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Henry II. Curtmantle (1133-1189) was the first Plantagenet on the English throne and took over government in 1154.

Anjou-Plantagenet is the full name of this English royal family. The name derives from the helmet decoration of Geoffroy d' Anjou (1129-1151) showing the heather plant latin planta genista. Descending side lines were the Lancaster and York.

Henry II. was born in Le Mans France as son of Geoffroy d' Anjou and Mathilda (Maud) of Normandy, daughter of Henry I.. His father brought him Anjou, Maine and Touraine, his maternal heritage was Normandy and his rightful claim of the English throne. By marriage to Eleonor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) Henry II. won Poitou, Guyenne and Gascogne, on top he conquered a part of Ireland. The regional gains in France made him more powerful there than the French King himself.

Against papal power claims he issued the Clarendon Constitutions in 1164 but ended up in quarrels with Thomas Becket. He founded the English government in Ireland.

Henry II.'s daughter Mathilda married in 1168 German Heinrich the Lion, Duke of Sachsen (1129-1195).

Henry II.'s politics aimed at a West European Empire but he died during his power-struggles against his own sons.

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