The Tree of Europe · Person

Henry II of Navarre

«of Sangüesa»

He maintained the Albret claim to Iberian Navarre after its conquest. His marriage to Margaret of Angoulême made his court a centre of Renaissance culture.

1503 – 1555King of NavarreAlbret · ES

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This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1503 Documented

Death: 1555 Documented

Role: King of Navarre

Other recorded names: Henry of Sangüesa

Dynasty: Albret · ES

Territories: Navarre (ES) · Béarn (ES) · Foix (ES) · County of Bigorre (ES) · Albret (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

King · Navarre · Reign Pending review1517–1555Branch ruleFrom 1512 the two lines did not effectively govern the whole of the former kingdom.

Viscount · Béarn · Viscounty Pending review1517–1555Effective rule

Count · Foix · County Documented1517–1555Effective ruleSuccession of the counts of Foix; the dates follow the Viscounty of Béarn, inherited by the same person.

Count · County of Bigorre · County Documented1517–1555Effective ruleFrom 1425 Bigorre was ruled by the counts of Foix.

Lord · Albret · Lordship Documented1522–1555Effective ruleHe inherited the lordship on the death of his grandfather and guardian Alain the Great in 1522.

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

John III of NavarrePending reviewCatherine of NavarrePending review

Partners

Margaret of Angoulême · ESDocumented

Children

Joan III of Navarre

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Henry II of Navarre. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1522

NavarreKing
View titles and jurisdictions
- Navarre · ESKing · Branch rule · Albret-Bourbon dynasty; Lower Navarre after the conquest1517–1555 · From 1512 the two lines did not effectively govern the whole of the former kingdom.
BéarnViscount
View titles and jurisdictions
- Béarn · ESViscount · Effective rule1517–1555
FoixCount
View titles and jurisdictions
- Foix · ESCount · Effective rule1517–1555 · Succession of the counts of Foix; the dates follow the Viscounty of Béarn, inherited by the same person.
County of BigorreCount
View titles and jurisdictions
- County of Bigorre · ESCount · Effective rule1517–1555 · From 1425 Bigorre was ruled by the counts of Foix.
AlbretLord
View titles and jurisdictions
- Albret · ESLord · Effective rule1522–1555 · He inherited the lordship on the death of his grandfather and guardian Alain the Great in 1522.

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

10 recorded claims · 4 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
1503
The authority record gives the birth as 1503.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Heinrich II., Navarra, König · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
1555
The authority record gives the death as 1555.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Heinrich II., Navarra, König · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (1/3 with a precise source)

FatherPending review
John III of Navarre
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
MotherPending review
Catherine of Navarre
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Margaret of Angoulême
The authority record identifies Margaret of Angoulême (GND 118577719) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Heinrich II., Navarra, König · Relationships: spouse → GND 118577719
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Governments (3/5 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
King · Navarre · 1517–1555
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Viscount · Béarn · 1517–1555
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Foix · 1517–1555
Succession of the counts of Foix; the dates follow the Viscounty of Béarn, inherited by the same person.
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana · Comtat de Foix · Gaston IV (1436); his grandchildren Francis Phoebus and Catherine, monarchs of Navarre; Henry (II of Navarre), Jeanne (III) and Henry IV of France, who incorporated the domains into the French crown in 1607.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · County of Bigorre · 1517–1555
From 1425 Bigorre was ruled by the counts of Foix.
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana · Bigorra · In 1425 John I of Grailly, Count of Foix, received the county from Charles VII. Thereafter it was ruled by the counts of Foix; Henry IV incorporated it into his kingdom in 1607.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Lord · Albret · 1522–1555
He inherited the lordship on the death of his grandfather and guardian Alain the Great in 1522.
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana · Albret · Alain the Great (1440–1522), guardian of his grandson Henry II of Navarre; Jeanne III; duchy created in 1556 and incorporated into the crown by Henry IV in 1607.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (3)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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