Your ancestors and the monarch of England part 1

Many of you will know that I am fascinated with the monarch, but many of you may not realise how much of an impact knowledge of the monarchy can have on your research. If you know who was monarch when your ancestors were alive you can read about what was happening in the country and thus how it may have been affecting your ancestors. So in this vein here is my list of the Monarch of England.

Windsor Castle was built by William the Conqueror and started in 1070 making it the oldest castle still inhabited in by the Monarch in England

Edward the Confessor. Reigned 8th June 1042 to 1st May 1066. Successor: Harold Godwinson, brother in law of Edward who claimed Edward named him heir.

Harold Godwinson. Reigned 6th January 1066 to 14th October 1066 died in battle. Successor: William the Conqueror who claimed to be Edward the Confessors names heir and William defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

William I, the Conqueror. Reigned 14th October 1066 – 9th September 1087. Successor: William II his son.

William II. Reigned 9th September 1087 – 2nd August 1100 possibly murdered. Successor: Henry I his brother.

Henry I. Reigned 2^nd August 1100 – 1^st December 1135. Successor: Stephen the grandson of William I who may have usurped the throne.

Stephen. Reigned 22^nd December 1135 – 7^th April 1141. Successor: Matilda, daughter of Henry I.

Matilda. Reigned 7^th April 1141 – 1^st November 1141. Successor: Stephen.

Stephen. Reigned 1st November 1141 – 25th October 1154. Successor: Henry II son of Matilda.

Henry II. Reigned 25^th October 1154 – 6^th July 1189. Successor: Richard I the Lionheart, son of Henry II.

Richard I. Reigned 6^th July 1189 – 6^th April 1199. Successor: John, brother of Richard I.

John. Reigned 6^th April 1199 – 19^th October 1216. Successor: Henry III, John’s son.

Henry III. Reigned 19^th October 1216 – 16^th November 1272. Successor: Edward I, son of Henry III.

Edward I. Reigned 16^th November 1272 – 7^th July 1307. Successor: Edward II, son of Edward I.

Edward II. Reigned 7^th July 1307 – 24^th January 1327. Successor: Edward III, son of Edward II.

Edward III. Reigned 24^th January 1327 – 21^st June 1377. Successor: Richard II, grandson of Edward III.

Richard II. Reigned 21^st June 1377 – 29^th September 1399. Successor: Henry IV, grandson of Edward III.

Henry IV. Reigned 30^th September 1399 – 20^th March 1413. Successor: Henry V, son of Henry IV.

Henry V. Reigned 20^th March 1413 – 31^st August 1422. Successor: Henry VI, son of Henry V.

Henry VI. Reigned 31^st August 1422 – 4^th March 1461. Successor: Edward IV, great grandson of Edward III by usurpation.

Edward IV. Reigned 4th March 1461 – 3^rd October 1470. Henry VI, son of Henry V.

Henry VI. Reigned 3rd October 1470 – 11^th April 1471. Successor: Edward IV, great grandson of Edward III, by usurpation.

Edward IV. Reigned 11th April 1471 – 9^th April 1483. Successor: Henry VI, son of Henry V.

Edward V. Reigned 9th April 1483 – 25^th June 1483 (disappeared possibly murdered). Successor: Richard III brother of Edward IV.

Richard III. Reigned 25^th June 1483 – 22 August 1485 (died at the Battle of Bosworth). Successor: Henry VII, great, great, great grandson of Edward III, by usurpation.

Henry VII. Reigned 22 August 1485 – 21 September 1509. Successor: Henry VIII, son of Henry VII.

Henry VIII. Reigned 21^st September 1509 – 28^th January 1547. Successor: Edward VI, son of Henry VIII.

Edward VI. Reigned 28^th January 1547 – 6^th July 1553. Successor: Lady Jane Grey, granddaughter of Henry VII.

Jane Grey. Reigned 10^th July 1553 - 19^th July 1553 (deposed). Successor: Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII.

Mary I. Reigned 19^th July 1553 – 17^th November 1558. Successor: Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII.

Elizabeth I. Reigned 17^th November 1558 – 24^th March 1603. Successor: James I and VI, great, great grandson of Henry VII.

Elizabeth I. Image courtesy of ancestryimages.com

This brings to an end the walk through the English monarch from 1066 until 1603. After this period the monarchies of England and Scotland combined to become the monarchs of Great Britain.

Coming soon I’ll do the same for the Monarchs of Great Britain from 1603 to the present.