Henry II

king of England. He was the first of the long line of Plantagenet kings. He ruled 1154-89. His mother was English, his father was a French count. He held more than half of France. In fact, he regarded himself as a French monarch with English possessions across the channel. For all that, he is considered one of the best rulers England has had. He adopted the far-reaching measure of substituting royal courts of justice for local ones. Judges traveled throughout his dominions, holding court, with the beginnings of a jury system. It has been possible ever since Henry's day, therefore, for plaintiffs to seek justice before a court less likely to be influenced by local prejudices; in other words, to escape local tyranny. The Irish owe him no love, however, for in his reign English rule was extended over that island. The reign of Henry is made memorable by his contest with Thomas a Becket.

Henry IV (1050-1106), emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and king of Germany. The principal event of his reign was a struggle with Hildebrand, known in papal history as Gregory VII. Henry was obliged finally to give in to the pope. See Canossa

Henry IV (1553-1610), king of France. He ascended the throne in 1589. He is known in history as Henry of Navarre. He became the head of the Huguenot party on the death of the Prince de Conde in 1569. He married Margaret of Valois, sister of Charles IX of France, in 1572. Subsequent to the massacre of St. Bartholomew, he put an end to the civil wars of France by embracing the Roman Catholic religion. In this way he secured the adherence of the Roman Catholics, and was crowned by the united nation at Chartres in 1594. To secure his old followers, he published the Edict of Nantes April 15, 1598. He was assassinated by a fanatic named Ravaillac. See Catharine De Medici; St. Bartholomew; Edict Of Nantes; St. Peter'S