The sovereigns of England : post-Conquest

2. Approximate age when the reign commenced. Some of these ages/dates are approximate as different sources given their dates differently.

3. The above list omits Matilda (1102-10.09.1167), daughter of Henry I, who was dispossessed by Stephen. Often referred to as ‘the Empress’ because of her first marriage which was to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry (V), by whom she had no surviving issue, her second husband was Geoffrey ‘Plantagenet’ of Anjou by whom she had 3 sons. She expected to become Queen of England when her father died but her cousin Stephen, who was not even the eldest son of her aunt, usurped the throne largely on the grounds that England needed a strong King rather than a Queen. A civil war errupted and Matilda did obtain control of the kingdom for some months in 1141 but Stephen soon regained control. His reign was rarely secure and he was persuaded to confirm Matilda’s eldest son Henry as his successor.

4. The above list omits Prince Louis, later King Louis VIII of France. With the help of various barons who rebelled against King John following his disavowal of the Magna Carta, Louis invaded England in 1216 and was proclaimed King by many, though he was never crowned. When King John died soonafter, some of the barons switched their allegiance to John’s young son Henry and the rebellion collapsed. By signing theTreaty of Lambeth, Louis gave up his claim to have ever been King of England.

5. The above list omits Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554) on whose behalf a claim for the crown was made after the death of her distant cousin, Edward VI, on 06.07.1553. Some view her as Queen for the 13 days after that date but she is more frequently called the ‘9 day Queen’ as the claim was first made on 10.07.1553. Her claim was effectively rejected on 19.07.1553 when Mary made a triumphant procession into London. Jane was executed on 12.02.1554.

6. The above ignores the claims to the throne of James ‘the Old Pretender’, son of James II, and of his son Charles. Parliament deemed James II to have vacated his throne in December 1688 thereby removing his descendants’ right to claim the throne as of right. Parliament invited the Pretender’s half-sister Mary and her husband William to take the throne, leaving aside the Pretender because of his religion.

7. Mary, born a Stuart, married William of Orange so her joint reign with him is often shown as of the House of Orange. However, the reign of their successor Anne, Mary’s sister who married George, Prince of Denmark, is not normally referred to as of the House of Denmark. For simplicity & convenience, we show them all as continuing the House of Stuart.

8. The parliaments of England & Scotland united in 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne. The Monarchs of Great Britain will be shown separately.