history meme (plantagenet edition) → 5 men (1/5), Henry II of England
Henry II (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189), also known as Henry Plantagenet, ruled as Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Count of Nantes, King of England and Lord of Ireland.
Henry was the son of Geoffrey of Anjou and Empress Matilda. He actively became involved in his mother's efforts to claim the throne of England at age 14, which was occupied by Stephen of Blois. Stephen eventually agreed to a peace treaty after Henry's military expedition to England in 1153 and Henry inherited the kingdom on Stephen's death a year later.
Henry was an energetic and sometimes ruthless ruler, driven by a desire to restore the lands and privileges of his grandfather, Henry I. He married Eleanor of Aquitanie and together had eight children. As they grew up, tensions over the future inheritance of the empire began to emerge, and in 1173 Henry's heir apparent, "Young Henry", rebelled in protest; he was joined by his brothers Richard and Geoffrey and by their mother, Eleanor. The Great Revolt was only defeated by Henry's vigorous military action and talented local commanders, but Young Henry and Geoffrey revolted again in 1183, resulting in Young Henry's death.
A final rebellion broke out in 1189 and decisively defeated by Philip II of France and Henry’s son, Richard, he retreated to Chinon in Anjou, where he died from a bleeding ulcer. Henry's empire quickly collapsed during the reign of his youngest son John. Historical interpretations of Henry's reign have changed considerably over time. In the 18th century, scholars argued that Henry was a driving force in the creation of a genuinely English monarchy and, ultimately, a unified Britain.
