What is Henry II known for?

Henry II (1133-1189) was king of England from 1154 to 1189. He restored and extended royal authority, supervised great legal reforms, and clashed with Thomas Becket. Born on March 5, 1133, Henry II was the eldest son of Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, and Matilda, daughter of King Henry I.

Who ruled England in 1154?

Henry II
Henry II was king of England from 1154 to 1189. The first of three Angevin kings of England, he expanded the Anglo-French domains and strengthened the royal administration.

Who was the 1st Plantagenet king?

Henry II, the first Plantagenet king, started as the son of a French count, but by the time he was 20, he had fought and married his way to become one of the most powerful rulers in Europe. This early start was not unusual. This was a world in which teenagers could rule.

Where did the name Plantagenet originate?

Plantagenet Kings were thus the richest family in Europe and ruled England and half of France. Their name came from planta genista, the Latin for yellow broom flower, which the Counts of Anjou wore as an emblem on their helmets.

What changes did Henry II make to the English legal system?

What changes did Henry II make to the English legal system and how did these changes affect feudalism? Henry insisted that a jury formally accuse a person of a serious crime. People were tried by royal judges and had to have a court trial. He strengthened the power of royal courts at the expense of feudal lords.

How did Henry II change England?

Henry was an energetic and ruthless ruler, driven by a desire to restore the lands and privileges of his grandfather Henry I. During the early years of his reign the younger Henry restored the royal administration in England, re-established hegemony over Wales and gained full control over his lands in Anjou, Maine and …

Who was responsible for ending feudalism 1154?

William the Conqueror is presented in contemporary chronicles as a ruthless tyrant who rigorously put down rebellion and devastated vast areas, especially in his pacification of the north in 1069–70.

Who called the first meeting of Parliament?

So in 1264, Montfort summoned the first parliament in English history without any prior royal authorisation. The archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls and barons were summoned, as were two knights from each shire and two burgesses from each borough.