Henry II (1133–1189) was King of England from 1154 until his death. At various points in his life, he also controlled large parts of Wales, Ireland and France. He was an energetic and ruthless ruler. During the early years of his reign he restored the royal administration in England and re-established hegemony over Wales. Henry's desire to control the English Church led to conflict with Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, resulting in Becket's murder in 1170. Henry expanded his lands at the expense of France. As his sons grew up there were tensions over the future inheritance of Henry's domains. Henry was ultimately succeeded by his son Richard I; Henry's son John would also rule as king. Henry's territorial expansion quickly collapsed, but many of his changes endured. Henry is generally considered to have laid the basis for English common law, while his intervention in Brittany, Wales and Scotland shaped the development of their societies and governmental systems.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II_of_England
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1576:
The cornerstone of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe's observatory Uraniborg was laid on the island of Hven. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uraniborg
1914:
The Endurance departed Plymouth, England, on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Trans-Antarctic_Expedition
1969:
At a zebra crossing on Abbey Road in London, Iain Macmillan took the photograph that was used for the cover of the Beatles' album Abbey Road. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Road
1988:
Tropical Storm Beryl formed over southeastern Louisiana, making it one of the few tropical cyclones to form over land. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Beryl_%281988%29
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
travois: 1. (originally and chiefly Canada, US, historical) A frame, often consisting of two poles tied together at one end to form a V-shaped structure with the vertex attached to a dog, horse, etc., or held by a person and the other ends touching the ground, which was used by indigenous peoples (notably the Plains Aboriginals of North America) to drag loads over land. 2. (by extension) 3. A similar piece of equipment used to transport something by dragging; especially a stretcher dragged by a horse, mule, etc., used to transport an ill or injured person. 4. (Canada, US, forestry, archaic) A sled dragged by a horse or ox to transport logs, with one end of each log on the sled and the other end touching the ground. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/travois
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as President, I must put the interest of America first. America needs a full-time President and a full-time Congress, particularly at this time with problems we face at home and abroad. To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home. Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow. --Richard Nixon https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon