SOME INTERESTING FACTS

King Henry II

also known as Henry of Anjou/Henry Plantagenet

In 1164 Henry introduced the Constitutions of Clarendon, which restricted the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England concerning crimes committed by the clergy. This was not popular with the Pope, and he refused to sign it - which meant that Thomas a Becket - obeying Rome first - would also not sign it.

Henry is famously remembered for saying ‘will no one rid me of this turbulent priest’ although this was not a direct order it was interpreted as referring to, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas a Becket, who was later murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. Henry walked in his bare feet to Canterbury to be physically beaten by monks for his role in the death of Saint Thomas a Becket.

february

Pope Alexander III canonised Thomas a Becket on 21st February 1173.

october

Henry II was the first English King to go to Ireland – 17th October 1171, with an army of over 4,000 men, landing in Waterford. This was the start of English rule in Ireland.

The Treaty of Windsor 1175 was signed at Windsor between Henry and Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (Rory O’Connor) who was the last High King of Ireland (recognised King Henry II as his Overlord).

Henry was particularly keen on Reading Abbey, which was founded by his grandfather King Henry I in 1121; and it was during Henry’s reign that Lincoln cathedral was destroyed by an earthquake (1185).

Henry made great changes to the country’s legal system and created a unified system – the same laws throughout the land – the ‘common law’; this put an end to local control, and he extended the use of ‘writs’ – his reign is regarded as probably the most important in the legal history of England.

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