Henry (England)

Henry (England), name of 8 kings of England. Henry I (1068–1135), reigned 1100–35. The son of William I, he seized the English throne on the death of his brother William II, while his other brother, Robert, was on a Crusade. Henry II (1133–89), reigned 1154–89, was the grandson of Henry I. He founded the Plantagent line. In 1152 he married Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, thus acquiring vast lands in France. His policy of strengthening royal authority in England led to conflict with Thomas à Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in 1170. Henry III (1207–72), reigned 1216–72, was a grandson of Henry II. His unpopular rule was marked by administrative and diplomatic incompetence and by the revolts of nobles who forced him to yield much power to them. Henry IV (1367–1413), was the first ruler of the House of Lancaster. He usurped the throne after forcing Richard II to abdicate. His reign was marked by struggles with Owen Glendower and Sir Henry Percy. Henry V (1387–1422), reigned 1413–22, was the son of Henry IV. He defeated the French at Agincourt in 1415, married Catherine of Valois, and became successor to the French throne. Henry VI (1421–71), reigned 1422–61 and 1470–71, became king as an infant. The country was ruled by 2 of his uncles, who led the English forces that were defeated by the French under Joan of Arc. Henry VI's rule was marked by factional struggles that led to the dynastic Wars of the Roses. He was deposed for 9 years and eventually murdered. Henry VII (1457–1509), reigned 1485–1509, was the first of the Tudor rulers, uniting the houses of York and Lancaster. He killed Richard III in the last battle of the Wars of the Roses. He restored order to England and Wales and promoted efficient administration. Henry VIII (1491–1547), reigned 1509–47, was the son of Henry VII, and was one of the most powerful and formative rulers in British history. His religious policies and matrimonial problems led to clashes with the Pope and the Act of Supremacy (1534), in which Parliament renounced papal authority and established the Church of England with the king as supreme head. He replaced feudal authority with a central system of government and created the navy that later became the basis of British world power. His matrimonial problems, which led to the conflict with the Catholic Church, arose from his search for a male heir. He was first married to Catherine of Aragon, whom he divorced for Anne Boleyn (mother of Elizabeth I). He had her beheaded, then married Jane Seymour (mother of Edward VI), who died in childbirth. His next wives were Anne of Cleves (divorced within a year), Catherine Howard (beheaded), and Catherine Parr, who survived him.

See also: England.