Kings of England
Kings of England
(some important and well-known Kings and Queens of England)
King William I, the Conqueror 1066 - 1087
Invaded England from Normandy. Defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. In 1085 the Doomsday Book Survey was begun and all England was recorded so William knew exactly what his new kingdom contained. The Doomsday Book was, in effect, the first national census.
King Richard I the Lionheart 1189 - 12199
Was in England for only four months spending the other time fighting in the Crusades. Known as "Lionheart"
King John I 1199 - 1226
Fourth child of Henry II. Responsible for the Magna Charta (Great Charter) giving justice to all
The Plantagenets
King Henry III 1216 - 1272
Henry was nine years old when he became king. In 1264 Henry was captured during a civil war and was forced to set up "Parlement" (from the French "parler" = to talk) at Westminster, the start of the Houses of Commons. He built Wsetminster Abbey.
King Edward I 1272 -1307
Fought against the Scots King Robert the Bruce and was called "the hammer of the Scots". Edward formed the Model Parliament in 1295, bringing together the knights, clergy, nobility and burgesses of the cities, bringing Lords and Commons together for the first time.
The House of Lancaster
Henry VI 1422 - 1461 and 1470 - 1471
Very ill during his reign. The War of Roses began between the House of Lancaster and the House of York.
The House of York
King Edward IV 1461 - 1470 and 1471 - 1483
Won the War of Roses. Tried to bring peace to the country. During his reign the first printing press was established in Westminster by William Caxton.
King Richard III 1483 - 1485 End of the Wars of Roses
Killed in the battle against henry Tudor
The Tudors
King Henry VIII 1509 - 1547
The best known fact about Henry VII is that he had six wives!
Argued with the pope and made himself the head of the new "Church of England".
Most school children learn the following rhyme to help them remember the fate of each wife:
Divorced, beheaded, died,
divorced, beheaded, survived.
King Edward VI 1547 - 1553
Was never a healthy king and died aged only 15 years.
After Edward's death there was a dispute over the succession. As Mary was Catholic, Lady Jane Grey was named as the next in line to the throne. She was proclaimed Queen, but Mary entered London with her supporters and Jane was taken to the Tower. She reigned for only 9 days. She was executed in 1554, aged 17.
Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary) 1553 - ^558
Married Philip I. of Spain. Wanted to make England Catholic again. Killed many who opposed her, which is why she is remembered as Bloody Mary
Queen Elizabeth I 1558 - 1603
During her reign great adventurers discovered many new lands. Fought off the Spanish Armada.
The Stuarts
The Stuarts were the first kings of the United Kingdom.
James I 1603 - 1625
Married Anne of Denmark. United the Crowns of Scotland and England.
In 1605 the Gunpowder Plot was hatched: Guy Fawkes and his Catholic friends tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament, but were captured before they could do so.
No Monarchy for 11 years during the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth - declared May 19th, 1649
Oliver Cromwell 1649 - 1658
Richard Cromwell 1658 - 1659
James II 1685 - 1688
Bother of Charles II. Tried to force people to follow his Roman Catholic faith.
He was very unpopular because of his persecution of the Protestants, and he was hated by the people. Forced to give up the crown. Parliament asked William of Orange to take the throne.
William III 1688 - 1702 and Queen Mary II 1688 - 1694
Daughter of James II, she and her Dutch husband were invited to be King and Queen following James' abdication.
The House of Hanover
King George I 1714 - 1727
Son of Sophia. George never learned English, so the conduct of national policy was left to the government at this time.
King George II 1727 - 1760
Preferred Germany to England, but learned to speak English unlike his father
King George III 1760 - 1820
He was a grandson of George II. Ruled for 60 years and fathered 15 children.
Queen Victoria 1837 - 1901
Victoria married Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Ruled during the industrial revolution. The British Empire became powerful, rich and confident. When Victoria died in 1901, after the longest reign in English history, the British Empire and British world power had reached their highest point. She had six children, 40 grand-children an 37 great-grandchildren, scattered all over Europe.
The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
The name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha came to the British Royal Family in 1840 with the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert, son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Queen Victoria herself remained a member of the House of Hanover.
King Edward VII 1901 - 1910
married Alexandra of Denmark. Kept Europe at peace during his life. He enjoyed fin food and horse racing.
The House of Windsor
The name Windsor was adopted as the British Royal Familiy's official name by a proclamation of King George V, replacing the historic name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
King George V 1910 - 1936
Ruled Britain during World War One. During his reign women were allowed to vote for the first time.
King Edward VIII June 1936 - December 1936
Abdicated to marry Mrs Wallis Sampson, as he was not able to marry a divorced woman and become King. Mrs Simpson was an American, divorcee and had two husbands still living.
King George VI 1936 - 1952
The shy brother of Edward VIII. He didn't expect to become King. Ruled during World War Two and refused to leave London during the blitz. The two princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, spent the war years at Windsor Castle.
The post-war years of his reign were ones of great social change and saw the start of the National Health Service.
Elizabeth II 1952 - now
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