Born in 1133, son of Matilda, who was the heir of King Henry I of England, he was known at first as Henry FitzEmpress. However, when Henry I died, their cousin Stephen de Blois took the crown. During the ensuing civil war, Henry's father took Normandy and Henry was invested as its Duke. In 1151 Henry's father died and he then inherited the counties of Anjou and Maine.
In 1152 he met and was seduced by Eleanor de Poitou, Duchess of Aquitaine, who was not only eleven years older but also had just divorced the French king. They married at Bordeaux on 18 May 1152, this marriage also adding to his French territories as well as eight children. However, with Eleanor being so much older, Henry did not remain faithful to his queen.
Having been declared heir to Stephen de Blois, Henry, on Stephen's death in 1154, became Henry II, King of England. His first years as king were spent restoring law and order in which he was assisted by his chancellor, Thomas … Becket. In 1157 Henry II invaded North Wales and in 1159 they campaigned in France on Eleanor's behalf. However, this campaign was unsuccessful; yet even so a peace treaty was signed with Louis VII, Eleanor's previous husband.
Henry II had raised his chancellor, Thomas … Becket to become Archbishop of Canterbury; but a quarrel begun in 1163 was to last for several years. Indeed, in 1164 Thomas … Becket was forced to leave the country and it was not until 1170, when the pope forced Henry II to acquiesce, that he returned.

Henry II's remark "will no one rid me of this turbulent priest" led to Thomas … Becket's murder on 29 December 1170. Henry II's reputation suffered, even though his sorrow over the loss of a friend was genuine.
Also in 1170 he had his eldest son, Henry, crowned to secure a peaceful succession, but the "young king" died in 1183. In 1189 while he was at Tours, he was told of the betrayal of his youngest and favourite son, John. On 4 July 1189, he met the French king Philippe at ColombiŠres. They spoke while on horseback and a sudden thunder-clap caused Henry's horse to rear and throw him. Henry II then made his peace with King Philippe and was taken by litter to the castle of Chinon. Two days then spent wrangling with monks from Canterbury, demanding concessions for their order, were to be his last. When he realised his end was near, he was taken to the altar of the castle church where he deliriously cursed the day he was born and asked heaven's vengeance upon his sons. He then suffered a haemorrhage and died, to be buried in the Abbey of Fontevrault. 
 

Source: Leo van de Pas