King Henry II of England

[LouisFerdinand]

Securing the succession was uppermost in King Henry II of England's mind. His eldest son, Henry, was confirmed as the nominated heir. Following in the tradition of French monarchs, Prince Henry was crowned king-designate in 1170. A second coronation occurred in 1173 after a dispute over the legality of the first ceremony.

[LouisFerdinand]

Although King Henry II reigned for 34 years he spent just 14 of them in England.   
Pope Adrian IV (in office 1154 to 1159) gave Henry the right to rule Ireland.

[LouisFerdinand]

Henry II undertook a massive reconstruction of royal government overthrowing all changes made after the demise of his grandfather, King Henry I in 1135.

[LouisFerdinand]

King Henry II claimed that he he had the authority to try all criminals, including clergy, in his own court. In 1164, Henry passed the Constitutions of Clarendon, which spelled out the relations between the Church and the State. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the bishops verbally agreed to the Constitutions.

[LouisFerdinand]

King Henry II had power over Scotland under the Treaty of Falaise signed in 1174 with King William of Scots.

[LouisFerdinand]

Pope Adrian IV (in office 1154 to 1159) gave King Henry II the right to rule Ireland. Why would the Pope have to give the monarch the right to rule another country?

[Curryong]

Because most wars/invasions in those days in Western countries were fought with the Pope's permission through Bulls given to the rulers involved. Henry had wanted a Papal Bull in order to invade Ireland for some years, but Adrian did not issue one for a long time. He probably did so because he knew Henry wished to invade Ireland and conquer it and was going to do it anyway, though he still urged the King to revere the Church in Ireland. In the event, Henry again delayed his invasion.

[LouisFerdinand]

King Henry II authorized Dermot MacMorrough, the banished king of Leinster, the levy forces from the English to try to regain his crown. 
Henry II, King of England, c1860. Henry II , the first Plantagenet... News Photo | Getty Images

[LouisFerdinand]

King Henry II frequently missed church services. Whenever he did attend church, he spent his time sketching and chatting with his courtiers.

[LouisFerdinand]

In 1172 King Henry II stopped at Cilgerran Castle en route for Ireland and was entertained at the castle by Lord Rhys ap Gruffydd, the Welsh leader.     
   
   

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[LouisFerdinand]

During the reign of King Henry II, royal courts superseded baronial courts for both civil and criminal trials. The first legal textbook was produced.

[LouisFerdinand]

Pope Adrian IV (in office 1154 to 1159), the only English pope, gave King Henry II the right to rule Ireland.

[LouisFerdinand]

In a series of treaties, King Henry II was recognized as a feudal overlord. Henry had power over Scotland under the Treaty of Falaise signed in 1174 with King William of Scots. Henry was overlord of Ireland under the Treaty of Windsor in 1175.

[LouisFerdinand]

In the reign of King Henry II, Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury opposed Henry's new taxes and excommunicated a leading baron.

[LouisFerdinand]

When Archbishop Theobald died in 1161, Henry II pressed for Thomas Becket to succeed him. Becket was not even an ordained priest. The necessary ceremony was hastily conducted the day before Thomas was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury.

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Thomas Becket murdered in Canterbury Cathyedral   
29th December 1170: Thomas Becket murdered in Canterbury Cathedral - YouTube   

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[LouisFerdinand]

The meeting of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine   
Engraving depicting the meeting of King Henry II of England Stock Photo - Alamy

[LouisFerdinand]

In 1150 Geoffrey Plantagenet formally invested his son Henry as Duke of Normandy. In August of the following year Henry gave homage for Normandy to King Louis VII of France, a ceremonial declaration of his ducal right and dignity.