Henry II of England.
Henry II (1133–1189) was King of England from 1154 until his death. At various points in his life, he also controlled large parts of Wales, Ireland and France. He was an energetic and ruthless ruler. During the early years of his reign he restored the royal administration in England and re-established hegemony over Wales. Henry's desire to control the English Church led to conflict with Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, resulting in Becket's murder in 1170. Henry expanded his lands at the expense of France. As his sons grew up there were tensions over the future inheritance of Henry's domains. Henry was ultimately succeeded by his son Richard I; two more of Henry's sons would also rule as king. Henry's territorial expansion quickly collapsed, but many of his changes endured. Henry is generally considered to have laid the basis for English common law, while his intervention in Brittany, Wales and Scotland shaped the development of their societies and governmental systems.
