List of monarchs in the British Isles

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Image:UK Royal Coat of Arms.png

Image:Scottish royal coat of arms.png

This is a list of the monarchs of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, that is, the monarchs on the thrones of some of the various kingdoms that have existed in the British Isles, namely:

• The Kingdom of England, from 871 (including Wales from the Act of Union 1536-1543) up to 1707;
• The Kingdom of Scotland, from 843 up to 1707;
• The Lordship of Ireland, from 1199 up to 1541;
• The Kingdom of Ireland, from 1541 up to 1801;
• The Kingdom of Great Britain, from the Acts of Union, 1707, between England and Scotland, up to 1801;
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, from the Act of Union, 1801, between Great Britain and Ireland, up to 1927;
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The UK after the Irish Free State was formed and became a separate state in the 1920s).

In 1328, on the death of the French king, Charles IV, Edward III (nephew of Charles IV) claimed the French throne. English monarchs, and subsequently British monarchs, then styled themselves King of France or Queen of France until the Act of Union 1800, which led to the creation of the United Kingdom in 1801. By then France had been a republic for ten years. (See English Kings of France.) Since 1559 English monarchs, and subsequently British monarchs, have also had the title Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Note that the numbering of English monarchs starts afresh after 1066 (although this affects only the Edwards).

All Scottish monarchs held the title King of Scots or Queen of Scots, with the exception of the last three: Mary II, William III and Anne I used the style "of Scotland" rather than "of Scots".

To see the rulers of the small kingdoms which existed before the formation of England, Scotland or Wales, see:

• Mythical British Kings
• List of rulers of Wales
• Kings of the Picts
• Kings of Dál Riata
• Kings of Strathclyde
• Kings of the Isle of Man and the Isles
• Kings of the Isle of Man
• Kings of East Anglia
• Kings of Essex
• Kings of Kent
• Kings of Sussex
• Kings of Wessex
• Kings of Mercia
• Kings of Northumbria
• list of High Kings of Ireland

See also: Bretwalda

Contents 1 Complications over Title and Style 2 Monarchs 3 Mnemonics 4 Notes 5 See also 6 References

Complications over Title and Style

Image:JamesIEngland.jpg

Royal titles are complicated because in some cases names of kingdoms are used that did not officially come into existence until later, or came into existence earlier without immediate adoption of the royal title.

• For example, in October 1604, one year after James VI of Scotland had become King of England, he decreed that the Royal Title would use the term Great Brittaine to refer to the "one Imperiall Crowne" made up of England and Scotland. However using that title is problematic because the 'state' of Great Britain was not created until the Act of Union 1707. Nor was the united crown generally referred to as 'imperial'. To avoid confusion, historians in general thus refer to all monarchs up to 1707 as monarchs of England and Scotland. Thus James II of England was also James VII of Scotland; and William III of England was also William II of Scotland. Many English and British monarchs also claimed France as part of their official title, though this had no reality in substance. After the Union, the ordinal has been the English number (for "George", "Edward" and "Elizabeth") and, until recently, there was no formal rule (see List of regnal numerals of future British monarchs).

• In different documents, the terms Kingdom of Great Britain and United Kingdom of Great Britain feature, even documents as official as the Act of Union 1707. Most historians presume the United was meant to be descriptive, indicating a union as a form of unity by marriage rather than coercion. For clarity and because the United is far more strongly associated with the later name United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland produced in the Act of Union 1800, the 1707 Kingdom is generally referred to as the Kingdom of Great Britain.

• Similarly, though the Irish Free State ceased to be part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1922, neither the full name of the United Kingdom nor the royal title were changed until the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927. In this instance historians generally retrospectively date the coming into being of the modern United Kingdom to December 1922, even though in this case the formal change did not occur for another five years.

The list of monarchs below cannot be exhaustive. Succession to the many thrones often did not pass smoothly from parent to child; lack of heirs, civil wars, murders and invasions affected the inheritance in ways that a simple list does not show. The relationships that formed the basis for claims to throne are noted where we know them, and the dates of reign indicated.

Monarchs

Monarchs of England Monarchs of Scotland Name Reign Notes The West Saxons Alfred the Great 871–899 Recognised as leader of all free Englishmen under the Treaty of Wedmore, 878 Edward the Elder 899–924 Alfred's son Ethelweard 924 Edward's son, king of Wessex only Athelstan 924–939 Edward's son, the first de facto king of all England Edmund I 939–946 Edward's son Edred 946–955 Edward's son Edwy the Fair 955–959 Edmund's son Edgar the Peaceable 959–975 Edmund's son St Edward the Martyr 975–978 Edgar's son Ethelred the Unready 978–1013 1014–1016 Edgar's son Edmund Ironside 1016 Ethelred's son The Danish Kings Both the Saxon and Danish royal houses claimed the English throne, 1013 to 1016. Denmark and England had the same king from 1016 to 1042. Sweyn Forkbeard 1013–1014   Canute 1016–1035 Sweyn's son Harold Harefoot 1035–1040 Canute's son Harthacanute 1040–1042 Canute's son The West Saxon Restoration St Edward the Confessor 1042–1066 Ethelred's son Harold Godwinson 1066 Edward the Confessor's brother-in-law Edgar the Atheling 1066 Grandson of Edmund Ironside The Normans After the Norman Conquest in 1066, numbering of kings (a French tradition never used by the English prior to that date) begins. William I, the Conqueror 1066–1087 Distant kinsman of Alfred the Great William II, Rufus 1087–1100 William I's son Henry I 1100–1135 William I's son Stephen 1135–1154 William I's grandson The Angevins or Plantagenets The Royal House name changed to reflect Matilda's marriage to Geoffrey Plantagenet. Matilda (Empress Maud) 1141 Henry I's daughter Henry II 1154–1189 Matilda's son Richard I, the Lionheart 1189–1199 Henry II's son Monarchs of England and Ireland In 1199, John, already Lord of Ireland, inherited the English throne. The title "Lord of Ireland" was used until it was replaced by "King of Ireland" in 1542. John "Lackland" 1199–1216 Henry II's son Henry III 1216–1272 John's son Edward I "Longshanks" 1272–1307 Henry III's son Edward II 1307–1327 Edward I's son Edward III 1327–1377 Edward II's son Richard II 1377–1399 Edward III's grandson The House of Lancaster Henry Bolingbroke deposed Richard II, and the Royal House name came to reflect Henry's father's title, Duke of Lancaster. Henry IV 1399–1413 Edward III's grandson Henry V 1413–1422 Henry IV's son Henry VI 1422–1461 1470–1471 Henry V's son The House of York The Houses of Lancaster and York had fought the Wars of the Roses, and the Yorkists took the throne. Edward IV 1461–1470 1471–1483 Edward III's great-great-grandson Edward V 1483 Edward IV's son Richard III 1483–1485 Edward IV's brother The House of Tudor The Lancastrian Henry Tudor reclaimed the throne from the Yorkists. Henry VII 1485–1509 Edward III's great-great-great-grandson Henry VIII 1509–1547 Henry VII's son, Edward IV's grandson Edward VI 1547–1553 Henry VIII's son Jane 1553 Henry VII's great granddaughter. Proclaimed Queen on 10 July 1553 but deposed by Mary I 9 days later. Mary I 1553–1558 Henry VIII's daughter Elizabeth I 1558–1603 Henry VIII's daughter Name Reign Notes The House of Alpin Kenneth I 843–858 First "King of Scots and Picts" Donald I 858–862 Kenneth I's brother Constantine I 862–877 Kenneth I's son Aedh 877–878 Kenneth I's son Eochaid 878–889 Aedh's nephew Jointly with Giric Giric 878–889 Aedh's first cousin Jointly with Eochaid Donald II 889–900 Constantine I's son Constantine II 900–943 Aedh's son Malcolm I 943–954 Donald II's son Indulf 954–962 Constantine II's son Dub 962–966 Malcolm I's son Culen 966–971 Indulf's son Kenneth II 971–995 Malcolm I's son Constantine III 995–997 Culen's son Kenneth III 997–1005 Dub's son Malcolm II 1005–1034 Kenneth II's son Duncan I 1034–1040 Malcolm II's grandson Macbeth 1040–1057 Malcolm II's possible grandson, Kenneth III's Granddaughters husband Lulach 1057–1058 Kenneth III's great-grandson, Macbeth's step-son and cousin The House of Dunkeld Malcolm III 1058–1093 Duncan I's son Donald III 1093–1094 1094–1097 Duncan I's son Jointly with Edmund Edmund 1093–1094 1094–1097 Malcolm III's son Jointly with Donald III Duncan II 1094 Malcolm III's son Edgar 1097–1107 Malcolm III's son Alexander I 1107–1124 Malcolm III's son David I 1124–1153 Malcolm III's son Malcolm IV 1153–1165 David I's grandson William I 1165–1214 David I's grandson Alexander II 1214–1249 William I's son Alexander III 1249–1286 Alexander II's son Margaret, "The Maid of Norway" 1286–1290 Alexander III's granddaughter The House of Balliol When Margaret died, there was no clear heir. King Edward I of England took over and installed a puppet, John Balliol. John Balliol 1292–1296 David I's great-great-great-grandson The House of Bruce When John Balliol rebelled, the Wars of Scottish Independence commenced, during which Robert the Bruce became King. Robert I 1306–1329 David I's great-great-great-great-grandson David II 1329–1371 Robert I's son The House of Balliol For a period of time, both Edward Balliol and David II claimed the throne. Edward Balliol 1332–1336 John Balliol's son The House of Stuart Engaged to the Dauphin at age five, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots was thus brought up in the French court where she became "Marie Stuart, Reine de l'Écosse," etc., to render the sound of 'Stewart' into French as accurately as possible. Mary kept the French spelling on her return to Scotland in 1560. Robert II, King of Scots 1371–1390 Robert I's grandson Robert III, King of Scots 1390–1406 Robert II's son James I, King of Scots 1406–1437 Robert III's son James II, King of Scots 1437–1460 James I's son James III, King of Scots 1460–1488 James II's son James IV, King of Scots 1488–1513 James III's son James V, King of Scots 1513–1542 James IV's son Mary, Queen of Scots 1542–1567 James V's daughter James VI, King of Scots 1567–1625 Mary I's son Monarchs of England, Scotland and Ireland In 1603, James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne upon the death of Elizabeth I. From then until 1707, England, Scotland and Ireland had shared monarchs. The House of Stuart Name Reign Notes James I (England) James VI (Scotland) 1603–1625 Son of Mary, Queen of Scots; great-great-grandson of Henry VII of England Charles I 1625–1649 James VI & I's son The Period of Interregnum, (Commonwealth and Protectorate) England had no king from 1649 to 1660, but was a Republic until 1653. Oliver Cromwell then dissolved Parliament and ruled alone as Lord Protector to his death. Name Reign Notes Oliver Cromwell 1653–1658   Richard Cromwell 1658–1659 Oliver Cromwell's son Monarchs of England, Scotland and Ireland In 1659, Richard Cromwell abdicated. Anomie existed until the Stuart Restoration in 1660. The House of Stuart Name Reign Notes Charles II 1660–1685 1649-1685 (de jure) Charles I's elder son (crowned at Scone, in Scotland, 1651) James II (England) James VII (Scotland) 1685–1689 Charles I's younger son Mary II 1689–1694 James II's elder daughter Joint sovereign with her husband, William III, II and I William III (England) William II (Scotland) William I (Ireland) 1689–1702 Charles I's grandson Jointly with his wife, Mary II Anne 1702–1707 James II's daughter Monarchs of Great Britain and Ireland In 1707, the Act of Union merged the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain. The House of Stuart Name Reign Notes Anne 1707–1714 James II's daughter The House of Hanover Under the Act of Settlement 1701, the English (thus, the successor British) throne could only be held by a Protestant. Sophia of Hanover, the nearest such relative, thus became the next heir. She died shortly before Anne, and her place was taken by her son, who thus founded the House of Hanover (aka Guelph and Brunswick). George I 1714–1727 James I's great-grandson George II 1727–1760 George I's son George III 1760–1801 George II's grandson Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland In 1801, the Act of Union combined the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into the United Kingdom. The House of Hanover Name Reign Notes George III 1801–1820 George II's grandson George IV 1820–1830 George III's son William IV 1830–1837 George III's son Victoria 1837–1901 George III's granddaughter The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha The Royal House name was changed to reflect Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, but she herself remained a member of the House of Hanover. Edward VII 1901–1910 Victoria's son George V 1910–1917 Edward VII's son The House of Windsor The name of the Royal House changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917 due to anti-German sentiments during World War I. George V 1917–1927 Edward VII's son Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland In 1922, the Irish Free State left the United Kingdom. The name of the Kingdom was amended in 1927 to reflect the change. The House of Windsor Name Reign Notes George V 1927–1936 Edward VII's son Edward VIII 1936 George V's son; abdicated George VI 1936–1952 George V's son Elizabeth II 6 February 1952- George VI's daughter; also queen of 31 other sovereign kingdoms

Mnemonics

A useful rhyme for memorising the names of the English and UK monarchs since the Norman Conquest in chronological order (by year ruled) as well as a version was featured in part in the movie King Ralph:

Mnemonics

Popular variation

Willy Willy Harry Steve, Henry Dick John Henry three; Then three Edwards Richard two, Henry Four, Five Six then who? Edward four five, Dick the bad, Two more Henries, Ned the lad; Bloody Mary she came next, Then we have our Good Queen Bess. From Scotland we got James the Vain; Charlie one, two, James again. William and Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William, and Victoria. Edward, George, the same again,       Now Elizabeth - and the end.

Willy, Willy, Harry, Steve, Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three; One, two, three Neds, Richard Two, Henries Four Five Six, then who? Edwards Four Five, Dick the Bad, Harries (twain) Ned Six (the lad); Mary, Bessie, James ye ken,     Then Charlie, Charlie, James again Will and Mary, Anna Gloria Georges four, Will Fourth, Victoria Edward Seven next, and then Came George the Fifth in nineteen ten Ned the Eighth soon abdicated Then George the Sixth was coronated After which Elizabeth And that's all folks until her death

Notes

• King Louis might also be included as reigning 1216–1217 (between the reigns of King John and Henry III). By tradition he usually is not listed.

See also

• List of regnal numerals of future British monarchs
• Other lists of incumbents
• UK topics
• British monarchs family tree
• English monarchs family tree
• Scottish monarchs family tree
• Style of the British Sovereign
• Line of succession to the British throne
• Emperor of India
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Monarchs
• Category:British queen consorts
• Category:English queen consorts
• Genealogy of the British Royal Family
• Direct descent from William I to Elizabeth II

References

• The official website of the British Monarchy
• Britannia.combg:Крал на Обединено кралство Великобритания и Северна Ирландия

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