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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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Henry II (r. 1154–1189), the first Plantagenet king of England, restored royal authority after the civil war known as the Anarchy.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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He strengthened the government through legal reforms that expanded the reach of royal justice across the realm.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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Key changes included developing the common law, using royal courts more actively, and sending royal officials (justices in eyre) to enforce law in localities.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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He also improved the Exchequer and financial administration to raise revenue more efficiently.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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Henry expanded royal influence in territories across France (Angevin Empire), making him one of the most powerful monarchs in Western Europe.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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His conflict with the Church centered on whether clergy accused of crimes should be tried in church courts (often lenient) or royal courts.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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The dispute escalated with Thomas Becket, Henry’s former chancellor whom he made Archbishop of Canterbury, expecting cooperation.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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Becket defended church privileges and resisted the king’s attempts to limit ecclesiastical independence.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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Tensions culminated in Becket’s murder in 1170 by knights associated with Henry, shocking Europe
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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Basically Henry’s knights misunderstood his wish, they thought he wanted Becket to be murdered, which was not true.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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So Becket was not literally killed by Henry, but indirectly through his knights.
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7. Reign of Henry II: changes + conflict with the Church start learning
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Henry publicly did penance, but the episode left a lasting debate about church-state power in England.
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