Henry II Plantagenet (Le Mans, 5 March 1133 - Chinon, 6 July 1189)

The son of Geoffrey the Fair, Count of Anjou, known as Plantagenet, and the Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I. Henry became Duke of Normandy (1150) and Count of Anjou (1151), and he won Aquitaine through his marriage with its Duchess, Eleanor (1152). He gained the English crown on the death of Stephen (1154). Henry re-established his sovereignty over Brittany and Maine, reinforced Anglo-Norman control over Wales and began to establish himself in Ireland (1171-1172).
In this collection of lands known as the ‘Angevin Empire’ or ‘Plantagenet State’, Henry II undertook the establishment of institutions which would enable him to control the finances, justice and administration of his various domains. He was, however, opposed by his former Chancellor, Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, in his desire to have closer control over the church (1164-1170), and by his sons wishing to obtain their share of the vast Plantagenet domains (rebellions of 1173, 1184, 1189).
Henry’s main adversary was the King France, Louis VII - and subsequently Philip Augustus- who legally remained his lord, and that of his sons for all their continental fiefdoms. Henry reinforced the castles of the Norman Vexin territories against the French king. Henry died defeated in a final rebellion by his son Richard, who was won over to the King of France, and he was buried at the abbey of Fontevraud.

Bibliography :

- François Neveux. - La Normandie des ducs aux rois, Xe-XIIe s. - Rennes : Ouest-France, 1998.
- Jean Favier. - Dictionnaire de la France médiévale. - Paris : Fayard, 1993.
- Yves Sassier. - Louis VII. - Paris : Fayard, 1991.
- John Baldwin. - Philippe Auguste. - Paris : Fayard, 1991.