List of English monarchs explained
Royal Title: | Monarchy |
Realm: | England |
Coatofarms: | Coat of Arms of England (1509-1603) Variant.svg |
Coatofarms Article: | Coat of arms of EnglandRoyal coat of arms |
First Monarch: | Alfred the Great |
Last Monarch: | Anne |
Began: | (late 9th century) |
Ended: | 1 May 1707 |
Residence: | Court of St James's |
This list of kings and reigning queens of the Kingdom of England begins with Alfred the Great, who initially ruled Wessex, one of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms which later made up modern England. Alfred styled himself king of the Anglo-Saxons from about 886, and while he was not the first king to claim to rule all of the English, his rule represents the start of the first unbroken line of kings to rule the whole of England, the House of Wessex.[1]
Arguments are made for a few different kings thought to have controlled enough Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to be deemed the first king of England. For example, Offa of Mercia and Egbert of Wessex are sometimes described as kings of England by popular writers, but it is no longer the majority view of historians that their wide dominions are part of a process leading to a unified England. Historian Simon Keynes states, for example, that "Offa was driven by a lust for power, not a vision of English unity; and what he left was a reputation, not a legacy."[2] This refers to a period in the late 8th century when Offa achieved a dominance over many of the kingdoms of southern England, but this did not survive his death in 796.[3] Likewise, in 829 Egbert of Wessex conquered Mercia, but he soon lost control of it.
It was not until the late 9th century that one kingdom, Wessex, had become the dominant Anglo-Saxon kingdom. Its king, Alfred the Great, was overlord of western Mercia and used the title King of the Angles and Saxons, but he never ruled eastern and northern England, which was then known as the Danelaw, having earlier been conquered by the Danes from southern Scandinavia. His son Edward the Elder conquered the eastern Danelaw, but Edward's son Æthelstan became the first king to rule the whole of England when he conquered Northumbria in 927, and he is regarded by some modern historians as the first true king of England.[3] The title "King of the English" or Latin: Rex Anglorum in Latin, was first used to describe Æthelstan in one of his charters in 928. The standard title for monarchs from Æthelstan until John was "King of the English". In 1016 Cnut the Great, a Dane, was the first to call himself "King of England". In the Norman period "King of the English" remained standard, with occasional use of "King of England" or Latin: Rex Anglie. From John's reign onwards all other titles were eschewed in favour of "King" or "Queen of England".
The Principality of Wales was incorporated into the Kingdom of England under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, and in 1301 King Edward I invested his eldest son, the future King Edward II, as Prince of Wales. Since that time, the eldest sons of all English monarchs, except for King Edward III, have borne this title.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth I without issue in 1603, her cousin King James VI of Scotland inherited the English crown as James I of England, joining the crowns of England and Scotland in personal union. By royal proclamation, James styled himself "King of Great Britain", but no such kingdom was actually created until 1707, when England and Scotland united during the reign of Queen Anne to form the new Kingdom of Great Britain, with a single British parliament sitting at Westminster. This marked the end of the Kingdom of England as a sovereign state.
House of Wessex (886–1013)
See main article: House of Wessex.
|-| Alfred[4]
Alfred the Great
–
26 October 899
(13 years)| | 849
Son of
Æthelwulf of Wessexand
Osburh|
Ealhswith of Gainsborough868
5 children| 26 October 899
Aged about 50| Son of
Æthelwulf of Wessex
Treaty of Wedmore
|-| Edward the Elder[5]
26 October 899
–
17 July 924
| |
Son of
Alfredand
Ealhswith|
Ecgwynn2 children
Ælfflæd8 children
Eadgifu of Kent4 children| 17 July 924
Aged about 50| Son of
Alfred
|}
Disputed claimant
There is some evidence that Ælfweard of Wessex may have been king in 924, between his father Edward the Elder and his half brother Æthelstan, although he was not crowned. A 12th-century list of kings gives him a reign length of four weeks, though one manuscript of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says he died only 16 days after his father.[6] However, the fact that he ruled is not accepted by all historians. Also, it is unclear whether—if Ælfweard was declared king—it was over the whole kingdom or of Wessex only. One interpretation of the ambiguous evidence is that when Edward died, Ælfweard was declared king in Wessex and Æthelstan in Mercia.[7]
|-| Ælfweard[8]
–
2 August 924[9]
| | [10]
Son of
Edward the Elderand
Ælfflæd|
No children| 2 August 924
[3] Aged about 23| Son of
Edward the Elder
|}
|-| Æthelstan[11]
924
–
27 October 939
(14–15 years)| | 894
Son of
Edward the Elderand
Ecgwynn| Unmarried| 27 October 939
Aged about 45| Son of
Edward the Elder
|-| Edmund I[12]
Edmund the Magnificent
27 October 939
–
26 May 946
| |
Son of Edward the Elder
and
Eadgifu of Kent|
Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury2 sons
Æthelflæd of Damerham944
No children| 26 May 946
PucklechurchKilled in a brawl aged about 25| Son of Edward the Elder
|-| Eadred[13]
26 May 946
–
23 November 955
| |
Son of Edward the Elder
and Eadgifu of Kent| Unmarried| 23 November 955
FromeAged about 32| Son of Edward the Elder
|-| Eadwig[14]
Eadwig All-Fair
23 November 955
–
1 October 959
| |
Son of
Edmund Iand
Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury|
ÆlfgifuNo verified children| 1 October 959
Aged about 19| Son of
Edmund I
|-| Edgar the Peaceful[15]
1 October 959
–
8 July 975
| |
Wessex
Son of Edmund I
and Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury|
Æthelflæd1 son
Ælfthryth2 sons| 8 July 975
WinchesterAged 31| Son of Edmund I
|-| Edward the Martyr[16]
8 July 975
–
18 March 978
| |
Son of
Edgar the Peacefuland Æthelflæd| Unmarried| 18 March 978
Corfe CastleMurdered aged about 16| Son of
Edgar the Peaceful
|-| (1st reign)
Æthelred the Unready[17]
18 March 978
–
1013
(34–35 years)| |
Son of Edgar the Peaceful
and
Ælfthryth|
Ælfgifu of York991
9 children
Emma of Normandy1002
3 children| 23 April 1016
London
Aged about 48| Son of Edgar the Peaceful
|}
House of Denmark (1013–1014)
See main article: House of Knýtlinga. England came under the control of Sweyn Forkbeard, a Danish king, after an invasion in 1013, during which Æthelred abandoned the throne and went into exile in Normandy.
|-| Sweyn[18]
Sweyn Forkbeard
25 December 1013
–
3 February 1014
| | 17 April 963
Denmark
Son of
Harald Bluetoothand either
Tove or Gunhild|
Gunhild of Wenden7 children
Sigrid the Haughty1 daughter| 3 February 1014
GainsboroughAged 50|
Right of conquest
|}
House of Wessex (restored, first time) (1014–1016)
Following the death of Sweyn Forkbeard, Æthelred the Unready returned from exile and was again proclaimed king. His son succeeded him after being chosen king by the citizens of London and a part of the Witan, despite ongoing Danish efforts to wrest the crown from the West Saxons.
|-| (2nd reign)
Æthelred the Unready
early 1014
–
23 April 1016
| |
Son of
Edgar the Peacefuland
Ælfthryth|
Ælfgifu of York991
9 children
Emma of Normandy1002
3 children| 23 April 1016
London
Aged about 48| Son of
Edgar the Peaceful
|-| Edmund Ironside[19] [20]
23 April 1016
–
30 November 1016
| |
Son of
Æthelredand
Ælfgifu of York|
Edith of East Anglia2 children| 30 November 1016
GlastonburyAged 26| Son of
Æthelred
|}
House of Denmark (restored) (1016–1042)
Following the decisive Battle of Assandun on 18 October 1016, King Edmund signed a treaty with Cnut (Canute) under which all of England except for Wessex would be controlled by Cnut.[21] Upon Edmund's death just over a month later on 30 November, Cnut ruled the whole kingdom as its sole king for nineteen years.
| Cnut[22]
Cnut the Great
18 October 1016
–
12 November 1035
| |
Son of
Sweyn Forkbeardand
Gunhilda of Poland|
Ælfgifu of Northampton2 sons
Emma of Normandy1017
2 children| 12 November 1035
ShaftesburyAged about 40| Son of
Sweyn
Treaty of Deerhurst
|-| Harold Harefoot[23]
12 November 1035
–
17 March 1040
| |
Son of
Cnut the Greatand
Ælfgifu of Northampton| | 17 March 1040
OxfordAged about 24| Son of
Cnut the Great
|-| Harthacnut[24]
17 March 1040
–
8 June 1042
| | 1018
Son of Cnut the Great
and
Emma of Normandy| Unmarried| 8 June 1042
LambethAged about 24| Son of Cnut the Great
|}
House of Wessex (restored, second time) (1042–1066)
After Harthacnut, there was a Saxon Restoration between 1042 and 1066.
|-| Edward the Confessor[25]
8 June 1042
–
5 January 1066
| |
Islip
Son of
Æthelredand
Emma of Normandy|
Edith of Wessex23 January 1045
No children| 5 January 1066
Westminster PalaceAged about 63| Son of
Æthelred
|}
House of Godwin (1066)
See main article: House of Godwin.
|-| Harold II[26]
Harold Godwinson
6 January 1066
–
14 October 1066
| |
Son of
Godwin of Wessexand
Gytha Thorkelsdóttir|
Edith Swannesha5 children
Ealdgyth2 sons| 14 October 1066
HastingsDied in the Battle of Hastings aged 44| Named heir by
Edward the Confessor
Brother-in-law of Edward the Confessor
Elected by the
Witenagemot
|}
Disputed claimant (House of Wessex)
After King Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings, the Witan elected Edgar Ætheling as king, but by then the Normans controlled the country and Edgar never ruled. He submitted to King William the Conqueror.
|-| (Title disputed)
Edgar Ætheling[27]
15 October 1066
–
17 December 1066
| |
Son of
Edward the Exileand
Agatha| No known marriage| 1125 or 1126
Aged about 75| Grandson of
Edmund Ironside
Elected by the Witenagemot
|}
House of Normandy (1066–1135)
See main article: House of Normandy. In 1066, several rival claimants to the English throne emerged. Among them were Harold Godwinson (recognised as king by the Witenagemot after the death of Edward the Confessor), Harald Hardrada (King of Norway who claimed to be the rightful heir of Harthacnut) and Duke William II of Normandy (vassal to the King of France, and first cousin once-removed of Edward the Confessor). Harald and William both invaded separately in 1066. Godwinson successfully repelled the invasion by Hardrada, but ultimately lost the throne of England in the Norman conquest of England.
After the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, William the Conqueror made permanent the recent removal of the capital from Winchester to London. Following the death of Harold Godwinson at Hastings, the Anglo-Saxon Witenagemot elected as king Edgar Ætheling, the son of Edward the Exile and grandson of Edmund Ironside. The young monarch was unable to resist the invaders and was never crowned. William was crowned King William I of England on Christmas Day 1066, in Westminster Abbey, and is today known as William the Conqueror, William the Bastard or William I.
|-| William I[28]
William the Conqueror
25 December 1066
–
9 September 1087
| |
Falaise Castle
Son of
Robert the Magnificentand
Herleva|
Matilda of FlandersNormandy1053
9 children| 9 September 1087
RouenAged about 59| Supposedly named heir in 1052 by
Edward the Confessor
First cousin once removed of Edward the Confessor
Right of conquest
|-| William II[29]
William Rufus
26 September 1087
–
2 August 1100
| |
Normandy
Son of
William the Conquerorand
Matilda of Flanders| Unmarried| 2 August 1100
New ForestShot with an arrow aged 44| Son of
William I
Granted the
Kingdom of England over elder brother
Robert Curthose (who remained the
Duke of Normandy)
|-| Henry I[30]
Henry Beauclerc
5 August 1100
–
1 December 1135
| | September 1068
Selby
Son of William the Conqueror
and Matilda of Flanders|
Matilda of ScotlandWestminster Abbey11 November 1100
2 children
Adeliza of LouvainWindsor Castle29 January 1121
No children| 1 December 1135
Saint-Denis-en-LyonsAged 67| Son of William I
Seizure of the Crown (from Robert Curthose)
|}
House of Blois (1135–1154)
See main article: House of Blois.
Henry I left no legitimate male heirs, his son William Adelin having died in the White Ship disaster of 1120. This ended the direct Norman line of kings in England. Henry named his eldest daughter, Matilda (Countess of Anjou by her second marriage to Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, as well as widow of her first husband, Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor), as his heir. Before naming Matilda as heir, he had been in negotiations to name his nephew Stephen of Blois as his heir. When Henry died, Stephen travelled to England, and in a coup d'etat had himself crowned instead of Matilda. The period which followed is known as The Anarchy, as parties supporting each side fought in open warfare both in Britain and on the continent for the better part of two decades.
|-| Stephen[31]
Stephen of Blois
22 December 1135
–
25 October 1154
| |
Blois
Son of
Stephen II of Bloisand
Adela of Normandy|
Matilda of BoulogneWestminster1125
6 children| 25 October 1154
Dover CastleAged about 58| Grandson of
William I
Appointmentusurpation
|}
Disputed claimants
Matilda was declared heir presumptive by her father, Henry I, after the death of her brother on the White Ship, and acknowledged as such by the barons. Upon Henry I's death, the throne was seized by Matilda's cousin, Stephen of Blois. During the ensuing Anarchy, Matilda controlled England for a few months in 1141. She was the first woman to do so, but was never crowned and is rarely listed as a monarch of England.
|-| Matilda[32]
Empress Matilda
7 April 1141
–
1 November 1141
| | 7 February 1102
Sutton Courtenay Manor House
Daughter of
Henry Iand
Edith of Scotland|
Henry V of the Holy Roman EmpireMainz6 January 1114
No children
Geoffrey V of AnjouLe Mans Cathedral22 May 1128
3 sons| 10 September 1167
RouenAged 65| Daughter of
Henry I
Seizure of the Crown
|}
Count Eustace IV of Boulogne (c. 1130 – 17 August 1153) was appointed co-king of England by his father, King Stephen, on 6 April 1152, in order to guarantee his succession to the throne (as was the custom in France, but not in England). The Pope and the Church would not agree to this, and Eustace was not crowned. Eustace died the next year aged 23, during his father's lifetime, and so never became king in his own right.[33]
House of Plantagenet (1154–1485)
See main article: House of Plantagenet.
The House of Plantagenet takes its name from Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, husband of Empress Matilda and father of Henry II. The name Plantagenet itself was unknown as a family name per se until Richard of York adopted it as his family name in the 15th century. It has since been retroactively applied to English monarchs from Henry II onward. It is common among modern historians to refer to Henry II and his sons as the "Angevins" due to their vast continental empire, and most of the Angevin kings before John spent more time in their continental possessions than in England.
Angevin kings of England
See main article: Angevin Empire and Angevin kings of England. King Stephen came to an agreement with Matilda in November 1153 with the signing of the Treaty of Wallingford, in which Stephen recognised Henry, son of Matilda and her second husband Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, as the designated heir. The royal house descended from Matilda and Geoffrey is widely known by two names, the House of Anjou (after Geoffrey's title as Count of Anjou) or the House of Plantagenet, after his sobriquet. Some historians prefer to group the subsequent kings into two groups, before and after the loss of the bulk of their French possessions, although they are not different royal houses.
The Angevins (from the French term meaning "from Anjou") ruled over the Angevin Empire during the 12th and 13th centuries, an area stretching from the Pyrenees to Ireland. They did not regard England as their primary home until most of their continental domains were lost by King John. The direct, eldest male line from Henry II includes monarchs commonly grouped together as the House of Plantagenet, which was the name given to the dynasty after the loss of most of their continental possessions, while cadet branches of this line became known as the House of Lancaster and the House of York during the War of the Roses.
The Angevins formulated England's royal coat of arms, which usually showed other kingdoms held or claimed by them or their successors, although without representation of Ireland for quite some time. Dieu et mon droit was first used as a battle cry by Richard I in 1198 at the Battle of Gisors, when he defeated the forces of Philip II of France.[34] It has generally been used as the motto of English monarchs since being adopted by Edward III.[35]
|-| Henry II[36]
Henry Curtmantle
19 December 1154
–
6 July 1189
| | | 5 March 1133
Le Mans
Son of
Geoffrey V of Anjouand
Matilda|
Eleanor of AquitaineBordeaux Cathedral18 May 1152
8 children| 6 July 1189
ChinonAged 56| Grandson of
Henry I
Treaty of Wallingford
Great-great-great-grandson of
Edmund Ironside
|-,| colspan=99 | Henry II named his son, Henry the Young King (1155–1183), as co-ruler with him but this was a Norman custom of designating an heir, and the younger Henry did not outlive his father and rule in his own right, so he is not counted as a monarch on lists of kings.
|-| Richard I[37]
Richard the Lionheart
3 September 1189
–
6 April 1199
| | rowspan=2 | | 8 September 1157
Beaumont Palace
Son of
Henry IIand
Eleanor of Aquitaine|
Berengaria of NavarreLimassol12 May 1191
No children| 6 April 1199
ChâlusShot by a
quarrel aged 41| Son of
Henry II
Primogeniture
|-| John[38]
John Lackland
27 May 1199
–
19 October 1216
| | 24 December 1166
Beaumont Palace
Son of Henry II
and Eleanor of Aquitaine|
Isabel of GloucesterMarlborough Castle29 August 1189
No children
Isabella of AngoulêmeBordeaux Cathedral
24 August 1200
5 children| 19 October 1216
Newark-on-TrentAged 49| Son of Henry II
Nomination
Proximity of blood
|}
Disputed claimant (House of Capet)
The future Louis VIII of France briefly won two-thirds of England over to his side from May 1216 to September 1217 at the conclusion of the First Barons' War against King John. The then-Prince Louis landed on the Isle of Thanet, off the north Kent coast, on 21 May 1216, and marched more or less unopposed to London, where the streets were lined with cheering crowds. At a grand ceremony in St. Paul's Cathedral, on 2 June 1216, in the presence of numerous English clergy and nobles, the Mayor of London and Alexander II of Scotland, Prince Louis was proclaimed King Louis of England (though not crowned). In less than a month, "King Louis" controlled more than half of the country and enjoyed the support of two-thirds of the barons. However, he suffered military defeat at the hands of the English fleet. By signing the Treaty of Lambeth in September 1217, Louis gained 10,000 marks and agreed he had never been the legitimate king of England.[39] "King Louis" remains one of the least known kings to have ruled over a substantial part of England.[40]
|-| Louis[41]
Louis the Lion
2 June 1216
–
20 September 1217
(1 year, 111 days)| | | 5 September 1187
Paris
Son of
Philip II of Franceand
Isabella of Hainault|
Blanche of CastilePort-Mort23 May 1200
13 children| 8 November 1226
MontpensierAged 39|
Right of conquest
Offered by
the Barons
|}
Main line of Plantagenets
It is from the time of Henry III, after the loss of most of the family's continental possessions, that the Plantagenet kings became more English in nature. The Houses of Lancaster and York are cadet branches of the House of Plantagenet.
|-| Henry III[42]
Henry of Winchester
28 October 1216
–
16 November 1272
| | rowspan=3 | | 1 October 1207
Winchester Castle
Son of John
and
Isabella of Angoulême|
Eleanor of ProvenceCanterbury Cathedral14 January 1236
5 children| 16 November 1272
Westminster PalaceAged 65| Son of John
Primogeniture
|-| Edward I[43]
Edward Longshanks
20 November 1272
–
7 July 1307
| | 17 June 1239
Palace of Westminster
Son of
Henry IIIand
Eleanor of Provence|
Eleanor of CastileAbbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas18 October 1254
16 children
Margaret of FranceCanterbury Cathedral
10 September 1299
3 children| 7 July 1307
Burgh by SandsAged 68| Son of
Henry III
Primogeniture
|-| Edward II[44]
Edward of Caernarfon
8 July 1307
–
Abdicated 20 January 1327
| | 25 April 1284
Caernarfon Castle
Son of
Edward Iand
Eleanor of Castile|
Isabella of FranceBoulogne Cathedral24 January 1308
4 children| 21 September 1327
Berkeley CastleMurdered aged 43| Son of
Edward I
Primogeniture
|-| Edward III[45]
Edward of Windsor
25 January 1327
–
21 June 1377
| |
| 13 November 1312
Windsor Castle
Son of Edward II
and
Isabella of France|
Philippa of HainaultYork Minster25 January 1328
14 children| 21 June 1377
Sheen Palace
Aged 64| Son of Edward II
Primogeniture
|-| Richard II[46]
Richard of Bordeaux
22 June 1377
–
29 September 1399
| | | 6 January 1367
Archbishop's Palace of Bordeaux
Son of
Edward the Black Princeand
Joan of Kent|
Anne of Bohemia14 January 1382
Westminster Abbey
No children
Isabella of ValoisChurch of St. Nicholas, Calais4 November 1396
No children| 14 February 1400
Pontefract CastleAged 33| Grandson of
Edward III
Primogeniture
|}
House of Lancaster
See main article: House of Lancaster.
This house descended from Edward III's third surviving son, John of Gaunt. Henry IV seized power from Richard II (and also displaced the next in line to the throne, Edmund Mortimer (then aged 7), a descendant of Edward III's second son, Lionel of Antwerp).
|-| Henry IV[47]
Henry of Bolingbroke
30 September 1399
–
20 March 1413
| |
| April 1367
Bolingbroke Castle
Son of
John of Gauntand
Blanche of Lancaster|
Mary de BohunArundel Castle27 July 1380
6 children
Joanna of NavarreWinchester Cathedral7 February 1403
No children| 20 March 1413
Westminster AbbeyAged 45| Grandson
heir male of
Edward III
Usurpation
|-| Henry V[48]
Henry of Monmouth
21 March 1413
–
31 August 1422
| | | 16 September 1386
Monmouth Castle
Son of
Henry IVand
Mary de Bohun|
Catherine of ValoisTroyes Cathedral2 June 1420
1 son| 31 August 1422
Château de VincennesAged 35| Son of
Henry IV
Agnatic primogeniture
|-| (1st reign)
Henry VI[49]
1 September 1422
–
4 March 1461
| | | 6 December 1421
Windsor Castle
Son of
Henry Vand
Catherine of Valois|
Margaret of AnjouTitchfield Abbey22 April 1445
1 son| 21 May 1471
Tower of LondonAllegedly murdered aged 49| Son of
Henry V
Agnatic primogeniture
|}
House of York
See main article: House of York. The House of York claimed the right to the throne through Edward III's second surviving son, Lionel of Antwerp, but it inherited its name from Edward's fourth surviving son, Edmund of Langley, first Duke of York.
The Wars of the Roses (1455–1485) saw the throne pass back and forth between the rival houses of Lancaster and York.
|-| (1st reign)
Edward IV[50]
4 March 1461
–
3 October 1470
| | | 28 April 1442
Rouen Castle
Son of
Richard of Yorkand
Cecily Neville|
Elizabeth WoodvilleGrafton Regis1 May 1464
10 children| 9 April 1483
Westminster PalaceAged 40| Great-great-grandson
heir general of
Edward III
Seizure of the Crown
Act of Accord
|}
House of Lancaster (restored)
|-| (2nd reign)
Henry VI
3 October 1470
–
11 April 1471
| | | 6 December 1421
Windsor Castle
Son of
Henry Vand
Catherine of Valois|
Margaret of AnjouTitchfield Abbey22 April 1445
1 son| 21 May 1471
Tower of LondonAllegedly murdered aged 49| Son of
Henry V
Seizure of the Crown
|}
House of York (restored)
|-| (2nd reign)
Edward IV
11 April 1471
–
9 April 1483
| | rowspan=3 | | 28 April 1442
Rouen Castle
Son of
Richard of Yorkand
Cecily Neville|
Elizabeth WoodvilleGrafton Regis1 May 1464
10 children| 9 April 1483
Westminster PalaceAged 40| Great-great-grandson
heir general of
Edward III
Seizure of the Crown
Act of Accord
|-| Edward V[51]
9 April 1483
–
25 June 1483
| | 2 November 1470
Cheyneygates, Westminster Abbey
Son of
Edward IVand
Elizabeth Woodville| Unmarried| Disappeared mid-1483
Tower of LondonAllegedly murdered aged 12| Son of
Edward IV
Primogeniture
|-| Richard III[52]
26 June 1483
–
22 August 1485
| | 2 October 1452
Fotheringhay Castle
Son of Richard of York
and Cecily Neville|
Anne NevilleWestminster Abbey12 July 1472
1 son| 22 August 1485
Bosworth FieldKilled in battle aged 32| Great-great-grandson of Edward III
Titulus Regius
|}
House of Tudor (1485–1603)
See main article: Tudor period. The Tudors descended in the female line from John Beaufort, one of the illegitimate children of John of Gaunt (third surviving son of Edward III), by Gaunt's long-term mistress Katherine Swynford. Those descended from English monarchs only through an illegitimate child would normally have no claim on the throne, but the situation was complicated when Gaunt and Swynford eventually married in 1396 (25 years after John Beaufort's birth). In view of the marriage, the church retroactively declared the Beauforts legitimate via a papal bull the same year.[53] Parliament did the same in an Act in 1397.[54] A subsequent proclamation by John of Gaunt's legitimate son, King Henry IV, also recognised the Beauforts' legitimacy, but declared them ineligible ever to inherit the throne.[55] Nevertheless, the Beauforts remained closely allied with Gaunt's other descendants, the Royal House of Lancaster.
John Beaufort's granddaughter Lady Margaret Beaufort was married to Edmund Tudor. Tudor was the son of Welsh courtier Owain Tudur (anglicised to Owen Tudor) and Catherine of Valois, the widow of the Lancastrian King Henry V. Edmund Tudor and his siblings were either illegitimate, or the product of a secret marriage, and owed their fortunes to the goodwill of their legitimate half-brother King Henry VI. When the House of Lancaster fell from power, the Tudors followed.
By the late 15th century, the Tudors were the last hope for the Lancaster supporters. Edmund Tudor's son became king as Henry VII after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, winning the Wars of the Roses. King Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV, thereby uniting the Lancastrian and York lineages. (See family tree.)
|-| Henry VII[56]
22 August 1485
–
21 April 1509
| | rowspan=3 | | 28 January 1457
Pembroke Castle
Son of
Edmund Tudorand
Margaret Beaufort|
Elizabeth of YorkWestminster Abbey18 January 1486
8 children| 21 April 1509
Richmond PalaceAged 52| Great-great-great-grandson of
Edward III
Right of conquest
Marriage to
Elizabeth of York
|-| Henry VIII[57]
22 April 1509
–
28 January 1547
| | 28 June 1491
Greenwich Palace
Son of
Henry VIIand
Elizabeth of York|
Catherine of AragonChurch of the Observant Friars,
Greenwich11 June 1509
1 daughter
Anne Boleyn
Westminster Palace25 January 1533
1 daughter
Jane SeymourWhitehall Palace30 May 1536
1 son
3 further marriagesNo more children| 28 January 1547
Whitehall PalaceAged 55| Son of
Henry VII
Primogeniture
|-| Edward VI[58]
28 January 1547
–
6 July 1553
| | 12 October 1537
Hampton Court Palace
Son of Henry VIII
and
Jane Seymour| Unmarried| 6 July 1553
Greenwich PalaceAged 15| Son of Henry VIII
Primogeniture
|}
Disputed claimant
Edward VI named Lady Jane Grey as his heir in his will, overruling the order of succession laid down by Parliament in the Third Succession Act. Four days after his death on 6 July 1553, Jane was proclaimed queen—the first of three Tudor women to be proclaimed queen regnant. Nine days after the proclamation, on 19 July, the Privy Council switched allegiance and proclaimed Edward VI's Catholic half-sister Mary queen. Jane was later executed for treason.
|-| Jane[59]
Lady Jane Grey
10 July 1553
–
19 July 1553
| | | 1536 or 1537
Bradgate Park
Daughter of the
1st Duke of Suffolkand
Frances Brandon|
Guildford DudleyDurham House21 May 1553
No children| 12 February 1554
Tower GreenExecuted aged about 17| Great-granddaughter of
Henry VII
Devise for the Succession
|}
|-| Mary I[60]
19 July 1553
–
17 November 1558
| | rowspan=2 | | 18 February 1516
Greenwich Palace
Daughter of Henry VIII
and
Catherine of Aragon|
Philip II of SpainWinchester Cathedral25 July 1554
No children| 17 November 1558
St James's PalaceAged 42| Daughter of Henry VIII
Third Succession Act
|-| (Jure uxoris)
Philip
25 July 1554
–
17 November 1558
| | 21 May 1527
Palacio de Pimentel
Son of
Charles V of the Holy Roman Empireand
Isabella of Portugal|
Mary I of EnglandWinchester Cathedral
25 July 1554
No children
3 other marriages
7 children| 13 September 1598
El EscorialAged 71| Husband of
Mary I
Act for the Marriage of Queen Mary to Philip of Spain
|- | colspan=99 align=left |
Under the terms of the marriage treaty between Philip I of Naples (later Philip II of Spain from 15 January 1556) and Queen Mary I, Philip was to enjoy Mary's titles and honours for as long as their marriage should last. All official documents, including Acts of Parliament, were to be dated with both their names, and Parliament was to be called under the joint authority of the couple. An Act of Parliament gave him the title of king and stated that he "shall aid her Highness ... in the happy administration of her Grace's realms and dominions"[61] (although elsewhere the Act stated that Mary was to be "sole queen"). Nonetheless, Philip was to co-reign with his wife.[62]
|-| Elizabeth I[63]
17 November 1558
–
24 March 1603
See also: Elizabethan era. | | | 7 September 1533
Greenwich Palace
Daughter of Henry VIII
and Anne Boleyn| Unmarried| 24 March 1603
Richmond PalaceAged 69| Daughter of Henry VIII
Third Succession Act
|}
House of Stuart (1603–1649)
See main article: House of Stuart, Stuart period, Jacobean era and Caroline era. Elizabeth's cousin, King James VI of Scotland, succeeded to the English throne as James I in the Union of the Crowns. James was descended from the Tudors through his great-grandmother, Margaret Tudor, the eldest daughter of Henry VII and wife of James IV of Scotland. In 1604, he adopted the title King of Great Britain. However, the two parliaments remained separate until the Acts of Union 1707.[64]
|-| James I[65]
24 March 1603
–
27 March 1625
| | rowspan=2 | | 19 June 1566
Edinburgh Castle
Son of
Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley|
Anne of DenmarkOld Bishop's Palace, Oslo23 November 1589
7 children| 27 March 1625
Theobalds HouseAged 58| Great-great-grandson
heir general of
Henry VII
|-| Charles I[66]
27 March 1625
–
30 January 1649
| | 19 November 1600
Dunfermline Palace
Son of
James Iand
Anne of Denmark|
Henrietta Maria of FranceSt Augustine's Abbey13 June 1625
9 children| 30 January 1649
Whitehall PalaceExecuted aged 48| Son of
James I
Cognatic primogeniture
|}
First Interregnum (1649–1660)
See main article: Commonwealth of England and Interregnum (1649–1660). No monarch reigned after the 1649 execution of Charles I. Between 1649 and 1653, there was no single English head of state, as England was ruled directly by the Rump Parliament with the English Council of State acting as executive power during a period known as the Commonwealth of England.
After a coup d'etat in 1653, Oliver Cromwell forcibly took control of England from Parliament. He dissolved the Rump Parliament at the head of a military force and England entered The Protectorate period, under Cromwell's direct control with the title Lord Protector.
It was within the power of the Lord Protector to choose his heir and Oliver Cromwell chose his eldest son, Richard Cromwell, to succeed him.
|-| Oliver Cromwell
16 December 1653
–
3 September 1658[67]
| | rowspan=2 | | 25 April 1599
Huntingdon[67]
Son of
Robert Cromwelland Elizabeth Steward
[68] |
Elizabeth BourchierSt Giles[69] 22 August 1620
9 children
[67] | 3 September 1658
WhitehallAged 59
[67]
|-| Richard Cromwell
3 September 1658
–
7 May 1659[70]
| | 4 October 1626
Huntingdon
Son of
Oliver Cromwelland
Elizabeth Bourchier[70] |
Dorothy MaijorMay 1649
9 children
[70] | 12 July 1712
CheshuntAged 85
[71]
|}
Richard Cromwell was forcibly removed by the English Committee of Safety in May 1659. England again lacked any single head of state. After almost a year of anarchy, the monarchy was formally restored when Charles II returned from France to accept the throne.
House of Stuart (restored) (1660–1707)
See main article: Restoration (England). The Monarchy was restored under the rule of Charles II.
|-| Charles II[72]
29 May 1660
–
6 February 1685
| | rowspan=2 | | 29 May 1630
St James's Palace
Son of
Charles Iand
Henrietta Maria of France|
Catherine of BraganzaRoyal Garrison Church21 May 1662
No children| 6 February 1685
Whitehall PalaceAged 54| Son of
Charles I
Cognatic primogeniture
English Restoration
|-| James II[73]
6 February 1685
–
23 December 1688
(Overthrown after)| | 14 October 1633
St James's Palace
Son of Charles I
and Henrietta Maria of France|
Anne HydeWorchester House,
The Strand3 September 1660
8 children
Mary of ModenaDover Castle21 November 1673
7 children| 16 September 1701
Château de Saint-Germain-en-LayeAged 67| Son of Charles I
Cognatic primogeniture
|}
Second Interregnum 1688–1689
James II was ousted by Parliament less than four years after ascending to the throne, beginning the century's second interregnum. To settle the question of who should replace the deposed monarch, a Convention Parliament elected James' daughter Mary II and her husband (also his nephew) William III co-regents, in the Glorious Revolution.
Houses of Stuart and Orange
|-| Mary II[74]
13 February 1689
–
28 December 1694
| | | 30 April 1662
St James's Palace
Daughter of
James IIand
Anne Hyde|
William III of EnglandSt James's Palace
4 November 1677
No children| 28 December 1694
Kensington Palace
Aged 32| Daughter of
James II
Offered the Crown by Parliament
|-| William III[75]
William of Orange
13 February 1689
–
8 March 1702
| | | 4 November 1650
The Binnenhof
Son of
William II of Orangeand
Mary, Princess Royal of England|
Mary II of EnglandSt James's Palace4 November 1677
No children| 8 March 1702
Kensington PalaceAged 51| Grandson of
Charles I
Offered the Crown by Parliament
|-| Anne[76]
8 March 1702
–
1 May 1707
| | | 6 February 1665
St James's Palace
Daughter of James II
and Anne Hyde|
George of DenmarkSt James's Palace
28 July 1683
3 children| 1 August 1714
Kensington Palace
Aged 49| Daughter of James II
Cognatic primogeniture
Bill of Rights 1689
|}
While James and his descendants continued to claim the throne, all Catholics (such as James II's son and grandson, James Francis Edward and Charles respectively) were barred from the throne by the Act of Settlement 1701, enacted by Anne, another of James's Protestant daughters.
With the Acts of Union 1707, England as a sovereign state ceased to exist, replaced by the new Kingdom of Great Britain; see List of British monarchs.
Acts of Union
The Acts of Union 1707 were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed during 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to put into effect the Treaty of Union agreed on 22 July 1706. The acts joined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland (previously separate sovereign states, with separate legislatures but with the same monarch) into the Kingdom of Great Britain.[77]
England, Scotland, and Ireland had shared a monarch for more than a hundred years, since the Union of the Crowns in 1603, when King James VI of Scotland inherited the English and Irish thrones from his first cousin twice removed, Queen Elizabeth I.
Timeline
Titles
See main article: Style of the British sovereign.
The standard title for all monarchs from Æthelstan until the time of King John was ("King of the English"). In addition, many of the pre-Norman kings assumed extra titles, as follows:
- Æthelstan: ("King of All Britain")
- Edmund the Magnificent: ("King of Britain") and ("King of the English and of other peoples governor and director")
- Eadred: ("Reigning over the governments of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxons, Northumbrians, Pagans, and British")
- Eadwig the Fair: ("King by the will of God, Emperor of the Anglo-Saxons and Northumbrians, governor of the pagans, commander of the British")
- Edgar the Peaceful: ("King of all Albion and its neighbouring realms")
- Cnut the Great: ("King of the English and of all the British sphere governor and ruler") and ("Monarch of all the English of Britain")
In the Norman period remained standard, with occasional use of ("King of England"). The Empress Matilda styled herself ("Lady of the English").
From the time of King John onwards all other titles were eschewed in favour of or .
In 1604 James I, who had inherited the English throne the previous year, adopted the title (now usually rendered in English rather than Latin) King of Great Britain. The English and Scottish parliaments, however, did not recognise this title until the Acts of Union of 1707 under Queen Anne (who was Queen of Great Britain rather than king).
See also
Explanatory notes
Burials
References
Works cited
- Book: Handbook of British Chronology . Royal Historical Society . 1996 . 978-0-521-56350-5 . Fryde . Edmund B. . Edmund Fryde . 3rd.
Further reading
- Book: Wood, Michael . In Search of the Dark Ages . In Search of the Dark Ages . . 1981 . 978-0-563-52276-8 . 2005 Paperback . 106 . Offa maintained his supremacy until his death. And he did so by personal charisma and energy even though he was now about sixty. . Michael Wood (historian).
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Ashley, Mike . A Brief History of British Kings and Queens: British Royal History from Alfred the Great to the Present . 2003 . Running Press.
- Encyclopedia: Offa . The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England . Blackwell Publishing . Oxford . Keynes . Simon . 1999 . Simon Keynes . Lapidge . Michael . Michael Lapidge . 340 . 978-0-631-22492-1.
- Book: Keynes, Simon . The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England . 2001 . Lapidge . Michael . 514 . Rulers of the English, c 450–1066.
- Book: Pratt, David . The political thought of King Alfred the Great . 2007 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-80350-2 . Fourth Series . 67 . 106.
- Web site: Kings and Queens of England . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150206070811/http://britroyals.com/rulers.htm . 6 February 2015 . 4 February 2015 . britroyals.com. ; Web site: 2016-01-12 . Alfred 'The Great' (r. 871–899) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171001031708/https://www.royal.uk/alfred-great-r-871-899 . 1 October 2017 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edward 'The Elder' (r. 899–924) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015916/https://www.royal.uk/edward-elder-r-899-924 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Book: Yorke, Barbara . Bishop Æthelwold: His Career and Influence . 1988 . Woodbridge . 71 . Barbara Yorke.
- Book: Keynes, Simon . The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England . 2001 . Lapidge . Michael . 514 . Rulers of the English, c 450–1066.
- Book: Yorke, Barbara . Bishop Æthelwold: His Career and Influence . 1988 . Woodbridge . 71; f. 9v . Barbara Yorke. cited by Yorke.;
- Book: Miller, Sean . The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England . 2001 . Lapidge . Michael . 16 . Æthelstan.
- Book: Keynes, Simon . Edward, King of the Anglo-Saxons . 2001 . Routledge . Higham . N. J. . 50–51 . Edward the Elder . Simon Keynes . Hill . D. H..
- Web site: Aethelstan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070317141841/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/aethelstan.php . 17 March 2007 . 15 March 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Athelstan (r. 924–939) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015605/https://www.royal.uk/athelstan-r924-939 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: Eadmund (Edmund) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070317153130/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/edmund1.php . 17 March 2007 . 17 March 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edmund I (r. 939–946) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020156/https://www.royal.uk/edmund-i-r-939-946 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: Eadred (Edred) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070316194844/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/eadred.php . 16 March 2007 . 17 March 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: King Edred . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185621/http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=edred . 27 September 2007 . 17 March 2007 . britroyals.com. ; Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edred (r. 946–55) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015844/https://www.royal.uk/edred-r-946-55 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: Eadwig (Edwy) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070317081220/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/eadwig.php . 17 March 2007 . 17 March 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: Edwy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070405143908/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05324a.htm . 5 April 2007 . 17 March 2007 . newadvent.org. ; Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edwy (r. 955–959) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180701222307/https://www.royal.uk/edwy-r955-959 . 1 July 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: Eadgar (Edgar the Peacemaker) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070317153047/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/edgar1.php . 17 March 2007 . 17 March 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edgar (r. 959–975) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015628/https://www.royal.uk/edgar-r-959-975 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: Eadweard (Edward the Martyr) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070317092211/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/edwrd_martyr.php . 17 March 2007 . 17 March 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edward II 'The Martyr' (r. 975–978) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015433/https://www.royal.uk/edward-ii-martyr-r-975-978 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Ethelred II 'The Unready' (r. 978–1013 and 1014–1016) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020131/https://www.royal.uk/ethelred-ii-unready-r-978-1013-and-1014-1016 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: Sweyn (Forkbeard) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20071016193752/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/swen.php . 16 October 2007 . 27 October 2007 . archontology.org.
- Book: Rosborn, Sven . The Viking King's Golden Treasure. About the Curmsun Disc, the discovery of a lost manuscript, Harald Bluetooth's grave and the location of the fortress of Jomsborg . 2021 . Rivengate AB . 978-91-986780-1-7.
- Web site: Eadmund (Edmund the Ironside) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070317142153/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/edmund2.php . 17 March 2007 . 17 March 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edmund II 'Ironside' (r. Apr – Nov 1016) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015422/https://www.royal.uk/edmund-ii-ironside-r-apr-nov-1016 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: Edmund II (king of England) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20101122075300/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/179341/Edmund-II . 22 November 2010 . 25 March 2010 . Encyclopedia Britannica .
- Web site: Cnut (Canute) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070315160734/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/canut.php . 15 March 2007 . 21 March 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Canute 'The Great' (r. 1016–1035) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020144/https://www.royal.uk/canute-great-r-1016-1035 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- 12359 . Harold I .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Harold Harefoot (r. 1035–1040) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015959/https://www.royal.uk/harold-harefoot-r-1035-1040 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- 12252 . Harthacnut.
- Web site: Harthacnut . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20071016193744/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/anglosaxon/harthacnut.php . 16 October 2007 . 28 October 2007 . archontology.org. ; Web site: 2016-01-12 . Hardicanute (r. 1035–1042) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020022/https://www.royal.uk/hardicanute-r-1035-1042 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edward III 'The Confessor' (r. 1042–1066) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015707/https://www.royal.uk/edward-iii-confessor-r-1042-1066 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Harold II (r. Jan – Oct 1066) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015630/https://www.royal.uk/harold-ii-r-jan-oct-1066 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edgar Atheling (r. Oct – Dec 1066) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020244/https://www.royal.uk/edgar-atheling-r-oct-dec-1066 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . William I 'The Conqueror' (r. 1066–1087) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015730/https://www.royal.uk/william-i-conqueror-r-1066-1087 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . William II (Known as William Rufus) (r. 1087–1100) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020304/https://www.royal.uk/william-ii-known-william-rufus-r-1087-1100 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Henry I 'Beauclerc' (r. 1100–1135) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015856/https://www.royal.uk/henry-i-beauclerc-r-1100-1135 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Stephen and Matilda (r. 1135–1154) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015616/https://www.royal.uk/stephen-and-matilda-r-1135-1154 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: Matilda (the Empress) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20071016193944/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/king_england/matilda.php . 16 October 2007 . 27 October 2007 . archontology.org.
- Book: Ashley, Mike . The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens . 1999 . Robinson Publishing Ltd . 978-1-84119-096-9 . London . 516.
- Book: Norris, Herbert . Medieval Costume and Fashion . 1999 . Courier Dover Publications . 978-0-486-40486-8 . illustrated, reprint . 312.
- Book: Pine, Leslie Gilbert . A Dictionary of mottoes . 1983 . Routledge . 978-0-7100-9339-4 . 53.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Henry II 'Curtmantle' (r. 1154–1189) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180102013038/https://www.royal.uk/henry-ii-curtmantle-r-1154-1189 . 2 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Richard I Coeur de Lion ('The Lionheart') (r.1189–1199) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020118/https://www.royal.uk/richard-i-coeur-de-lion-lionheart-r1189-1199 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . John Lackland (r. 1199–1216) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015904/https://www.royal.uk/john-lackland-r-1199-1216 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: England: Louis of France's Claim to the Throne of England: 1216–1217 . 30 May 2012 . Archontology.org.
- "The Only Two Louis in British History". TheCrownChronicles.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- Book: Hanley, Catherine . Louis: The French Prince Who Invaded England . 2016 . Yale University Press . 978-0-300-22164-0 . 1066, 1208 . en.
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Henry III (r. 1216–1272) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180106174607/https://www.royal.uk/henry-iii-r-1216-1272 . 6 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edward I 'Longshanks' (r. 1272–1307) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020307/https://www.royal.uk/edward-i-longshanks-r-1272-1307 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edward II (r. 1307–1327) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020057/https://www.royal.uk/edward-ii-r-1307-1327 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Edward III (r. 1327–1377) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020011/https://www.royal.uk/edward-iii-r-1327-1377 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: 2016-01-12 . Richard II (r. 1377–1399) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015943/https://www.royal.uk/richard-ii-r-1377-1399 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Mortimer . Ian . Ian Mortimer (historian) . 2007 . Henry IV's date of birth and the royal Maundy . . 80 . 210 . 567–576 . 10.1111/j.1468-2281.2006.00403.x . 0950-3471.
- Web site: 2016-01-14 . Henry IV (r.1399–1413) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134420/https://www.royal.uk/henry-iv-r1399-1413 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk. ; .
- Allmand. Christopher. Christopher Allmand. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford, England, UK . September 2010 . Henry V (1386–1422) . 10.1093/ref:odnb/12952. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- Web site: 2016-01-14 . Henry V (r. 1413–1422) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020240/https://www.royal.uk/henry-v-r-1413-1422 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk. ; .
- News: Berry . Ciara . 2016-01-14 . Henry VI (r.1422–1461 and 1470–1471) . The Royal Family . live . 16 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015450/https://www.royal.uk/henry-vi-r1422-1461-and-1470-1471 . 25 January 2018.
- Web site: 2016-01-14 . Edward IV (r. 1461–1470 and 1471–1483) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015445/https://www.royal.uk/edward-iv-r-1461-1470-and-1471-1483 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Web site: 2016-01-14 . Edward V (Apr–Jun 1483) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020046/https://www.royal.uk/edward-v-apr-jun-1483 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- .
- Web site: Richard III . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20071016194004/http://www.archontology.org/nations/england/king_england/richard3b.php . 16 October 2007 . 25 October 2007 . archontology.org.
- Web site: 2016-01-14 . Richard III (r. 1483–1485) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125020013/https://www.royal.uk/richard-iii-r-1483-1485 . 25 January 2018 . 16 January 2018 . royal.gov.uk.
- Michael K. Jones and Malcolm G. Underwood, The King's Mother: Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, (Cambridge University Press, 1995), 19–20.
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