of English Monarchs.. Henry 11  is the first English Monarch to have an Australian connection way back in the 12th century. His mum's name was Matilda  and she waltzed around town as the Empress Matilda for a few years. http://www.fromoldbooks.org/Burton-WonderfulProdigies/pages/p112-King-henry-Whipped/ Henry 2nd other claim to fame is his establishing Canterbury as