top of page
The Liverpudlian Tours
Search

1000+ Year History Of All English & British Kings & Queens, Including Highlights Of Their Reigns

1000+ Year History History Of All The British (& English) Kings & Queens Including Highlights Of Their Reigns & Illustrations Of Each Of Them - From The Anglo Saxons & Medieval Royals To The Present Day. Plus Key Dates


British Kings & Queens have contributed to the United Kingdom's rich and varied history, though they have not always reigned over one unified country as they do today. From the various Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms of post-Roman Britannia, to its brief period under the Danish North Sea Empire, the Norman Conquest, and the Hanoverian Dynasty which turned the United Kingdom into a global modern state.


Throughout these works we will use the traditional BC/AD as it is more broadly known for our audiences. Though, BCE/CE can also be used. BCE meaning Before Common or Current Era, and Current Era, respectively.


While there were kings that existed before Egbert, they were of various smaller kingdoms, as opposed to what resembles the England that we know today.


The Romans Leaving Britannia

The Romans briefly visited Britain in 55BC under the leadership of Emperor Julius Ceasar, they made it to the shores, however, did not venture any further. The visited the following year in 54BC in which they realised that the Britons inland were dramatically different to the various tribes on the shores. This venture too did not last, with them withdrawing from the Island. The Romans would not visit these lands again until 43AD in which they launched a full scale invasion of the British Isles under the command of Emperor Claudius, this time, making their visit a permanent one.


Our almost mythical story of British Kings and Queens starts after the Roman Empire abandoned Roman Britain, or what they called Britannia, in 410AD. The Empire's focus lay on Mainland Europe where they needed to defend their lands from migrating tribes of Barbarians.


This withdrawal meant that there was a power vacuum on the Island, of which, large swathes of Germanic groups wasted no time to come over from Scandinavia. The Jutes came from what is now modern-day Denmark, the Angles came from what is modern-day Germany, and the Saxons from the modern-day countries of the Netherlands and Belgium.


The terms 'Germani' or 'Germanic peoples' can be misconstrued as to exclusively meaning 'German', however, it was assigned to the tribes from across North-Western Europe spanning several modern European states, not just the people from modern-day Germany.

Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands:

  • Angles: From southern Denmark

  • Saxons: From German-Dutch regions

  • Jutes: From northern Denmark



The Anglo-Saxon Kings Of A Somewhat Unified England

King Egbert

Reign: 802AD—839AD.

Also Known As: Ecgherht, Egbercht, Ecgberht and ... (The inconsistent spelling can often be attributed to a lack of education standards that exist today, and the lack of standardised spelling.)

Parents: 

Spouse: 

Children: Æthelwulf, Eadgyth.

Biography: Egbert from the House of Wessex, was exiled by Beorhtric, owing to the fact that Egbert was his rival and would succeed him. Beorhtric always distrusted Egbert and viewed his existence as a continuous threat to the Throne. After failing to kill Egbert, Beorhtric succeeded in having him driven out onto Continental Europe, though, into the Court of Charlemagne, King of the Franks and the first Emperor of what would later become the Holy Roman Empire.


After being welcomed by Charlemagne, Egbert learned much through formal education and by serving in the Emperor's Frankish Military. These formative years supported in enabling Egbert to be an effective ruler upon returning to the British Isles upon the death of Beorhtric.


Sources:



The Norman Kings & Queen Of England

William I The Conqueror

Reign: AD—839AD.

Known as: William I, William The Bastard, William The Conqueror


William II Rufus


Henry I Beauclerc


Stephen of Blois


Empress Matilda

Reign: Disputed between 1135AD—1154AD with Stephen of Blois. Though, she was proclaimed Queen in 1141AD before leaving England in 1148AD.

Born: c. 7 February 1102 – 10 September 1167.

Also Known As: Empress Maud.

Parents: Henry I & Matilda of Scotland (Good Queen Maud).

Spouse:

  • First Marriage: Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor ​ ​(m. 1110; died 1125).

  • Second Marriage: Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou (Married: 1128–1151).

Children:

  • Henry II.

Biography: Often omitted from history as a Queen, Empress Matilda was usurped from power by her cousin, Stephen of Blois, before even knowing her father Henry I had died, despite the very fact that it was Henry's own wish, which had been agreed to by English Nobels, that Matilda would be his successor. Though, we will acknowledge her rightful place in history as if Edward V is counted as a King of England even though he died prior to his Coronation, Matilda can without a shadow of doubt be included in the list.


Whilst away, married off to Emperor Henry V of The Holy Roman Empire, she became Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. Due to the slow nature of news during the Middle Ages, it


The Plantagenet Kings & Queens (331 Year Rule)

Henry II Plantagenet

Reign: 802AD—839AD.

Also Known As: Henry Fitzempress and Henry Curtmantle.

Parents: Henry I & Matilda of Scotland (Good Queen Maud).

Spouse: Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Children: John I, Richard I.

Biography: The son of Empress Matilda...


Check back soon for more, including:

  • Richard I The Lionheart

  • John I Lackland

Comments

All Products

bottom of page