Henry II was a main character in the first season and a recurring character in the second season of Reign. He was portrayed by Alan van Sprang. Henry was the philandering king of France who carried out an affair with Kenna , lady-in-waiting to the queen of Scotland , despite already being married to Catherine de' Medici.
He was an ambitious man, especially when it came to taking England , which he spent years trying to do. Following his son's marriage to Mary Stuart , Henry descended into madness and became a threat of all of France. He died of an injury that was incurred during a joust , but he continued to haunt his family long after his death. Henry was a member of the House of Valois by birth and a member of the House of Medici by marriage.
Henry was born the second son of the previous king. His father was captured by the Spanish in his childhood and Henry and his older brother, the Dauphin Francis , went to meet him on a supposed brief visit. When Henry ran to greet his father, his father ran past Henry and Francis and jumped into another boat, leaving the boys behind with the Spanish as hostages in his place. Whilst captive of the Spanish, Henry and Francis were beaten and starved.
When Francis was eighteen Henry poisoned his water during a tennis match, killing him in order to gain the throne. In the Pilot , King Henry prepares to join Carherine in celebrating the wedding of their daughter, Elisabeth , when Francis pops up and voices his complains about having to get married, asking about the date.
Henry retorts that his wedding won't happen until he says so. He and the rest of the court later gather to greet Mary. Later that night, at his daughter's wedding, he watches Kenna dance with the rest of the ladies.
