Henry II of England

King since 1154, the first of the Plantagenet dynasty. Under the rule of Henry II, along with the British possessions were vast possessions in France. After becoming king after a long feudal Troubles (1135-53), Henry II restored peace and made the dissolution of the baronial hired bands. Judicial reforms of Henry II greatly expanded the jurisdiction of royal courts at the expense of the feudal curia and put them in an investigation by the jury, now any free could for a fee to apply to the royal court. The attempt of Henry II with T. n. Clarendon orders (1164) to subordinate the royal power ecclesiastical courts did not succeed. As a result of military reform is widespread replacement of chivalry service cash payments, t. n. shield money, in addition, all free were required to have weapons, if necessary, to serve in the army of King. When Henry II laid the foundation of all judicial and administrative system of the English feudal state: the Royal Curia divided into the highest royal court and the Treasury, the British began to form a national feudal law. Draws a sharp distinction between free and serfs, they are legally enshrined the lawlessness of recent. When Henry II in 1169 began the conquest of Ireland.