William I also known as William the Conqueror became King of England by conquest. From his marriage to Matilda of Flanders he had several sons. Robert, the eldest, inherited the dukedom of Normandy from his father, while Richard, the second son, died. The third son William became King of England and is known as William Rufus. When William was killed during a hunting trip the crown went to Henry the fourth son. Henry secured his claim by capturing his elder brother, Robert, and marrying Matilda of Scotland who was descended from Alfred the Great. When Henry died his nephew Stephen, the grandson of William the Conqueror, siezed the throne. Stephen married Matilda of Boulogne who was again descended from the old English Kings. The daughter of King Henry, Empress Matilda, claimed the English throne and after several years of conflict it was agreed that her son Henry would become king when Stephen died.

Henry II, the grandson of William the Conqueror, became king of England. He married Eleanor of Aquitaine, the divorced wife of King Louis of France. The English throne went to their two sons, first to Richard the Lionheart who married Berengaria of Navarre but died without a legitimate heir, and then to John who married firstly Isabella of Gloucester and secondly Isabella of Angouleme. When John died his son Henry became King of England as Henry III. Henry married Eleanor of Provance and their son was proclaimed King as Edward I. Edward married Eleanor of Castile. It was their fourth son, Edward II, who next succeeded to the throne.

Henry IV was the first king in the House of Lancaster. He was the grandson of Edward III and Queen Philippa. Henry seized the English throne from Richard II. Henry married twice, first to Mary Bohun and second to Joanna of Navarre. When Henry died, the son of his first wife also called Henry became king as Henry V. Henry V tried to marry the widow of Richard II but in the end married her sister Catherine of France. When Henry V died Catherine claimed the throne for her son Henry VI. The reign of Henry VI and his wife Margaret of Anjou was unstable and when their son died at the Battle of Tewkesbury the House of Lancaster ended.

The House of York began with Edward IV who was descended twice from Edward III. Firstly from Edmund of York, the fifth son of Edward III, and secondly Lionel, Edward III's third son. Edward IV married Elizabeth Woodville and their two young sons mysteriously disappeared from the Tower of London. The prime suspect for their deaths was Edward's brother Richard who became king as Richard III and married Anne Neville. After a short reign Richard III was killed in battle and was succeeded by another descendent of Edward III. This ended the House of York.