Henry II Curtmantle, King of England

Henry, the son of Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou and Matilda, daughter of Henry I, was born at Le Mans, France March 5 1133.
He married Eleanor, divorced wife of Louis VII of France, daughter of Guillaume X, Duke of Aquitaine and Eleonor de La Rochefoucauld, in Bordeaux Cathedral, May 18 1152.

Henry II

Henry II succeeded to the English throne in December 1154 of the death of King Stephen.

Nicknamed Curtmantel because he wore a short cloak, Henry II inherited Normandy, Anjou, Maine, Touraine and England. Through his skills in diplomacy and war, his empire grew to encompass more of Europe than any other English king. He claimed kingship over much of southern Ireland and captured William I, the lion King of Scotland, making him pledge loyalty to the English Crown.

Henry II introduced law reforms and curbed the powers of rebellious barons. His biggest blunder was to allow four of his knights to kill Thomas a Becket, his long term friend and Archbishop of Canterbury.

In 1189 Henry II fell from his horse while meeting Philippe of France, and died a few days later. His body was taken for burial to Fontevraud Abbey. He was succeed by his son, Richard I.

Eleanor died April 1 1204 and is also buried in Fontevraud Abbey.

Above: Fontevraud Abbey, France
Below: tomb of Henry II and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine