Henry II "Curt Mantel" (?) King of England

     King Henry was styled as, "Rex Angliae, Dux Normaniae et Aquitaniae et Comes Andigaviae." This appears to be the first official use of the title, "King of England," rather than "King of the English, " although modern historians give the title to all sovereigns from William the Conqueror.

Crowned by Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Henry supported a petition to Rome to make Edward the Confessor a saint. Edward was canonized in 1161, and on 13 October 1163, Henry was present at a ceremony in Westminster Abbey at which Archbishop Thomas Becket elevated Edward's remains.

Henry was known for his excellent memory, as well as for his occasional fits of bad temper, which involved rolling on the floor and biting furniture.

It was said that Henry could speak every language used in Europe, from France to the Holy Land--but he probably could not speak English.

Henry was very interested in learning. Peter of Blois said, "With the King of England, it is school every day; there is always conversation with learned men and discussion of learned problems."

Traditionally, Henry's dying words are supposed to have been, "Shame, shame on a conquered king," referring to his sons' insurrections.

Portrayed by Peter O'Toole in both the 1964 film "Becket" and the 1968 film "Lion in Winter."

Portrayed by Brian Cox in the 1978 BBC-2 series, "The Devil's Crown."

Henry II "Curt Mantel" (?) King of England was born on 5 March 1133 at Le Mans, Sarthe, France.¹ He was the son of Geoffrey V Plantagenet (?) Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou and Matilda (?) Queen of England and Empress of Germany. Henry II "Curt Mantel" (?) King of England married Eleanor of Aquitaine (?), daughter of William X (?) Duke of Aquitaine and Aenor Aimery, on 18 May 1152 at Bordeaux, Gironde, France.¹ Henry II "Curt Mantel" (?) King of England was crowned on 19 December 1154. He died on 6 July 1189 at Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, France, at age 56.¹