Henry ii died before dawn on 31 March 1324 at Strovolos. Later that same day a hastily arranged gathering of liege men swore to protect the rights of his nephew, Hugh of Lusignan, against all challengers until such time as he could be proclaimed king. Henry was buried next day, and then on 2 April, using Bartholomew of Montolif as his spokesman, Hugh claimed the throne at a meeting of the High Court. The assembled vassals formally recognized him as his uncle's successor and did homage. Coronation as king of Cyprus followed on 15 April in Nicosia cathedral. A month later there was a second coronation ceremony, this time at Famagusta: as the unnamed author of this section of the Chronique d'Amadi explained,

The new king – not to be confused with his namesake and cousin, the eldest son of Amaury of Tyre – was the son of Guy, another of Henry's brothers. Guy had died when Hugh was three years old, and the king had brought him up in the royal household. In about 1318 he was appointed to the post of constable of Cyprus, the office once held by his father, and, although it is nowhere stated explicitly, it is likely that by the end of the reign Henry was intending that Hugh should succeed him.