List of English monarchs
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For the various rulers of the kingdoms within England prior to its formal unification, during the Heptarchy, see Bretwalda. For British monarchs since the Union of England and Scotland, see List of British monarchs. For a comparative chronology of English, Scottish, and British monarchs, see List of monarchs in the British Isles.
"King of England", and "Queen of England" redirect here. For an overview of the system itself, see British monarchy and Constitutional monarchy in the United Kingdom.
- See also: List of English consorts.
Image:England COA.svg
The Royal Arms of England, as introduced by King Richard the Lionheart in 1198, and before its later quarterings with other shields, additions of supporters and other embellishments
Contents |
[edit] English monarchs
[edit] House of Mercia
The first ruler to assume the title King of the English was Offa in 774, who had been King of Mercia since 757. He was the most powerful of all English kings prior to its formal unification, but his power did not survive him.
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offa (+OFFA•REX+) 774-796 | Image:Offapennyobv.jpg | c.730[1] son of Thingfrith | Cynethryth 5 children | 26 or 29 July 796 aged about 66 |
[edit] House of Wessex
The continuous list traditionally starts with Egbert, King of Wessex from 802, the first King of Wessex to have overlordship over much of England.[2] He defeated the Mercians and became Bretwalda in 829. Permanent unity was not achieved until 927, under Athelstan.
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egbert (Ecgberht) 829-839[3] | Image:Egbert.jpg | c.775[4] son of Ealhmund of Kent[3] | Redburga 3 children[3] | 4 February 839 aged about 64[3] |
| Ethelwulf (Æþelwulf) 5 February 839-856 | Image:Athelwulf.jpg | Aachen son of Egbert and Redburga | (1) Osburga 6 children (2) Judith of Flanders 1 October 853 no children | 13 January 858 age unknown[5] |
| Ethelbald (Æþelbald) 856-860 | Image:Aethelbald of wessex eb.jpg | c.831 son of Ethelwulf and Osburga | Judith of Flanders no children | 20 December 860 aged about 29[6] |
| Ethelbert (Æþelberht) 21 December 860-866 | Image:Ethelbert coin.jpg | c.835 son of Ethelwulf and Osburga | unknown 2 children | 865 aged about 30[7] |
| Ethelred (Æþelræd) 865-871 | Image:Ethelred coin.gif | c.837 son of Ethelwulf and Osburga | Wulfrida 868 2 children | 23 April 871 aged about 34[8] |
| Alfred the Great (Ælfræd) 24 April 871–899[9] | Image:KingAlfredStatueWantage.jpg | c.849 Wantage son of Ethelwulf and Osburga[10] | Ealhswith Winchester 868 6 children[11] | 26 October 899 aged about 50[9] |
| Edward the Elder (Eadweard) 27 October 899–924[12] | Image:Edward the Elder.jpg | c.871-877 son of Alfred the Great and Ealhswith[13] | (1) Ecgwynn 893 3 children (2) Aelffaed c.902 10 children (3) Edgiva of Kent 905 4 children[14] | 17 July 924 Farndon, Cheshire aged about 50[12] |
| Elfward (Ælfweard) 18 July - 2 August 924 | No known image or coin of Elfward exists | c.902 son of Edward the Elder and Aelffaed | unmarried | 2 August 924 aged about 22 |
| Athelstan (Æþelstan) 3 August 924–939[15] | Image:King.athelstan.tomb.arp.jpg | 895 son of Edward the Elder and Ecgwynn[16] | unmarried[15] | 27 October 939 aged about 44[15] |
| Edmund the Magnificent (Eadmund) 28 October 939–946[17] | Image:Edmund I of England.jpg | c.921 son of Edward the Elder and Edgiva of Kent[17] | (1) Elgiva 3 children (2) Æthelflæd of Damerham 944 no children[18] | 26 May 946 Pucklechurch aged about 25 (murdered)[17] |
| Edred (Eadred) 27 May 946–955[19] | Image:Eadred.jpg | c.923 son of Edward the Elder and Edgiva of Kent[20] | unmarried[20] | 23 November 955 Frome aged about 32[21] |
| Edwy the Fair (Eadwig) 24 November 955–959[22] | Image:Eadwig.jpg | c.940 son of Edmund the Magnificent and Elgiva[23] | Elgiva[22] | 1 October 959 aged about 19[22] |
| Edgar the Peaceable (Eadgar) 2 October 959–975[24] | Image:Edgar.jpg | c.943 Wessex son of Edmund the Magnificent and Elgiva[25] | (1) Ethelflaed c.960 1 son (2) Wulfthryh 1 daughter (3) Ælfthryth c.964[25] 2 sons | 8 July 975 Winchester aged about 32[26] |
| Saint Edward the Martyr (Eadweard) 9 July 975–978[27] | Image:Edward Martyr.jpg | c.962 son of Edgar the Peaceable and Ethelflaed[28] | unmarried | 18 March 978 Corfe Castle aged about 16 (assassinated)[27] |
| Ethelred the Unready (Æþelræd Unræd) 19 March 978–1016[29] | Image:EthelUn.jpg | c.968 son of Edgar the Peaceable and Ælfthryth[30] | (1) Ælflaed of Northumbria 4 children (2) Aelgifu 991 6 children (3) Emma of Normandy 1002 3 children[31] | 23 April 1016 London aged about 48[29] |
| Edmund Ironside (Eadmund) 24 April – 30 November 1016[32] | Image:Edmond II d'Angleterre.jpg | c.993 son of Ethelred the Unready and Ælflaed of Northumbria[32] | Edith of East Anglia 2 children[33] | 30 November 1016 Glastonbury aged about 23[32][33] |
[edit] House of Denmark
England came under the rule of Danish kings following the disastrous reign of Ethelred the Unready. Some, though not all, of these were also kings of Denmark.
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweyn Forkbeard (Svend Tjugeskæg) 25 December[34] 1013–1014[35] | Image:Sweyn.jpg | c.960 Denmark son of Harald Bluetooth and Gyrid Olafsdotti[36] | (1) Gunhilda of Poland c.990 7 children (2) Sigrid the Haughty c.1000 1 daughter[36] | 3 February 1014 Gainsborough aged about 54[36] |
| Canute (Knud) 1 December 1016–1035[37] | Image:Cnut.jpg | c.995 son of Sweyn Forkbeard[37] | (1) Aelgifu of Northampton 2 children (2) Emma of Normandy 1017[37] | 12 November 1035 Shaftesbury aged about 40[37] |
| Harold Harefoot (Harald) 13 November 1035–1040[38] | Image:HAROLD I HAREFOOT.jpg | c.1016/7 son of Canute and Aelgifu of Northampton[38] | Aelgifu 1 son[39] | 17 March 1040 Oxford aged about 23 or 24[38] |
| Harthacanute (Hardeknud) 18 June 1040–1042[40] | Image:CoinHarthacnut.jpg | 1018 son of Canute and Emma of Normandy[39] | unknown | 8 June 1042 Lambeth aged about 24[39] |
[edit] House of Wessex (restored)
The old West Saxon line was restored, but Edward the Confessor, who was later canonised, was more Norman than English in his sympathies.
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Edward the Confessor (Eadweard) 9 June 1042–1066[41] | Image:EdtheCon.jpg | c.1005 Islip, Oxfordshire son of Ethelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy[41] | Edith of Wessex 23 January 1045 no children[41] | 5 January 1066 Westminster Palace aged about 60[41] |
| Harold Godwinson (Harold Godwinesson) 6 January – 14 October 1066[41] | Image:Harold2.jpg | c.1020 son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex and Gytha Thorkelsdóttir[41] | (1) Edith Swan-neck 6 children (2) Ealdgyth of Mercia York c.1064 1 son[41] | 14 October 1066 Hastings aged about 46 (died in battle)[41] |
| Edgar the Atheling (Eadgar Æþeling) 15 October – 17 December 1066[42] | No known image or coin of Edgar exists | c.1053 Hungary son of Edward the Exile and Agatha[43] | unmarried[43] | c.1125 aged about 72[42] |
[edit] House of Normandy
It was only after the Norman Conquest of 1066 that monarchs took regnal numbers in the French fashion, though the earlier custom of distinguishing monarchs by nicknames did not die out immediately.
[edit] House of Plantagenet
The early Plantagenets ruled many territories in France, and did not regard England as their primary home until after most of their French possessions were lost by King John. This long-lived dynasty is usually divided into three houses.
[edit] Angevins
[edit] House of Lancaster
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry IV Bolingbroke 30 September 1399–1413[56] | Image:Henry4.JPG | 3 April 1366/7 Bolingbroke Castle son of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster[56] | (1) Mary de Bohun Arundel Castle 27 July 1380 7 children (2) Joanna of Navarre Winchester Cathedral 7 February 1403 no children[56] | 20 March 1413 Westminster Abbey aged 45 or 46[57] |
| Henry V 20 March 1413–1422[56] | Image:Henry5.JPG | 9 August 1387 Monmouth Castle son of Henry IV and Mary de Bohun[56] | Catherine of Valois Troyes Cathedral 2 June 1420 1 son[56] | 31 August 1422 Château de Vincennes aged 35[56] |
| Henry VI 31 August 1422 – 4 March 1461 30 October 1470 – 11 April 1471[58] | Image:HenryVIofEngland.JPG | 6 December 1421 Windsor Castle son of Henry V and Catherine of Valois[58] | Margaret of Anjou Titchfield Abbey 22 April 1445 1 son[58] | 21 May 1471 Tower of London aged 49 (murdered)[58] |
[edit] House of York
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward IV 4 March 1461 – 3 October 1470 11 April 1471–1483[59] | Image:Edward4.jpg | 28 April 1442 Rouen son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and Cecily Neville[59] | Elizabeth Woodville Grafton Regis 1 May 1464 10 children[59] | 9 April 1483 Westminster Palace aged 40[59] |
| Edward V 9 April–25 June 1483[60] | Image:King-edward-v.jpg | 2 November 1470 Westminster son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville[60] | unmarried | c. 1483 London aged about 12 (traditionally murdered)[61] |
| Richard III Crouchback 26 June 1483–1485[62] | Image:Richiii.jpg | 2 October 1452 Fotheringhay Castle son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and Cecily Neville[63] | Anne Neville Westminster Abbey 12 July 1472 1 son[63] | 22 August 1485 Bosworth Field aged 32 (killed in battle)[63] |
[edit] House of Tudor
The Tudors were of partial Welsh ancestry, and in 1536 Wales was fully incorporated into the English state (having been under English control since 1284). With Henry VIII's break from the Roman Catholic Church the monarch became the Supreme Head of the Church of England. Elizabeth I's title became the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
[edit] House of Stuart
Following the death of Elizabeth I in 1603 without issue, the Scottish king, James VI, succeeded to the English throne as James I in what became known as the Union of the Crowns. In 1604 he adopted the title King of Great Britain, although the two kingdoms remained separate.
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James I 24 March 1603–1625[69] | Image:JamesIEngland.jpg | 19 June 1566 Edinburgh Castle son of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Mary, Queen of Scots[69] | Anne of Denmark Oslo 23 November 1589 9 children[69] | 27 March 1625 Theobalds House aged 58[69] |
| Charles I ("Saint Charles the Martyr") 27 March 1625–1649[70] | Image:Carolus I.jpg | 19 November 1600 Dunfermline Palace son of James I and Anne of Denmark[70] | Henrietta Maria of France St Augustine's Abbey 13 June 1625 9 children[70] | 30 January 1649 Whitehall Palace aged 48 (executed)[70] |
[edit] Commonwealth
There was no reigning monarch between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. Despite this, from 1653 the following individuals held power as Lords Protector, during the period known as the Protectorate.
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Cromwell 16 December 1653–1658[71] | Image:Cooper, Oliver Cromwell.jpg | 25 April 1599 Huntingdon[71] son of Robert Cromwell and Elizabeth Stewart[72] | Elizabeth Bourchier St Giles[73] 22 August 1620 9 children[71] | 3 September 1658 Whitehall aged 59[71] |
| Richard Cromwell ("Tumbledown Dick") 3 September 1658 – 7 May 1659[74] | Image:RichardCromwell.jpeg | 4 October 1626 Huntingdon son of Oliver Cromwell and Elizabeth Bourchier[74] | Dorothy Maijor May 1649 9 children[74] | 12 July 1712 Cheshunt aged 85[75] |
[edit] House of Stuart (restored)
Although the monarchy was restored in 1660, no stable settlement proved possible until the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when parliament finally asserted the right to choose whomsoever it pleased as monarch.
England and Scotland entered into legislative and governmental union on 1 May 1707 under the Acts of Union 1707, though retained separate legal systems and other attributes thereafter. For the continuation of this list, therefore, go to List of British monarchs.
[edit] Titles
The standard title for all monarchs from Alfred the Great until the time of King John was Rex Anglorum ("King of the English"). In addition, many of the pre-Norman kings assumed extra titles, as follows:
- Alfred the Great: Rex Angulsaxonum and Rex Anglorum et Saxonum
- Athelstan: Rex Anglorum per omnipatrantis dexteram totius Bryttaniæ regni solio sublimatus
- Edmund the Magnificent: Rex Britanniae and Rex Anglorum caeterarumque gentium gobernator et rector
- Edred: Regis qui regimina regnorum Angulsaxna, Norþhymbra, Paganorum, Brettonumque
- Edwy the Fair: Rex nutu Dei Angulsæxna et Northanhumbrorum imperator paganorum gubernator Breotonumque propugnator
- Edgar the Peaceable: Totius Albionis finitimorumque regum basileus
- Canute: Rex Anglorum totiusque Brittannice orbis gubernator et rector and Brytannie totius Anglorum monarchus
In the Norman period Rex Anglorum remained standard, with occasional use of Rex Anglie ("King of England"). Matilda styled herself Domina Anglorum ("Lady of the English"). From the time of King John onwards all other titles were eschewed in favour of Rex Anglie, or Regina Anglie ("Queen of England") if female. 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 of course Queen of Great Britain rather than king).[82]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Offa@Everything.com URL last accessed 28 December 2007
- ^ Burke's Peerage & Gentry URL last accessed 7 September 2007.
- ^ a b c d thePeerage.com - Æthelbald, King of Wessex and others. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
- ^ King Egbert. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
- ^ Burke's Peerage & Gentry URL last accessed 7 September 2007.
- ^ Burke's Peerage & Gentry URL last accessed 7 September 2007.
- ^ Burke's Peerage & Gentry URL last accessed 7 September 2007.
- ^ Burke's Peerage & Gentry URL last accessed 7 September 2007.
- ^ a b Alfred (the Great) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 15 March 2007.
- ^ Catholic Encyclopedia: Alfred the Great. URL last accessed 14 March 2007.
- ^ Alfred the Great. URL last accessed 14 March 2007.
- ^ a b EADWEARD (Edward the Elder) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed on 15 March 2007.
- ^ There are various references listing Edward the Elder's birth as sometime in the 870s, being the second child of a marriage of 868. There are no sources listing his birth as after 877. Anglo-Saxons.net : Edward the Elder. URL last accessed on 15 March 2007.
- ^ English Monarchs - Kings and Queens of England - Edward the Elder. URL last accessed on 21 January 2007.
- ^ a b c Aethelstan @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 15 March 2007.
- ^ EBK: Aethelstan, King of the English. URL last accessed 15 March 2007.
- ^ a b c EADMUND (Edmund) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ English Monarchs - Kings and Queens of England - Edmund the Elder. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ EADRED (Edred) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ a b EBK: Edred, King of England. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ BritRoyals - King Edred. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ a b c EADWIG (Edwy) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ Catholic Encyclopedia: Edwy. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ EADGAR (Edgar the Peacemaker) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ a b EBK: Edgar the Peacemaker, King of England. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ The Atheling. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ a b EADWEARD (Edward the Martyr) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ EBK: Edward the Martyr, King of England. URL last accessed 17 March 2007.
- ^ a b Ethelred the Unready was forced to go into exile in the summer of 1013, following Danish attacks, but was invited back following Sweyn Forkbeard's death. AETHELRED (the Unready) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 17 March 2007
- ^ Schoolnet Spartacus: Ethelred. URL last accessed 17 March 2007
- ^ English Monarchs - Kings and Queens of England - Ethelred II, the Redeless. URL last accessed 17 March 2007
- ^ a b c EADMUND (Edmund the Ironside) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 17 March 2007
- ^ a b English Monarchs - Kings and Queens of England - Edmund Ironside. URL last accessed 17 March 2007
- ^ English Monarchs. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ Sweyn (Forkbeard) - Archontology.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ a b c thePeerage.com - Person Page 10242. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ a b c d CNUT (Canute) @ Archontology.org. URL last accessed 21 March 2007.
- ^ a b c Harold was only recognised as king north of the River Thames until 1037, after which he was recognised as king of all England. Harold (Harefoot) - Archontology.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ a b c thePeerage.com - Person Page 10220. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ Harthacnut - Archontology.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h thePeerage.com - Person Page 10218. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
- ^ a b After reigning for approximately 9 weeks, Edgar the Atheling submitted to William the Conqueror, who had gained control of the the area to the south and immediate west of London. Eadgar (the Ætheling) - Archontology.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
- ^ a b thePeerage.com - Person Page 9. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g thePeerage.com - Person Page 10203. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g thePeerage.com - Person Page 10204. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
- ^ STEPHEN (of Blois) - Archontology.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
- ^ a