Henry II of England

Henry II (1133–1189) ruled as King of England (1154–1189), Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry was the first of the House of Plantagenet to rule England and was the great-grandson of William I of England.

Henry is remembered for his early efforts to consolidate English hegemony over the British Isles, legal reform, and efforts to assert royal dominance over the nobles (relatively successful) and the Church (generally unsuccessful). These last efforts indirectly caused the death of Thomas Beckett, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who most tenciously opposed Henry. Legend has it that Henry exclaimed "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?" He actual words were "What miserable drones and traitors have I nurtured and promoted in my household who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric!" Regardless of what the king said, his supporters took it upont themselves to murder Beckett.

Henry was ultimate undone by his heir, Richard I of England, who defeated him on the battlefield. Henry subsequently died a bitter man.

Henry II in Ruled Britannia
Richarge Burbage evoked Henry II's plaintive cry when he learned that prompter Geoffrey Martin had been found murdered. When William Shakespeare emphatically stated he did not murder Martin, Burbage pointed out that Henry had not directly particpated in Thomas Beckett's murder, his words had instigated the murder, much as Shakespeare's had instigated Martin's death.