Herod arrested John the Baptist because John preached that Herod should not have taken his brother's wife, Herodias, as his own wife. We can assume that the arrangement between Herod and Herodias involved either adultery and/or murder of Herod's brother. Otherwise, if Herod's brother had a natural death, it is actually required under Jewish law for a man to marry his brother's widow.
However, the text is silent as to the circumstances other than John the Baptist publicly disapproved. This was enough to put him in jail.
Once in jail, Herod found himself actually listening to John the Baptist speak. He also feared there would be political ramifications or civil unrest because Herod knew that John was popular among the Jewish people.
Herodias, however, wanted John dead.
Herod has a birthday banquet with high-ranking political and military invitees. The daughter of Herodias dances before the banquet. I think it is popularly understood that Herodias' daughter was from her marriage with Herod's brother, which would make the girl Herod's niece/adoptive daughter.
The dancing pleases Herod and his dinner guests. He makes a grandiose promise to her that she can have anything she wants, up to half his kingdom.
One can easily speculate on these circumstances. Perhaps Herod had some creepy incestuous intent for after all, he already broke one social boundary in taking in his brother's wife. Alternatively, he wanted to please his other dinner guests by rewarding the girl. Still, Herod could have been saying to his political invitees "I take care of family" with the hopes of a future political alliance involving the girl.
As for the offer itself, Herod does not have the authority to make the girl a co-regent or administrator of a Roman province. That authority would have to come from Rome itself.
Regardless, Herod made the offer and he cannot take it back. The girl acts with a bit of wisdom and asks her moth what she should say. Her mother, still angry at John the Baptist, wants his head on the platter. The girl asks Herod for this.
Herod is distraught because he understands the political implications and he has grown to like John. Nevertheless, he has John killed and his head brought to the girl, who gives it to her mother.
Later, Herod hears of the miracles of Jesus in the countryside. His reaction is that he believes that John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. Herod is not afraid, but rather seems excited because he then tries to see Jesus. Perhaps Herod wanted to apologize to John for being "forced" to kill him.
These last few details are an interesting foreshadow of the trial, execution, and resurrection of Jesus. Herod will get to meet Jesus.
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