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>
Show replies by date