The House of Plantagenet was a royal dynasty that ruled England from the 12th to the 15th centuries. It began with Henry II, who became king in 1154, and included notable monarchs like Richard the Lionheart and King John. The Plantagenets were known for their significant contributions to English law and governance, as well as their involvement in the Crusades. The dynasty is often divided into several branches, including the Lancaster and York lines, which were central to the Wars of the Roses. The Plantagenet rule ended in 1485 with the defeat of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, leading to the rise of the Tudor dynasty.