![Silver penny of Henry II [Yorkshire Museum, York]](9/images/henry2.gif)
Henry
II, Plantagenet, became King of England in 1154, but this was only one part of
what is often known as the ‘Angevin empire’ which included much of France
including the south-west which he gained on marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine
in 1152. There was, however, continual friction between Henry and the King of
France of whom he was by far the most powerful vassal.
Henry made a great impression on his
contemporaries, most of whom disliked him, fearing both his ability and his
temper. After the troubles of Stephen’s reign Henry was determined to assert
the rights of the crown in respect of both the barons and the church. Henry
also reformed the judicial system.
![The Temple Pyx (height 92mm). [The Burrell Collection, Glasgow Museums]](9/images/py.gif)
Henry’s
relations with the church were soured by the murder of Thomas Becket,
Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket challenged Henry’s view of the rights of
the church. A crisis was reached in 1170 when Henry had his son ‘Young’
Henry crowned joint king by the Archbishop of York. In a fit of temper Henry
gave the impression of wanting to be rid of Becket altogether. Four knights
took him at his word, murdering the archbishop in his cathedral.
In 1170 also Henry became concerned
that Anglo-Norman barons were carving out territory for themselves in Ireland.
In October 1171 Henry invaded and took the submission of both Irish and
Anglo-Norman leaders in Dublin. This opened the way for a period of
Anglo-Norman colonisation of the island.
Henry
allowed his sons little share in power and in 1173 they staged a revolt in
Normandy supported by their mother, Eleanor, and Louis VII, King of France.
The next King of France Philip Augustus also tried to sow discord between
father and sons which was made worse by the death of Young Henry in 1183. No
resolution of the conflict had been reached by the time Henry died in 1189
when his sons, Richard and John, supported Philip Augustus against their
father.
