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How did Henry II become the heir of King Stephen of England?

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King Henry II and St. Thomas Becket — Henry II Henry II (left) disputing with Thomas Becket (center), miniature from a 14th-century manuscript; in the British Library (Cotton MS. Claudius D.ii).

Henry II became the heir to King Stephen of England as a result of a compromise peace following a prolonged period of civil war, often referred to as the Anarchy.1

After the death of King Henry I in 1135, his nephew Stephen of Blois seized the English throne, despite the fact that Henry I had previously designated his daughter, Empress Matilda, as his successor. This led to a bitter and protracted conflict between Stephen and the supporters of Matilda.234

By 1153, the political landscape had shifted. Matilda’s son, Henry of Anjou, launched a vigorous military campaign in England. Following the death of Stephen’s own son and heir, Eustace, in August 1153, a weary Stephen agreed to a treaty—often identified as the Treaty of Wallingford—which allowed him to retain the throne for the remainder of his life while formally recognizing Henry of Anjou as his successor. Upon Stephen's death in 1154, Henry ascended the throne as King Henry II.413