KINGS AND QUEENS OF ENGLAND

AN INTRODUCTION

Many teachers and students of English History tend to begin with the Battle of Hastings in 1066, which is to overlook the contribution of earlier Kings, but here is a brief history:

Brittania was the most northerly part of the great Roman Empire. The early Britons finally yielded to the might of Rome in the form of an army under the banner of Emperor Claudius which annexed the Brittanic Islands in 43AD and established better trade, efficient administration, new roads and new towns. Incidentally, every town with a name ending in 'chester' or 'caster' or 'cester' was once a Roman town. For example Doncaster, Dorchester and Cirencester.

The main Roman towns were: Londinium (London), Verulamium (St Albans), Corinium (Cirencester), Dubris (Dover), Lindum (Lincoln), Eboracum (York), Dunelm (Durham), Deva (Chester), Calleva (Silchester), Venta (Winchester), Ratae (Leicester), Glevum (Gloucester), Camulodunum (Colchester - the first Roman capital, before Londinium).

There followed almost 370 years of Roman rule, until in 410 AD the final legion was recalled to defend Rome. The Romano-British settlers and their slaves were left undefended from further invasions and occupation. These New Britons and old Celts were gradually displaced to the high grounds of Wales and Scotland by invading settlers of Germanic origin: Jutes, Angles and Saxons. To the Britons, all Germanic tribes tended to be called Saxon, yet our country takes its name from the tribe of Angles. (Angle-land - England).

Initially, there were seven smaller kingdoms: Kent; Sussex; Essex, East Anglia, Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria. They were known collectively as The Heptarchy.

Some, like Kent and Northumbria, fought to convert their neighbours to Christianity, which was brought to England in 597AD by St. Augustine.

Northumbria was the first to gain the upper hand, followed by Mercia (Middle lands), but when King Offa of Mercia died in 796AD, Wessex established itself as the dominant Kingdom. In 829AD Egbert of Wessex became in effect, King of England.

By the 9th century, the necessity was for all the kingdoms to turn their attention to another invader, the Vikings. These seafaring adventurers came from Scandinavia. The strongest English leader at this time was Alfred, King of Wessex, 871AD - 899AD. First he 'did a deal' with the invaders and paid Danegeld - a trbute in money, to buy time. When he finally defeated his Danish enemies he ruled that they be allowed to live in their own settlements and be observed equal under the law. Alfred's reign was one of strong, fair governance, and the encouragement of learning. The only king of England to be styled 'The Great', Alfred's reign was thus described by a contemporary: "The aim of all his work was to promote the good of his people".

There followed a period of short, often bloody rule by members of the house of Wessex, until King Aethelred II was driven out of England by the Dane, Sweyn Forkbeard. Forkbeard died the following year to be succeeded by his capable son, Canute. (Cnut). At their council - The Witan - the nobles of the South Saxon (Sussex nowadays) tribe restored Aethelred to the throne. He died the following year and his son Edmund Ironside had to fight Canute for the throne. Canute won the Battle of Ashingdon in 1016, but agreed to share the country's rule with Edmund. Edmund died suddenly shortly thereafter and Canute was chosen to reign as King of all England.

In 1017, Canute married Eathelred's widow, Emma of Normandy, and divided the kingdom into four Earldoms: Northumbria, Wessex, Mercia and East Anglia.

In 1035 Canute died and the throne was usurped by Harold Harefoot from Harthacanute the rightful heir. Then in 1040, Harold died and Harthacanute succeeded, but dying soon after in 1042 to be succeeded by Eathelred II's son, Edward (the Confessor).

In 1045 Edward married Edith, daughter of Godwine, Earl of Wessex. In 1051 Edward banished Godwine and his family and welcomed William Duke of Normandy to his court. William won a promise that he should be named as Edward's successor, a move which greatly angered the mainly Saxon nobility. Harold Godwine returned to England the following year and was restored to the Earldom of Wessex. In 1052 Edward the Confessor began construction of a new church for the Benedictine Monastery (or Minster) to the West of the City of London which would later become known as Westminster Abbey. The following year Godwine died and his son Harold succeeded as Earl of Wessex and became principal advisor to the King.

It is believed by many chroniclers that in 1064 Harold was shipwrecked off the Normandy coast and was taken to the court of Duke William of Normandy. It's said that he stayed some time, hunted and even fought alongside William and on one infamous occasion swore an oath to support any future claim by William to the English throne. However, in early January 1066, just a few  days after the consecration of his new Abbey church Edward died. Harold, Earl of Wessex claimed the throne - a claim widely supported in Anglo-Saxon England, ratified by the Witan, but it brought an immediate response from William of Normandy!

We’ve seen 42 Kings and Queens since the battle of Hastings in 1066, when William I, Duke of Normandy, the last ‘foreign’ invader successfully gained the English throne.

To remember their correct order, some history students used to learn a little rhyme in school. Here it is:

Willie, Willie, Harry Steve;

Harry, Dick, John, Harry three;

One, two, three Neds, Richard two;

Henry four five six, then who?

Edward four, five, Dick the bad,

Harry’s twain and Ned the lad.

Mary, Bessie, James the vain,

Charlie, Charlie, James again;

William and Mary, Anna gloria,

Four George’s, William, and Victoria.

Edward seven, Georgie five,

Edward, Georgie, Liz - alive!        

Return to A Brief History of Britain           KIDS! You can click here if you want to return to the Kids pages - but why not read on and learn some more?

Ok, now for a little more detail....

THE NORMANS

"WILLIE" - King William I - 1066-1087

Married Matilda of Flanders, 10 children. The Duke of Normandy, as the last foreigner to successfully invade and conquer, is also known as 'William The Conqueror'. He defeated the Saxon king, Harold at the Battle of Hastings on 14th October 1066. Crowned in Westminster Abbey on 25th December 1066, where all his successors to the present time (except two) were to be crowned. A castle-builder, strong, but also cruel, he organised the first real census for taxing his new people - 'the Domesday book'- it can be seen at the Public Records Office, London. Buried: Caen Cathedral, Normandy. TOP

"WILLIE" - King William II - 1087-1100

Son of the conqueror. Known as 'William Rufus', due to his red complexion. He was a cruel tyrant, but a good general. Defeated the Scots and the Welsh, also the Norman Barons who supported his older brother Robert, the Duke of Normandy. Denied powers to the church and lived a cruel, ungodly life so their chroniclers don't have too many good things to say about him! Kiilled by being 'accidentally' shot with an arrow whilst hunting in the New Forest. Buried in Winchester Cathedral.  TOP

"HARRY" - King Henry I - 1100-1135

Married Edith of Scotland. 4 children. Nicknamed Beauclerk, the third son of the conqueror. As strong as his father, but just too. Began his reign by issuing a charter to uphold the rights of Englishmen. Healed old quarrels between Anglo-Saxons & Normans. He married an Anglo-Saxon princess and tried to increase his lands by marrying his daughter, Matilda, to Geoffrey le Bel, Count of Anjou, who wore a sprig of broom or plantagée in his helmet - see Plantagenet below. When Henry’s son was drowned Matilda and her husband inherited a vast empire in England and France, but the English barons refused to be ruled by a woman, so they supported Henry’s nephew Stephen, as king. Buried at Reading Abbey, Berkshire, (now ruined).   TOP

"STEVE" - King Stephen - 1135-1154

Married Matilda of Boulogne. 5 children. Stephen spent much of his reign fighting Matilda for the crown, whilst the barons did as they wished. The strong government of William 1st and his sons faded away. There was chaos and anarchy until an agreement was finally reached: Stephen would reign, but when he died the crown would pass to Matilda’s son, Henry. His tomb was not discovered until 1965. Buried at Faversham Abbey, Faversham, Kent.   TOP

THE PLANTAGANETS

"HARRY" - King Henry II - 1154-1189

Married Eleanor of Aquitaine. 8 children. The first Plantaganet (a corruption of 'plantagée') king of England. He looked like his great uncle Rufus; red complexion, short, thick-set, and energetic. He brought the barons under control, then made improvements to the law. Innocence or guilt was still being ‘proved’ by various cruel and archaic ‘trials’. Henry introduced the 12 man jury system for deciding innocence or guilt, but he also came into conflict with the church, whose powers were great. He attempted to limit them by choosing his own man, Thomas Becket, for Archbishop of Canterbury. However, the ensuing arguments between the old friends resulted in Becket’s murder at the hands of four of the king’s knights, following a careless remark of the King, like “can no one avenge me of this turbulent priest..”. Later, the King walked barefoot through the City of Canterbury to show public penitence, before allowing himself to be scourged (whipped) by the priests. The following year he re-conquered Ireland and forced the Irish Princes to swear loyalty to him. The country, meanwhile, had grown rich, but Henry's sons were constantly fighting for power and threatening rebellion against him. He was old and tired. When he heard that his youngest, favourite son, John, had joined the rebellion, he said, ‘I care for nothing in the world now’, and died the next day. Buried at Fontevraud Abbey Church, Anjou, France.  TOP

"DICK" - King Richard I - 1189-1199

Married Berengaria of Navarre, France. No children. Richard was Henry’s 3rd son. (2 others died before their father) He was renowned for his bravery, earning the name ‘Coeur de Lion’, or ‘Lionheart’. (The Lion featured on his personal Royal Banner (flag) and three Lions 'couchant' became England's symbol). Richard, however was rarely in England, and spent most of his reign fighting Crusades in the ‘Holy Lands’. He was returning to England after 3 years absence on a Crusade when he was captured in Austria. His people had to pay a massive ransom to get him back. He had not been home long and he was off again, fighting in France. It was there where he died of wounds received during a siege. Buried at Fontevraud Abbey Church, Anjou.   TOP

"JOHN" - King John - 1199-1216

Married (1) Isabella of Gloucester. No children. Married (2) Isabella of Angouleme. 5 children. John was a clever and shrewd man who liked to joke and could be amusing company. Unfortunately, he was also untrustworthy and unsuccessful in war. All English-held lands in France were lost again to the French, and John’s attempts to raise taxes and control the Barons and Church whilst his country was losing territories, did not endear him to them. He was eventually forced to 'sign' Magna Carta. (The Great Charter). Within a year John had the Pope declare that his agreement had been obtained unlawfully, and so obtained release from it's obligations. Civil war quickly followed. The king was taken ill and died during the uprising. (Incidentally, on a march through the swampy Fens area of East Anglia, about 90 miles north-east of London, the baggage cart containing the Crown Jewels was lost, and they’ve never been found!). Buried in Worcester Cathedral.  TOP

"HARRY THREE" - King Henry III - 1216-1272

Married Eleanor of Provence. 9 children. John’s eldest son Henry was just 9 months old when his father died. A religious man, admirer of Edward the Confessor and lover of beautiful things - we can see the results today at Salisbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. But Henry angered the barons who still believed that they should have a say in the governance of the country and to make things worse, he did not govern wisely or well. Trying to regain the lands lost in France during his father’s reign, he was defeated. The baron’s leader, Simon de Montfort, an able but proud man, led rebellions against the king and gained the first ‘parlement’ - (from the French verb parler, to speak). For the first time, men who were leading citizens of towns were able to join churchmen and Barons in making decisions. Montfort was later killed by Henry’s son, Edward at the Battle of Evesham and the king was restored. Peace and stability returned, but Parliament was here to stay, albeit with limited power. Buried in Westminster Abbey alongside Edward the Confessor's tomb/shrine.   TOP

"ONE,.." - King Edward I - 1272-1307

Married (1) Eleanor of Castile. 16 children. (2) Margaret of France. 3 children. Edward I was the most capable king since Henry II. A tall man, his nickname was ‘Longshanks’. He was also intelligent, good-looking and industrious. He got a bad press with the Scots for constantly trying to subdue them to unite the Britannic Isles under one Royal House. He was more successful in Wales though, and his son Edward became the first English-born Prince of Wales, starting the tradition where the eldest son of the Monarch of Great Britain becomes fully invested with the title 'Prince of Wales' on reaching his 'majority'. (Normally at 21 years of age). The ceremony usually takes place in Caernarfon Castle, North Wales. Buried in Westminster Abbey, next to his father and opposite Edward the Confessor's tomb/shrine.   TOP

"TWO,.."- King Edward II - 1307-1327

Married Isabella of France. 4 children. Like many of the Plantagenets was tall and good looking, but unfortunately possessed a weak and effeminate character; therefore, nothing like as successful as his father. Edward II failed dismally against the ‘old enemy’ Scotland, and was defeated at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. (Every Scotsman remembers this event and the date with pride). The military failure, plus his dalliance with male ‘favourites’, led to the King's unpopularity with the powerful leaders of the day. Eventually, his wife and her lover gained support and forced him to relinquish the throne. He was imprisoned in Berkeley Castle and starved, but thanks to a strong constitution stubbornly continued to live. The problem was solved, according to disputed legend, when he was finally horribly murdered with a red hot poker, or similar object, having so obstinately refused to die of 'neglect'. It's said that it was used in such a way as to leave no outwardly visible evidence of the foul deed! Ouch! Buried in Gloucester Cathedral.   TOP

"THREE NED'S" - King Edward III - 1327-1377

Married Philippa of Hainault. 13 children. Edward III succeeded to the throne after the deposition of his father by his mother, Queen Isabella, and her lover, Roger Mortimer. In 1330 the young Edward took Mortimer prisoner at Nottingham Castle, executing him at Tyburn, London, the following month. He then put his mother under house arrest and ruled alone. The Black Death wiped out half the population in 1348. By claiming the French crown through his French mother, Edward started the Hundred Years War with France. A great victory was won at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. In his History of the English Speaking Peoples, Sir Winston Churchill said that Crecy, ranked with Blenheim, Waterloo and the final advance in the summer of the last year of the Great War (1914-1918) ‘as one of the four supreme achievements of the British Army’. There is no doubt that the power and accuracy of the ‘English’ (sic. Welsh) longbow was infinitely superior to the crossbow used by the French and Genoese archers.

During his long reign the King encouraged the woollen industry - prized for its quality on the continent, and doing much to earn foreign revenue. His son, John of Gaunt ran the government at the end, when the King became feeble and fell under the influence of his greedy mistress, Alice Perrers. Buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.  TOP

"RICHARD TWO" - King Richard II - 1377-1399

Married (1) Anne of Bohemia. (2) Isabella of France. No children. Richard II was the son of Edward, the Black Prince, and Joan of Kent. The Black Prince was Edward III’s son and heir, but died the year before his father. A talented and precocious boy, Richard saved the day during the Peasants Revolt of 1381, by showing courage and confronting the rebels outside London. The confrontation led to the death at the hands of London’s Lord Mayor of Wat Tyler the rebel leader, but the young King persuaded the mob to go peacefully to their homes. Later, his policies grew erratic and his popularity waned. A rebellion led by his cousin, Henry, Duke of Lancaster, (son of John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III), brought his abdication and ultimate death in Pontefract Castle. Eventually buried in Westminster Abbey on the orders of Henry V in the same tomb as his first wife.   TOP

"HENRY FOUR" - King Henry IV -1399-1413

Married (1) Mary de Bohun. 7 children. (2) Joan of Navarre. Henry claimed his crown after forcing his cousin’s abdication by ‘right of blood line from Henry III’. It was accepted by Parliament. His position was soon consolidated by pursuing sound practical government. Having used the excuse that Richard II was a tyrant for taking the crown, Henry could not act like a tyrant himself, and allowed the influence of Parliament to grow. Having seen the problems caused by Edward III’s many, powerful sons, he preferred a strong Parliament to strong Barons. He had been helped to gain the throne by the great Duke of Northumberland and his son, Henry Hotspur. These two felt that they had not been properly rewarded for their aid and turned against King Henry. They found a powerful ally in Owen Glendower, a descendant of the Welsh princes who saw a chance to rid Wales of English domination. However, Hotspur was killed in the Battle of Shrewsbury, and Glendower’s threat from Wales was gradually broken. Buried in Canterbury Cathedral, the only English King to lie there.  TOP

"FIVE" - King Henry V - 1413-1422

Married Catherine (De Valois) of France. 1 son. After a rather wild youth, Henry succeeded his father, Henry IV. As a boy he loved outdoor activities and could ride, swim, bend a bow and hunt by the age of ten. He was also a fine scholar and an accomplished musician. Once King he proved himself a shrewd tactician - both militarily and politically - merciful to his enemies and devoutly religious. He renewed the Hundred Years War with France, showing great generalship and defeating the French at the Battle of Agincourt on 25th October, 1415. He lost only 113 (some reports say 400) English soldiers, compared with French losses of ‘5,000 French gentlemen of quality’. The subsequent peace treaty gave him the French King Charles VI’s daughter, Catherine De Valois* as wife. The king also acknowledged his new son-in-law as his heir to the throne of France. Sadly this ambition was not achieved because he died of dysentery at Vincennes in 1422, his father-in-law dying the next month. Henry's 10 month old son Henry, therefore inherited both crowns, but later proved unable to hold on to his French possessions. (*Through her subsequent marriage to Owain Tudur - the Welsh spelling - Catherine is the grandmother of Henry VII - the first of the Royal House of the Tudors). Buried in Westminster Abbey.  TOP

"SIX (THEN WHO?)" - King Henry VI - 1422-1461

Married Margaret of Anjou. 1 son. Henry was only 3 months old when he became king. Gentle, religious and a little feeble minded. The country was ruled by his uncles and the war in France went badly, as Joan of Arc led her people to victory. At home, the great nobles raised private armies, and the country became lawless. Henry’s wife, Margaret of Anjou dominated him, and at one time he became too sick to govern. Parliament appointed the Duke of York, Prince Edward as Protector of the Kingdom. On Henry’s recovery, his wife persuaded him to dismiss the Duke of York and the 'War of The Roses' began. The two sides, Yorkists and Lancastrians, both had a claim to the throne. Henry was descended from John of Gaunt, son of Edward III, and Edward was descended from another son of Edward III. (According to legend, Lancastrians wore a red rose, Yorkists a white one). The fighting was really between the armies of the great nobles and many of the common folk were not too much involved. Generally the battles were small scale, nevertheless, between periods of peace, the war dragged on for 30 years. The Duke of York was killed in 1460, but the next year his son Edward beat the Lancastrians, with help from the powerful Earl of Warwick, ‘the King-maker’. Parliament proclaimed Edward King and Henry went to the Tower of London as a prisoner. His throne was given back briefly in 1470 when Warwick had switched sides. However, Edward was to triumph, killing Warwick and later taking Henry prisoner at the Battle of Barnet in 1471. The rather pathetic pawn in this tale, King Henry VI was finally murdered at the Tower shortly after his re-imprisonment. (see below). Buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.  TOP

"EDWARD FOUR" - King Edward IV - 1461-1483

Married Elizabeth Woodville. 10 children. Edward IV was a fine young man, very popular with all who knew him, except for one fault: he was indolent. Initially, he left the government to the Earl of Warwick, and things ran smoothly. But a bad marriage, for love, to an ambitious family, ensured the enmity of Warwick. Warwick changed sides, attacked with help from Margaret of Anjou, Henry’s queen, who invaded from France. Edward had to flee and Henry was briefly made king, but Edward returned, killed Warwick at the Battle of Barnet in 1471, and Henry was again sent to the tower where he died - see above. It’s known that Richard, Duke of Gloucester and the future King Richard III, was at the Tower that day and could well have been involved in Henry’s death. He certainly showed great zeal in fighting for his older brother Edward’s claim to the throne and was the kind of man who would stop at nothing. He was later implicated in the disappearance of his brother’s sons, Edward and Richard, ‘the Princes at the Tower’. (See Edward V). The rest of Edward’s reign was peaceful and trade began to increase steadily. He died at age 42, and so England had another child king again. Buried: St George’s Chapel, Windsor.  TOP

"FIVE" - King Edward V - 1483

The dead King’s brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester was appointed Lord Protector and placed the young King Edward and his younger brother Richard in the Tower, for their ‘safety’. They disappeared, after their uncle had claimed the crown himself. Their bodies were not found until 1674 and then buried in Westminster Abbey. (The bones were given a detailed forensic examination in 1933). No-one has proven that Richard ordered their deaths, but it is accepted by most historians that he probably did, fearing for the security of his reign whilst they lived. The tower they were believed to have been lodged in, the Garden tower, now acquired a new name; 'the Bloody Tower'. Buried in Westminster Abbey. (Another suspect? How about King Henry VII - he also would have feared other competition for the throne (once Richard was deposed/killed). He certainly built a fantastic new chapel, no expense spared, at Westminster Abbey in expiation of 'sins', and to provide a burial place for himself and his family, next to his relative and predecessor Lancastrian King Henry VI who was being put forward for canonisation. (In fact it didn't come about, the price asked by Rome was just too much, it's said. So Henry VI's body remained in St Georges Chapel at Windsor!).   TOP

"DICK THE BAD" - King Richard III - 1483-1485

Married Anne Neville. 1 son who died in 1484. As described above, Richard has not been remembered as one of history’s ‘good guys’; however, he did in a short three year reign give good government, introduce fairer laws, including the bail law, and was highly popular in the north country, where he had spent a large part of his brother’s reign acting as steward for him. He was defeated, by the Lancastrian pretender, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond at the Battle of Bosworth Field, in 1485. He fought bravely against overwhelming odds, when a large part of his army deserted to the enemy, and was killed. Buried at Leicester Abbey, Leicester, but later disinterred during the Tudor suppression of the monasteries & thrown into the River Soar, by Bow Bridge.   TOP

THE TUDORS

"HARRY'S TWAIN" - King Henry VII - 1485-1509

Married Elizabeth of York. 8 children. Henry really had no legitimate claim to the crown, for the Beauforts from whom he was descended from John of Gaunt, Edward III’s fourth son, were barred from inheriting the throne. On his father’s side, he was descended from the Valois kings of France, through his grandmother, Catherine De Valois, who had secretly married her handsome Welsh squire, Owen Tudor, after the death of her husband, King Henry V. (It’s likely that much of their courtship took place at Leeds Castle in Kent, away from the larger and less private Court in London). After his victory at the Battle of Bosworth, Henry strengthened his hold on the crown by marrying the most eligible lady on the Yorkist side, Princess Elizabeth of York, daughter of King Edward IV and sister of the tragic boy King Edward V. Henry was careful to keep peace, grow the economy and enrich the royal coffers. He re-built the Lady Chapel, now named Henry VII chapel at Westminster Abbey, as penance for sins, and lies there with his wife, and later Stuart descendant, King James I.  TOP

("HARRY'S TWAIN") - King Henry VIII -1509-1547

Married: Catherine of Aragon, 1 daughter - Mary; Anne Boleyn - 1 daughter, Elizabeth; Jane Seymour - 1 son, Edward; Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr. Henry was the second son of Henry VII, and a very different character. Good looking, athletic, musical, intelligent, highly educated, as second son, he did not expect to become king. He was hoping for a career in the church and could possibly have become a senior Bishop - being of Royal blood he would quickly have held high office. However, his older brother Arthur died leaving a young widow, Catherine of Aragon, who was quickly married on to young Henry. He soon changed, becoming much more serious about dynastic and state matters. He became the first head of the Church of England after a break with the papacy, the Excommunication over the question of his ‘divorce’ from Catherine. The marriage had failed to yield any sons, just one surviving child, a daughter, Mary. The next marriage to Anne Boleyn saw a repetition of events, a daughter, Elizabeth. Poor Anne, who had made enemies at court, was accused, probably falsely, of having relationships with other men. She was tried, convicted and beheaded. The third marriage, to Jane Seymour, produced a son, but Jane died within 10 days of the birth from complications, probably septicaemia, the most common cause in those times. He reluctantly agreed to marry again - the boy was weak and not expected to live - but the marriage to Anne of Cleves was a disaster. The king refused to consummate it, although he was coerced into going through with the ceremony. A quick divorce settlement, which included Anne Boleyn’s family home, Hever Castle, saw the king free to marry again. The old fool fell head-over-heels for a pretty, witty young thing, Catherine Howard, who did cheat on him, got caught and yes, you guessed it .. lost her head! The final marriage was peaceful. A more sensible, mature lady, a third Catherine - Parr, saw out the king’s last years. His will instructed that he be buried with Jane and Catherine; trouble is, Catherine re-married after the old tyrant’s death, and is buried at Sudeley Castle her last husband's place! (The best laid plans, etc.) In fact Catherine's third husband was Thomas Seymour - she'd loved him before the King asked her to marry and so had had to wait a while - but sadly died in childbirth less than a year into the new marriage. And the name Seymour? Yes, he was one of the brothers of Jane Seymour - Henry VIII's third wife, his 'much-loved Jane'! What an incestuous lot they were at the Court in those days ... Young children today remember the fate of Henry's 6 wives thus: ‘divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived’. Buried with Jane Seymour in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.   TOP

"AND NED, THE LAD." - King Edward VI - 1547-1553

Edward was a bright, sensitive youth, who suffered from consumption (TB) and other life-threatening conditions. Contrary to contemporary medical expectations, the boy did survive his father, becoming King at 10. He vigorously supported the Protestant Reformation begun during the final years of his father’s reign. When aged 15 and his death imminent, he was persuaded by ambitious men like the Duke of Northumberland to change his father’s will and leave his crown to his cousin Lady Jane Grey. . Lady Jane Grey’s attempt to claim the crown only lasted 9 days. She was later executed, as was her young husband. She was just 16. Buried in Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.   TOP

"MARY," - Queen Mary I - 1553-1558

Married Philip of Spain. No children. Mary is also referred to as Mary Tudor to prevent confusion with Mary Stuart, Queen of the Scots. A devout Catholic, she was determined to restore the ‘old religion’ at any cost. More than 300 Protestant priests and others were burned for heresy at Smithfield in London, during her ‘bloody’ five year reign. She made a grave error of judgement in trying to impose on the people her marriage to the hated Catholic King of Spain, Philip II. A rebellion followed, led by the parents of the two young usurpers which led to their death warrant being signed. Philip came briefly to England, quickly tired of her, and returned to Spain. She died, broken hearted by her failed marriage, unpopularity and the loss of England’s last French territory, Calais, in 1558. Before she died, she said, “if you open my body when I am dead, you will find ‘Calais’ written on my heart”. Buried: Westminster Abbey.   TOP

"BESSIE" - Queen Elizabeth I - 1558-1603

Elizabeth was popularly known as Good Queen Bess, or the Virgin Queen. For 45 years this indomitable lady fended off marriage suitors, preserved her independence, and thereby that of her people, kept peace (mainly) and encouraged the growth of trade. She encouraged a renaissance in literature, art and building, with figures like Marlowe, Spencer, and Shakespeare resulting. In commerce and colonial ambitions Elizabethan England saw the founding of colonies in Virginia, the growth of trading enterprises like the Royal Exchange, and the increasing power of the English navy whose famous captains Raleigh, Drake, Hawkins and others achieved the defeat of the great Spanish Armada in 1588. When she died, so died the Tudor dynasty. It was her cousin and rival, Mary, Queen of Scots’ son, James who succeeded her. He was already King of Scotland (James VI), and was waiting for the summons to London, which would give the House of Stuart dominion over Scotland and England. Buried in Westminster Abbey over her half-sister Mary.   TOP

THE STUARTS

"JAMES, THE VAIN" - King James I - 1603-1625

Married Anne of Denmark. 9 children. James, (also known as James VI in Scotland), was an intellectual, homosexual, witty and generally capable king, who had brains, but poor judgement in his appointment of Ministers. One important act during the early years of his reign was organising a conference at Hampton Court Palace which led to an authorised English translation of the Bible. (The King James Bible). Indeed, James liked to participate in much of the debate himself. It was his installation of favourites from the Scottish court which caused some stress and unpopularity, and led to an attempt at assassination. The plan was to kill the king and the majority of the members of Parliament who supported him, by blowing up the debating chamber from the cellars underneath when it was in full session. Most of the plotters were Catholic, but not all. Henceforth, it was to be known as the ‘gunpowder plot’. This was a time of active suppression of the Catholic faith, and the plotters had some justification for their anger, but such a radical solution was not approved of, even against an unpopular king like James, so when discovered, the plotters were tried, convicted and cruelly publicly executed. The unfortunate man left to guard the gunpowder overnight before setting the charges, was Guy (or Guido) Fawkes. He was caught red-handed and after ‘examination’ in the Tower, revealed other co-conspirators. His signature before and after ‘examination’ reveal the extent of his suffering. It was reported that he had to be helped to the scaffold, as he had been ‘racked’ so much he could no longer walk. Every 5th November, the children burn a ‘Guy’ effigy on bonfires. They party with family and friends, and sing ‘Remember, Remember, The Fifth Of November. Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, 'tis a date that should ne'er be forgot'.

Another, somewhat shameful, episode in James’ reign, was the treatment of that old Tudor-time hero, Sir Walter Raleigh. After 13 years imprisonment at the Tower on charges of treason, Raleigh was released to lead an expedition to the Orinoco River, South America, to find the ‘lost’ treasure of the Incas, which he was convinced lay waiting to be discovered. James became a major investor in the scheme. It all went badly wrong, most of the men succumbed to disease, ships were lost, and to make matters worse the Spanish were offended by an attack on one of their ships. The bedraggled remnants returned home to face criticism from both investors and diplomats with the result that Raleigh’s death sentence for the original offence was implemented.

On the credit side - in addition to ending the controversy over the English Bible, some of Shakespeare’s best work was written during his reign, and Jamestown, the colony in Virginia was founded. Buried in Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.   TOP

"CHARLIE" - King Charles I - 1625-1649

Married Henrietta Maria of France. 9 children. Unlike his father, Charles I looked every inch a king. A lover of the arts, handsome and courteous he did more than any other king to build the royal collection of art, which can be enjoyed by all today. Like his father though, he was stubborn and inclined to arrogance. Add to this a belief, albeit sincerely held, in the Divine Right of Kings, and with a growing Parliamentary strength you have a recipe for disaster. The English Civil War was caused by the King’s inability to effectively introduce taxes without Parliament. When a furious house decided to try, condemn and execute the king’s chief minister, Lord Strafford, the king decided to arrest the leaders of Parliament. He led soldiers into the House of Commons chamber, but the members in question had been warned and had already left. The speaker made a statement which has gone down in Parliamentary history: “Sire, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this house, except as directed by this house”. “I see the birds have flown!”, said Charles.

The frustrated King then left but later raised the Royal Standard and the English Civil War began. After initial successes, the Royalists were eventually defeated in 1645 at the battle of Naseby, by a better trained ‘Model Army’ led by a member of Parliament, Oliver Cromwell and his Generals. Although taken prisoner by the Parliamentarian forces, the king would not submit to them and the war started up again. He was tried and convicted in a somewhat shambolic show trial in Westminster Hall. On 3oth January, 1649, the king was executed, outside Banqueting House, located in the street now called Whitehall. There was no great jubilation after the event; people returned quietly to their homes and began to contemplate a new society, dominated by the Puritans. Cromwell was a middle-aged country squire at the beginning of the Civil War. He was a tall, energetic man who proved to be a great leader of men and a strong statesman. As a puritan he believed that all his successes were due to God.

It is fair to say that the fun went out of life during the ‘Inter-Regnum’. The theatres were closed, Shakespeare’s plays banned, and there was even less religious tolerance of non-conformists than before. However, the death of the King did not end the Parliamentary squabbles; if anything, they got worse. Cromwell, in frustration, dissolved it and took for himself the title of Lord Protector. Cromwell called two more Parliaments which were as troublesome to him as they had been to the late King. His strength lay in his control of the army and his abilities as a leader. He successfully waged naval war on the Dutch and twice easily suppressed Scottish and Irish rebellions with such brutality that his name is still remembered with bitter anger by the Irish. At home he had good ideas for reform, cut short by his death in 1658. His son, Richard ('Tumbledown Dick') Cromwell was a shadow of the father and eventually resigned his post leaving the way clear for a call for the restoration of the monarchy, and the return of happier times. Buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor.  TOP

"CHARLIE" - King Charles II - 1660-1685

Married Catherine of Braganza (Portugal). No children. Known popularly as ‘Old Rowley’ and ‘The Merry Monarch’, Charles was very different to his late father, Charles I. He had tried to re-gain the crown in 1651, been defeated at the battle of Worcester, and had to escape the clutches of the parliamentarian forces by disguising himself and relying on many royalist sympathisers who smuggled him abroad. (On one occasion, he was almost captured by pursuing roundheads and hid successfully in an old hollow oak tree; hence, the ‘Royal Oak’ on some inn signs). He had lived a quiet and relatively impoverished life in France and Flanders until the call came for his return. On his return he swore ‘never to go on my travels again’, and never did! Revenge for his father’s death was not a major consideration, although Cromwell and his General Ireton’s bones were dug up from Westminster Abbey and hung in chains at Tyburn! Many of the ‘Regicides’, who had signed his father’s execution warrant were pardoned, some were executed, and some even given new positions in government. The few who were executed satisfied the Royalists demands for justice. Nevertheless, this agreeable and witty man managed to hold together a country which had become disunited and impoverished by years of ineffective government during his father’s reign and the ‘Commonwealth’ of Parliament. Despite showing by his many mistresses that ‘Old Rowley’ was well up to the production of heirs, his legitimate wife, Catherine of Braganza, was sadly unable to bear him children. Unlike his predecessor, Henry VIII, however, he continued to support his wife against demands from some quarters that he divorce her and re-marry. When Charles died, to the great sadness of most of his subjects, a ‘coup’ was attempted by his illegitimate, albeit protestant and popular son, the Duke of Monmouth. The up-rising was brutally quelled, the ring-leaders being hung-drawn and quartered, and many simple, naive west-country farm workers were tried in the ‘bloody-assizes’ of Judge Jeffries, and paid with their lives. Monmouth himself ‘went to the block’ despite pleas for clemency to his uncle James, whom he had tried to replace. Incidentally, there are 25 Dukes in Great Britain and 4 of them are direct descendants of Charles II - from the ‘wrong side of the blanket’! Buried in Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey, in Royal Vault below south aisle.   TOP

"JAMES AGAIN" - King James II - 1685-1688

Married Anne Hyde. 8 children. (2) Mary of Modena. 11 children. So the Kingdom again found itself in the hands of a monarch of the Catholic faith. A stubborn, undiplomatic man, who, like his father Charles I ended up alienating many of his subjects. A deputation was sent to Holland to negotiate an invasion led by William, James nephew and son-in-law to take James off the throne. James left without a fight, the throne being 'vacant' Parliament legitimised William and Mary as joint monarchs. This bloodless event is known as "The Glorious Revolution". James made one last ditch attempt at regaining his throne, via the back door through Ireland. The resultant battle, (of the Boyne), was won by William and his Protestant supporters, the annual anniversary commemorations by the Protestants in Northern Ireland are still a cause of complaint from the Catholics in these present troubled times. Buried: St Germains, France.   TOP

THE HOUSE OF ORANGE

"WILLIAM & MARY" - King William III and Queen Mary II - She: 1688-1694. He: 1688-1702

No children. Mary was the eldest of James II's two daughters by Anne Hyde, she was proclaimed Queen jointly with her husband, William of Orange, after the flight of her father. She died of smallpox at Hampton Court Palace in 1694. William III's joint reign with his wife Mary was formally acknowledged and legitimised along with the other liberties won by the Glorious Revolution, in the 1689 Bill of Rights. Much of the King's political concern was his war with Louis XIV of France which was finally ended at the Peace of Ryswick in 1697. Following a fall from his horse whilst riding at Hampton court, William died from a complicated collar bone fracture and pneumonia. The horse was believed to have stumbled on a molehill, which cheered the many Catholics in the North, Scotland and Ireland, and a new secret Jacobite toast was born - glasses were raised, "to the wee gentleman in the black velvet jacket." Buried: Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey, in Royal Vault below south aisle.   TOP

"ANNA GLORIA" - Anne - 1702-1714

Married George of Denmark. 17 children - none survived their mother. Anne was the first Sovereign to reign over the United Kingdom of England and Scotland, the two kingdoms having been united by the Act of Union of 1707. Others made her reign, although short, a notable one: Marlborough's victories over the French; the scientific developments of Newton; the architecture of Wren and Vanbrugh, the literary works of Pope, Swift, Steele, Defoe and Addison. She established Queen Anne's bounty to improve church finances. By her consort, the dull and rather simple, Prince George of Denmark, all seventeen children died in infancy. Only the young Duke of Gloucester survived to his 11th year. (Charles II said of Prince George, "I've tried him drunk and I've tried him sober, but there's nothing in him"). Buried: Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey, in Royal Vault below south aisle.   TOP

THE HANOVERIANS

"4 GEORGE'S" - (1) - King George I - 1714-1727

Married Sophia of Germany. 2 children. George was the great grandson of James I through his daughter, Elizabeth of Bohemia, the Winter Queen. The Act of Settlement of 1701 settled the succession on George's mother, Sophia, Electress of Hanover, to guarantee the Protestant succession, despite the closer claim of James II's son, James (the Old Pretender), who'd adhered to the Catholic religion. Unable to speak English, George left affairs in the hands of his ministers, and the system of Cabinet government under a Prime Minister evolved. A Jacobite uprising in 1715 was defeated. Buried: Hanover, Germany in the vaults of the palace.   TOP

(2) - King George II -1727-1760

Married Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach. 10 children. Let Sir Robert Walpole continue in his role as Prime Minister until Walpole's political defeat in 1742. George was the last King to personally lead his troops into battle at the battle of Dettingen in 1743. The second Jacobite uprising, this time led by the Old Pretender's son, (Bonnie) Prince 'Charlie', was defeated, brutally in 1745 at Culloden, by the King's son, William Duke of Cumberland, who was henceforth to be known as 'Butcher Cumberland'. Buried in Nave of Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.  TOP

(3) - King George III -1760-1820

Married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. 15 children. George II's grandson, and eldest son of Prince Frederick, who pre-deceased his father after an accident playing Real or Royal Tennis, a forerunner of the modern game, but the probable cause of death was a burst abcess on the lung.

A ditty at the time went like this:

'Here lies poor Fred who was alive and is dead. Had it been his father I had much rather, Had it been his sister nobody would have missed her. Had it been his brother, still better than another. Had it been the whole generation, so much the better for the nation. But since it is Fred who was alive and is dead, there is no more to be said'.

We tend to remember George's reign for the loss of the American colonies, but it also saw the expansion of British power in India. and the growth of British influence globally. Additonally, the reign saw the upheaval of the great agrarian and industrial revolutions at home. It was also an age of developments in other fields: science, exploration, chemistry, philosophy and invention under such figures as Henry Cavendish who discovered hydrogen and the chemical composition of water, James Cook's voyages to Australia and New Zealand, Joseph Priestley who shared with Carl Scheele the discovery of oxygen, Adam Smith the political economist who wrote the Wealth of Nations, and Sir Humphrey Davy inventor of the miner's safety lamp which still carries his name. George was a bit of a sad case really because he suffered from intermittent porphyria which caused two severe mental breakdowns and gave the royal power to his much unloved son George (the Prince Regent). The first breakdown lasted just three months in 1788/9, but the second, occurring in 1811 on the death of his favourite child, princess Amelia, lasted the remaining 9 years of his life, during which he also went blind. Buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor in the Royal Vault below the Garter Chapel.   TOP

(4) - King George IV - 1820-1830

Married Maria FitzHerbert (secret), Caroline of Brunswick (2). 1 daughter. Elder son of George III and Queen Charlotte, he became Regent in 1811 until his father's death in 1820. Whilst Prince of Wales and without effective political power he had courted the Whig party in opposition but after some hesitation supported the Tories when he became Regent and also on through his subsequent reign. Generally unpopular for his extravagant lifestyle he did leave a legacy of fine arts and buildings.  Buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor.

To conclude, the Georgians were a particularly unpopular bunch. Here's another amusing contemporary rhyme which summed it all up:

I sing the Georges four,
For providence could stand no more.
Some say that far the worst
Of all was George the first.
But yet by some 'tis reckoned
That worse still was George the Second.
And what mortal ever heard
Any good of George the Third?
When George the Fourth from earth descended
Thank God the line of Georges ended!                                TOP

"WILLIAM" - King William IV - 1830-1837

Married Adelaide of Saxe-Meinengen. No children. 'Sailor Bill', or 'Silly Billy', William was an elderly man when he succeeded brother George. (There was another brother, Edward who had died earlier, leaving a daughter, Victoria). His reign saw a number of reforming laws, the most notable being the Reform Bill 1832 which extended the franchise and did away with corrupt electoral practices. Buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor.    TOP

"AND VICTORIA" - Queen Victoria - 1837-1901

Married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. 9 children. Grand-daughter of George III and daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent and his wife, Victoria of Saxe-Coburg, she succeeded her uncle William IV when she was just 17. Her accession meant the separation of the crowns of Great Britain and Hanover, for under Salic Law a woman could not succeed in Hanover. Her uncle, Ernest, Duke of Cumberland, succeeded his brother William IV as King of Hanover.

During Victoria's reign there was growth in many areas: industrial, humanitarian (Dickens' books, Schools), the arts, as well as abroad; in 1877 Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India, a title held by her descendants until India/Pakistan's independence in 1947. Her much-loved husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the Prince Consort and she set a high and strict moral code for the age by their hard work and conscientiousness. After his death in 1861 of typhoid fever the Queen withdrew from public life for around 7 years until persuaded back into public duties by her friend and Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. In so doing she firmly established the role of the constitutional monarch in British political life.

There was much sadness at her death, in 1901, which brought to an end our country's longest reign. Buried in Frogmore, The Royal Mausoleum, Windsor.       TOP

THE HOUSE OF SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA

"EDWARD SEVEN" - King Edward VII - 1901-1910

Married Alexandra of Denmark. 6 children. 'Bertie', or 'Tum tum' was the eldest son of Victoria and Albert. He came to the throne at the age of 59 having won some popularity for his wit and charm, but some criticism for his playboy lifestyle as Prince of Wales. His natural charm and political astuteness cleared the way for an end to the long political estrangement with France with the Entente Cordiale, as well as helping to improve relations with other European powers. Buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor. TOP

THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR

"GEORGIE FIVE" - King George V - 1910-1936

Married May of Teck. 6 children. Second son of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark, his accession was marred by the political controversy which resulted from the Parliament Act of 1911 which greatly reduced the powers of the House of Lords. His reign saw the first world war, 1914-1918; the formation of the Irish Free State on 6th December 1921; and the first Labour Government under Ramsey Macdonald in 1924. In 1917, when practically a whole generation of young British men were dying in the trenches fighting Germans, he was advised that the Germanic family name of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was hardly appropriate. during a discussion with the Prime Minister, the King's secretary suggested 'Windsor', the king is reported to have said that it had 'a nice ring to it' or something along those lines, so a decision was made to change the Royal name. The Prime Minister, Lloyd George arranged a special one day passage through both Houses of Parliament for the Bill making the change legal to be approved. Buried: St George's Chapel, Windsor. TOP

"EDWARD" - King Edward VIII - 1936

Married Wallis Simpson. No children. Duke of Windsor, eldest son of George V and Mary of Teck, he reigned for only 325 days before abdicating over the issue of his marriage to an American divorcee, Mrs Wallis Warfield Simpson. He took the title of Duke of Windsor and went to live abroad. He became Governor of the Bahamas for the duration of the second world war, later retiring to Paris, where he died. Will not be remembered with much respect because although he had been popular as Prince of Wales (heir to the throne) his Abdication was seen by many as a kind of treason and a failure to do his duty. Buried: near Frogmore, the Royal Mausoleum, Windsor. (It is believed that after consultation with his niece Queen Elizabeth II, perhaps during a private visit to Windsor which took place towards the end of his life, his burial back on English soil was approved. Therefore following his death a couple of years later, his remains were brought to Windsor for burial. (Americans always ask me, ''and what happened to her?''. Well, she stayed on in Paris, dying some years later. Her remains were then buried beside Edward at Windsor).  TOP

GEORGIE" - King George VI - 1936-1952

Married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. 2 daughters. Brother of Edward VIII, second son of King George V and Queen Mary, he succeeded on his brother's abdication on 12th December 1936. With the help of his wife, Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother, he overcame his natural shyness and nervous stammer. During the second world war he and his family led the way in maintaining high morale during very troubled times. The Labour administration of Clement Attlee, after the war, brought independence to many former colonies. Buried in specially constructed side chapel, north choir aisle, St George's Chapel, Windsor. His wife, the much-loved Queen Mother, died fifty years later in 2002 and was buried next to her 'Darling Bertie'. Their daughter, Princess Margaret died around the same time as her mother, and her ashes are buried with them.   TOP

"LIZ - ALIVE!" - Queen Elizabeth II - 1952-

Married Philip Mountbatten. 4 children. Like all but two of those who precede her on this list, the present sovereign was crowned (on 2nd June 1953) at Westminster Abbey. For most people she has 'done a good job'. By combining dignity, wisdom and the ability to accept many, sometimes humiliating, changes in protocol and the public perception of the sovereign's role in a modern society, she has earned much affection, respect and sympathy.

The Queen has seen thirteen Prime Ministers come and go, and observed her country's role remain, despite the smaller scale of our territorial possessions, an important one on the world stage.

As Head of The Commonwealth*, she has taken her duties very seriously (it's said to be her chief ambition to see it continue to strengthen as a force for good in the world), and she continues to work to influence the Heads of the 54 Member Nations to strive for greater understanding and warmth between its' peoples - who make up almost a third of the world's population.

*Countries founded or ruled by Britain over the last 300 years or so, most of whom have become Independant during her reign, and that of her father.

***************

SO WHO'S NEXT? Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall has the full name: Charles Philip Arthur George, and he can use any of these if he chooses, BUT first he has to outlive his mother, Queen Elizabeth II whose own mother lived to 101!

If he does survive her, Prince Charles will become King. It would normally be his first name that was used  so King Charles III, he would be. (Or "CHARLIE THREE' for our poem!)

However, he is perfectly entitled to use one of his other names, and there are precedents for this. It's rumoured at Court that he always felt that George III had not had a very fair press, so George is one suggestion, being also his respected grandfather's reigning name - George VI. (Although George VI's first name was actually Albert!). If Charles did decide to do this he would become King George VII.

Philip, of course is the Prince's father's name and we would have Philip I, and although that might please dad, it's highly unlikely in this writer's opinion.

Lastly there's Arthur. The British have a famous legendary, brave, noble King called Arthur, so that's my choice; let's have an Arthur again! King Arthur it is!! But I have to admit that I believe it will finally be King Charles III despite all the speculation, as the longer the Prince waits as heir Apparent we are used to identifying with him as just .. Charles.

Special Note to the Prince of Wales: If you ever read this column, would you mind putting us all in the picture .. and giving me a 'World Exclusive'!!)? It's worth a pint (Organic, naturally)!

Just for fun, the trick will be to keep the rhyme going! Any ideas?

The House of Mountbatten-Windsor - see FAQ's    TOP