A HISTORY OF THE
ENGLISH MONARCHY
TIMELINE OF HOUSES
THE HOUSE OF WESSEX
 This family, or “House,” supplied most of the kings of England between 800 and
1066 A.D.
 Egbert (802-839): First of line
 Alfred the Great (871-899): Successfully defended against Viking conquest
 Ethelred the Unready (978-1013; 1014-1016): Younger brother of Edward
the Martyr, lost crown to the Danes.
 Edward the Confessor (1042-1066): Last of line, began construction of
Westminster Abbey (later torn down and rebuilt by Henry VIII).
HOUSE OF DENMARK
 Sweyn Forkbeard (1012-1014): First of Danish kings to defeat English and
take crown. Crown returned to Athelred of Wessex upon his death in
1014, until . . .
 Cnut the Great (1016-1035): Forkbeard’s son defeats Athelred’s son,
Edmund Ironside, to retake crown.
 Harold Harefoot (1035-1040): Known for his speed in battle; possibly
poisoned on throne by . . .
 Harthcnut (1040-1042): Harold’s half-brother. Last of line, died under
mysterious circumstances (a common fatal malady for kings); Wessex line
restored with Edmund the Confessor.
HOUSE OF NORMANDY
 William I (1066-1087): “William the Conquerer” defeated King Harold at
the Battle of Hastings. Ordered Domesday Book: comprehensive survey of
English landholders and taxable property.
 Henry I (1100-1135): Did much to unite Norman and English populations,
including marrying a granddaughter of Edmund Ironside. Loss of his son
in shipwreck put succession in jeopardy. Named his daughter, Empress
Mathilda to succeed but, upon his death, his nephew Stephen of Blois
seized the throne, leading to The Anarchy, 1135-1153.
THE ANARCHY
1135-1153
 Can be considered the first English Civil War
 Mostly a series of sieges led by barons loyal either to Empress Mathilda or
Stephen of Blois.
 London declared Stephen rightful king, and his interests controlled most
territory for significant period of conflict.
 In 1147 Henry Fitzempress, son of Empress Mathilda, leads small army to
several victories over Stephen. A long stalemate ensues.
 When his own son, Eustace, dies after several unsuccessful attempts to
name him official successor, Stephen enters into peace negotiations and,
with the Treaty of Winchester, declares Henry the successor.
HOUSE OF PLANTAGENET
 Henry II (1154-1189): Established “English Common Law” system of
courts and judges weighing precedent.
 Richard I (1189-1199): Richard “the Lionhearted,” great warrior who put
down multiple rebellions against his father; truth be told, he spent more
time on quests and holy pilgrimage than in England.
 John (1199-1216): The opposite of his older brother, Richard, John was a
weak king; unpopular wars, high taxes, and errant behavior led feudal
barons to force his signing of the Magna Charta in 1215, placing
limitations upon the king’s power.
 Edward III (1321-1377): Another military genius, established England as a
significant military power in its time. Additionally the House of Lords and
House of Commons were established in Parliament during his reign.
HOUSE OF LANCASTER
 Henry IV (1399-1413): Usurped throne from his cousin, Richard II (and
leapfrogged Edmund Mortimer). Named Chaucer Court Poet and was
buried in Canterbury Cathedral.
 Henry V (1413-1422): Waged successful war on France (nearly conquered
whole country). Subject of three Shakespeare plays.
 Henry VI (1422-1461; 1470-1471): More suited to monastic duties than
politics, he ultimately lost the throne to the House of York.
WARS OF THE ROSES
1455-1485
 Sporadic struggle for power between two rival Plantagenet heirs, the
House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose).
 Henry VI was but an infant when his father died.
 Richard, Duke of York, was, like Henry, a direct descendant of Edward III
and claimed title by right of primogeniture (descended of the third son of
Edward vs. fourth son and a direct descendent of Edmund Mortimer)
 After Richard’s death in battle, his son, Edward, continued the fight and
defeated Henry VI to take the crown as Edward IV in 1461.
 Henry VI was briefly restored to throne when Edward’s advisors plotted
against him in 1470
 Within the year Edward returned with an army; at the ensuing battle of
Tewkesbury the George’s son, the Prince of Wales was killed and George
died of “natural causes” on the night Edward re-entered London.
THE HOUSE OF YORK
 Edward IV (1461-1470; 1471-1483): Ultimately victorious in the War of
Roses, effectively eliminated all House of Lancaster supporters save Henry
Tudor, who escaped into exile. Reconciled country under successful
second rule.
 Edward V (1483): 13 year-old son of king was placed into Tower of
London with his younger brother “for their protection” by their uncle,
Richard. Died under mysterious circumstances.
 Richard III (1483-1485): Brother of Edward IV, he died at the hands of
Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth field, ending both the reign of the
House of York and the War of the Roses. Portrayed as crippled,
manipulative villain in Shakespeare’s play.
HOUSE OF TUDOR
 Henry VII (1485-1509): Did much to restore political stability, but
economic policies ravaged nation.
 Henry VIII (1509-1547): A very popular king in his heyday; six marriages
and separation of the Church of England from Rome
 Edward VI (1547-1553): Child-king but a progressive-minded Protestant
 Mary I (1553-1558): Despite contemporary label as “Bloody Mary,” her
ascension to throne (and restoration of Catholicism) was very popular
among the masses, until her marriage to the King of Spain
 Elizabeth I (1558-1603): Oversees golden age of England; the “Virgin
Queen” leaves no heirs, ending the Tudor line
HOUSE OF STUART
 James I (1603-1625): Son of the executed Mary Queen of Scots, his
ascension united the English and Scottish crowns. Scholarly minded, he
sponsored the definitive English translation of the Bible
 Charles I (1625-1649): Second son of James, he warred with Parliament,
was considered tyrannical by his subjects due to his seemingly random
taxations to fund ongoing wars with Spain, and his association with
Catholicism bred deep distrust leading to the English Civil War.
 Charles II (1660-1685): With Restoration, a highly popular king, restoring
art, culture, and a bit of hedonism following the long Puritan rule. Died
“childless” (his twelve bastard children didn’t count), so was succeeded by
his brother, James.
 Anne (1707-1714): Died childless, last of line.
THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
1642-1651
HOUSE OF HANOVER
 George I (1714-1727): Ascended to throne as most direct protestant
descendant of James I (great grandson through line of daughters). His
reign, and that of his brothers, saw Parliament, led by a prime minister,
grow into its current state as primary arbiter of law.
 George III (1760-1820): His long rule saw the loss of the American
colonies but the defeat of Napoleon. Last ten years ruled by Prince
Regent as the elder George succumbed to mental illness.
 Victoria (1837-1901): Like Elizabeth, gave her name to an age of British
political dominance and artistic achievement.
 Edward VII (1901-1910): First and last in House of Saxe-Coburg (after his
father Lord Albert); House name changed to Windsor during WWI in
reaction to anti-German sentiment.
HOUSE OF WINDSOR
 George V (1910-1936): Cousin to both Czar Nicholas of Russia and Kaiser
Wilhelm of Germany, changed house name to Windsor to distance from
German aggression on continent.
 Edward VIII (1936): Abdicated throne to marry American divorcée Wallis
Simpson
 George VI (1936-1952): Was inspirational to nation during dark years of
WWII but, by war’s end, had seen most of the final vestiges of actual
power removed from the royalty.
 Elizabeth II (1952-present): Current monarch.