Early lifeHenry the second was born at Le Mans in the north western side of France, on March 4th 1133. His mother, Matilda, was the daughter of Henry I of England and his father was Count of Anjou. Matilda was the heir and daughter to the English king know as Henry the first. She was then later usurped by Stephen following on from the civil war. Henry’s father was Geoffrey Plantagenet. He was also referred to the Handsome or the Fair and Plantagenet. Geoffrey was the Count of Anjou, Touraine and Maine from 1129 but then went on to being the Duke of Normandy from 1144.
In 1150 - 1151, Henry became ruler of Normandy and Anjou, after the death of his father. In 1152 he was married to the greatest heiress in western Europe, Eleanor of Aquitaine. |
Did you know?Henry II had red hair, freckles and a large head. He was mostly scruffily dressed and was know for being bad tempered.
|
|