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How did Henry IIās death lead to Richard I becoming king of England?
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Richard I
Richard I, detail of tomb effigy in the abbey church of Fontevrault-l'Abbaye, France.
Richard I became king of England following a period of intense conflict with his father, Henry II. After the death of his older brother, Henry the Young King, Richard became the heir to the English throne. Tensions escalated when Henry II demanded that Richard surrender his duchy of Aquitaine to his youngest brother, John.12
Refusing to relinquish his territory, Richard formed an alliance with King Philip II of France in 1189. Together, they launched a military campaign that forced Henry II into submission, compelling him to formally acknowledge Richard as his heir. This pressure ultimately hastened Henry IIās death on July 6, 1189, allowing Richard to succeed him as king.123