England, died. Although his mother, Matilda, had been nominated as heir she had little support among the nobility and her cousin, Stephen of Blois took the English throne. Her half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, rebelled against Stephen beginning a period of Civil War known as The Anarchy. The Civil War dragged on through most of Henry’s childhood.

The Road to Becoming King

In 1147 at the age of 14 years, Henry sailed to England with a mercenary force to try to take the throne for his mother. He failed due to lack of funds to pay the army.

Four years later Henry’s father died and Henry became Duke of Normandy and Anjou. The new titles gave him additional power and incomes.

The Treaty of Westminster, signed in December 1153, brought The Anarchy to an end and stipulated that after the death of King Stephen, Henry would inherit the English throne. When Stephen died in October 1154 Henry took the throne as King Henry II.

Marriage and Family

Two years before becoming King, on 18th May 1152, Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine, former wife of Louis VII of France. He now became Duke of Aquitaine by right of his wife, making him overlord of England and much of modern day France. Henry and Eleanor had eight children including King Richard I, Geoffrey of Brittany and King John.

Henry and Becket

Thomas Becket, Henry’s close friend, was appointed as Chancellor. Henry hoped that they could work together to reform and improve the administration of the country.

By 1162 Henry was determined to reduce the power of the Church. He was especially angered by the fact that members of the clergy who committed crimes were tried by church courts rather than the courts of the country. He decided to appoint Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury, believing that his friend would support his desire for reform. However, once appointed Becket championed the Church and firmly rejected any move to reform Church practices. The tension between the two became so great that Becket exiled himself to France where he remained for 5 years.

Murder of Becket

With relations between Henry and Becket more cordial, the Archbishop returned to England in 1170. However, as soon as he returned his actions began to infuriate Henry once more. In December 1170, Henry, frustrated with the priest shouted ‘will no-one rid me of this turbulent priest!’ or words to that effect.

Four of his knights, anxious to gain favour with the King. Rode to Canterbury and murdered Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, an action that shocked the Christian world. When he learned of Becket’s murder, Henry was very upset.

Family Tensions

King Henry II’s obsession with Becket during the early years of his reign, soured his relationship with Eleanor of Aquitaine and by 1168 they were leading separate lives.

Eager to ensure there were no challenges to the succession, Henry arranged for his eldest son, Henry, to be crowned in 1170. To distinguish him from his father, he was known as Henry the Young King. 

Henry’s sons argued about their future inheritance and Henry’s continual reluctance to give them more power. In 1173, supported by their mother and Louis VII of France, Henry’s sons mounted a rebellion against their father. However, Henry made peace with the French King and captured and imprisoned Eleanor of Aquitaine, thus removing his sons’ backing. He then forgave his sons for rebelling against him.

Death and Succession

Henry’s eldest son, Henry the Young King died from dysentery in 1183 and his next eldest son, Richard, became heir. When Henry II died on 6th July 1189, his son Richard succeeded as King Richard I without incident..

 

Published Feb 20 2021 – Updated – Dec 4 2024