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Early Middle Ages (866 - 1013)

(Later) Rulers of Mercia :  For earlier rulers of Mercia, see Rulers of Mercia

(Later) Kings of Wessex :  For earlier rulers of Wessex, see Rulers of Wessex

Saxon and Danish Kings

High Middle Ages (1013 - 1307)

Saxon and Danish Kings

The Norman Kings

William I also known as William the Conqueror became King of England by conquest. He married Matlida of Flanders. Robert, their eldest son inherited the dukedom of Normandy from his father. Richard, their second son died, and their third became King of England known as William Rufus. When he 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.

The Angevin (Plantagenet) Kings

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.

Late Middle Ages (1307 - 1485)

Edward II married Isabella of France who deposed him and put their son Edward III on the throne. Edward married Philippa of Hainault and it was their grandson, Richard II, the son of the Black Prince, who next became King. Richard had two wives, Anne of Bohemia and Isabella of Valois before he was deposed and murdered.

The Lancastrian and Yorkist Kings

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 thone 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's third son. Edward married Elizabeth Woodville and their sons mysteriously disappered from the Tower of London. The prime suspect for their deaths was Edward's brother Richard who became king as Richard III who married Anne Neville. After a short reign Richard was killed in battle and was succeeded by another of Edward III's descendents. This ended the House of York.

Early Modern Period (1485 - )

The Tudor Kings and Queens

Henry VII, descended from John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III was the first king of the House of Tudor. The name coming from his grandfather Owen Tudor who married Catherine of Valois. He cemented his claim to the English throne by marrying Elizabeth of York, the elder sister of the princes who disappeared from the Tower of London. Their son, Henry VIII then became king, to be followed be Edward VI, the son of Jane Seymour, Mary, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon, and Elizabeth, the child of Anne Boleyn. Lady Jane Grey reigned for just nine days between Edward and Mary.

The Stuart Kings and Queens

Just before Queen Elizabeth I died she nominated James VI of Scotland, son of Mary Stuart, to succeed her and become King James I, the first King of Great Britain. James was the great-grandson of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He married Anne of Denmark and their son, Charles, became king Charles I and married Henrietta Maria of France. After the execution of Charles came the Commonwealth when the country was run by Parliament. Charles II, the son of Charles I, returned from exile and became the next king. He married Catherine of Breganza.