# Henry II of England

> King of England from 1154 to 1189

**Wikidata**: [Q102140](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102140)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II_of_England)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/henry-ii-of-england

## Summary
Henry II of England was King of England from 1154 to 1189, a monarch of the Plantagenet dynasty. He is known for his role in the Angevin Empire and his conflicts with the Church of England, including the Revolt of 1173–1174. His reign marked a period of significant political and territorial expansion.

## Biography
- Born: March 5, 1133 (exact place unknown)
- Nationality: English
- Education: Unknown (no records in source material)
- Known for: Establishing the Angevin Empire and conflicts with the Church of England
- Employer(s): None (monarch, not employed)
- Field(s): Political leadership, medieval governance

## Contributions
- **Angevin Empire**: Expanded English territorial control in France, establishing the Angevin Empire.
- **Conflict with the Church**: Led to the Revolt of 1173–1174, a major dynastic conflict.
- **Castle Construction**: Ordered the construction of Orford Castle (1165) and owned Roxburgh Castle.
- **Legacy**: Influenced medieval English and French politics through his territorial and dynastic expansion.

## FAQs
**When was Henry II of England king?**
Henry II ruled England from 1154 to 1189, ascending the throne at age 21.

**What conflicts did Henry II face?**
He led the Angevin Empire and faced the Revolt of 1173–1174, a major conflict with the Church of England.

**Where did Henry II build castles?**
He commissioned Orford Castle (1165) and owned Roxburgh Castle.

**What was the Angevin Empire?**
The Angevin Empire was a territorial expansion of English control in France during Henry II's reign.

## Why They Matter
Henry II of England's reign shaped medieval English and French politics. His conflicts with the Church and territorial expansion established the Angevin Empire, influencing later dynastic and territorial struggles. His legacy continues in the historical record of medieval governance and conflict.

## Notable For
- King of England from 1154 to 1189
- Founder of the Angevin Empire
- Leader of the Revolt of 1173–1174
- Owner of Orford Castle and Roxburgh Castle
- Influential Plantagenet monarch

## Body

### Early Life
Henry II was born on March 5, 1133, the son of Geoffrey V, Duke of Anjou, and Matilda of England. He succeeded his cousin Stephen of England in 1154 at age 21.

### Reign
Henry II ruled England from 1154 to 1189, establishing the Angevin Empire through territorial expansion in France. His reign included significant conflicts, including the Revolt of 1173–1174, a major dynastic conflict with the Church of England.

### Conflicts
- **Revolt of 1173–1174**: A major conflict involving Henry II and the Church of England.
- **Angevin Empire**: Expanded English territorial control in France.

### Architecture
- **Orford Castle**: Commissioned in 1165, a Grade I listed historic house museum.
- **Roxburgh Castle**: Owned by Henry II, a ruined castle in Scotland.

### Legacy
Henry II's reign influenced medieval English and French politics, establishing the Angevin Empire and shaping later dynastic and territorial struggles. His conflicts and territorial expansions remain significant in historical records.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/artsandculture/738157/Le-Mans-Going-green.html)
2. [Source](http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37780/37780-h/37780-h.htm)
3. Integrated Authority File
4. Source
5. [Source](http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/henry_ii_king.shtml)
6. [Source](http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/h.shtml)
7. LIBRIS. 2012
8. The Peerage
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. BnF authorities
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. BBC Things
14. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
15. Enciclopedia Treccani
16. Dizionario di Storia
17. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Henryk-II;3911061.html)
18. FactGrid
19. Sejm-Wielki.pl
20. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
21. Regional Database of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno
22. HMML Authority File