25 October 1154
Henry II becomes king

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Matilda's son Henry, count of Anjou, becomes king as Henry II on Stephen's death as arranged the previous year. Thanks to his marriage in 1152 to Eleanor of Aquitaine, he controls a vast empire. Husband and wife are crowned together on 7 December. His first task is to restore order after the civil war, so he picks his advisers from each of the main interest groups, orders the destruction of all unlicensed castles and returns seized lands.

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