Historia Regnum

Britanniae
Being a brief historaie of the varyous Kings of Angleand, their Duks,
Courtiers, and Mynsters from the rayn of Alfred the Great to that of
Charles the Third, compiled by one Plamen Kovatchev anno Domini two
thousand three and twenty
 LFRED THE GREAT 848-899
871 Succeeds brother Athelred as
king of Wessex. 878 Defeats
Guthrum at Battle of Edington,
baptizing him. Alliance with
Mercia and Wessex to form
England. Guthrum forms Danelaw
out of East Anglia. 886
Restoration of London, coronation
as King of the Angles and Saxons. 893 Law Code of Alfred.
Establishes schools for translation of Latin books into English.
EDWARD THE ELDER 899-924 Oldest son of Alfred. 910
Wessex alliance with East Anglia to defeat Northumbria at
Battle of Tettenhall 919 Conquest of Southern England:
Mercia, Wessex, East Anglia. Canterbury, Winchester,
Worcester established cathedral centers of learning. Danish
thanes expelled. 924 Chester Revolt is suppressed, but Edward
dies, succeeded by eldest son. Anglorum Saxonum rex (King
of the Anglo-Saxons)
ATHELSTAN 924-939 Rex Totius Britanniae 927 Conquest of
York, last Viking kingdom in England 934 Defeat of
Constantine II of Scotland 937 Battle of Brunanburh, defeats
Scots and Danes. The Grately Law Code: Death for Theft over
Eight Pence. Donates many relics, manuscripts to churches.
Marries most female relations to European courts, building
goodwill. Succeeded by step-brother.
EDMUND I 939-946 King of the English. Revolt of York:
Olaf captures north-east Mercia and York. 942 York and North
East Mercia Re-Conquered. Government by Aldermen or
barons. Succeeded by his step-brother as his children too
young to inherit.
EADRED 946-955 Third son of Edward the Elder. Oda,
Archbishop of Canterbury and Athelstan Half-King, Alderman
of East Anglia, are the real power during this period. Sickly
and debilitated, dies young taking no wife.
EADWIG ALL FAIR 955-959 Eldest son of Edmund I . Exiles
St. Dunstan. A wanton youth who misused his personal beauty
in lascivious behavior. Gets stabbed.
ST EDGAR THE PEACEABLE 959-975 Younger son of
Edmund I. Coronation at Bath 973 by St. Dunstan.
Standardization of Measurements. Benedictine Rule
introduced to Monasteries. England flowers, with stability
within and peace from without. No fixed capital, so court
moves from estate to estate.
ST EDWARD THE MARTYR 975-978 No heir had been
chosen by last king. Killed very quickly by supporters of his
brother.
ATHELRED THE UNREADY 978-1016 991 Loses Battle of
Maldon, forced to pay tens of thousands of pounds yearly
tribute. Danes still raid despite yearly tributes. 1002 St Brice
Day Massacre of Danes, prompting Danish invasion 1013
Briefly deposed by Danish King Sweyn Forkbeard. Flees to
Normandy, then returns and crushes Forkbeard. 1016 Athelred
and heir Edmund Ironside defeated at Battle of Assandun
NUT THE GREAT 1016-1035 Son of
Sveyn Forkbeard. Helps father
conquer England with huge force of
Polish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
troops. Ironside and Cnut sign a
treaty and Ironside dies weeks later,
ceding all England to Cnut. Viking
raids stop because Cnut is in command of most of the Vikings.
Execution of royals, demand of 70,000 pounds sterling as
tribute Danegeld. Army is paid off. Visited Pope and Holy
Roman Emperor Conrad II for his Imperial coronation.
Restored many churches damaged in invasion, sent many
relics abroad. Very peaceful and prosperous reign
HAROLD HAREFOOT 1035-1040 Younger son of Cnut. His
brother Harthacnut, has stronger claim, but Harold takes
English throne while Harthacnut is busy in Scandanavia
putting down rebellion. Never really supported by populace.
Struck ill by divine judgement.
HARTHACNUT 1040-1042 He hath no pleasure save to fill,
to swill, and to call for more. Died suddenly due to his
excesses.
ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR 1042-1066 Son of
Athelred, House of Wessex. Comes out of exile in Normandy
to conquer kingdom. Founded Westminster Abbey. Childless
death. King's Council proclaims Harold Godwinson king at
Westminster
ILLIAM THE
CONQUEROR
1066-1087 Duke
of Normandy.
Death of Edward
the Confessor
William invades
England defeats
Harold
Godwinson at
Battle of
Hastings.
Domesday Book-
Survey listing all
land holdings.
1075 Norman
Conquest
concluded. Third
Son William Rufus becomes king.
WILLIAM II RED 1087-1100 Debauched and impious
sodomite. Peaceful reign. Conquered Wales, dominated
Scotland. Founding of Oxford University. No issue. Dies in
hunting accident with Henry. Crown goes to Fourth Son of
William the Conqueror
HENRY I 1100-1135 First son of William the Conqueror,
Robert, invades England. Henry invades Normandy and
captures Robert and Normandy, making peace with Louis VI
of France 1120. Many bastards. Harsh but effective. Created
royal exchequer and expanded local government, justice, and
taxation, ecclesiastical reform. Marries Matilda of Scotland,
and marries daughter Matilda to Geoffrey V Count of Anjou.
She is to be queen. Son drowns at sea with Stephen of Blois,
and Henry I dies of sickness. Crown goes to nephew Stephen
of Blois, plunging England into the Anarchy.
STEPHEN OF BLOIS 1135-1154 King of England and Duke
of Normandy. Anarchy: Civil war with Empress Matilda.
David I of Scotland and Welsh rebels attack England from
North and West. Robert of Gloucester (Matilda's half-brother)
rebels. Stephen captured at Lincoln 1141, losing Normandy
and many follows. Son dies. Stephen sues for peace at Treaty
of Winchester, naming Henry as heir after many bloody years
ENRY II PLANTAGENET 1154-1189 Duke of Normandy,
Count of Anjou and Maine, Duke of Aquitaine, Count of
Nante, King of England, Duke of Brittany, Protector of Wales,
Ireland, Scotland. Energetic and ruthless, restored royal
administration. Marries Elanor of Aquitaine. Desire to reform
the church. Murders Archbishop Thomas Becket 1170. Lion in
Winter: Louis IV of France and King Philip II of France stoke
the ambitions of Henry's sons: Young Henry, Richard,
Geoffrey, John. Young Henry and Geoffrey revolt and are
killed. Philip and Richard revolt and defeat Henry II, with
Richard claiming the throne.
RICHARD I LIONHEARTED 1189-1199 Duke of Normandy,
Aquitaine, Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Poitier, Anjou,
Maine, Nante, Overlord of Brittany. Third Crusade has
considerable victories against Saladin, although does not
retake Jerusalem. Spends almost all of his reign on crusade or
in Aquitaine, using England mainly as a source of revenue. A
pious crusader. Crossbow bolt to the shoulder, shot by a boy
whose father had been killed by Richard, the king spared the
boy, saying "Live on, and by my bounty behold the light of
day". No issue.
KING JOHN 1166-1216 War with France 1202 ends in defeat,
excommunicated 1209, barons revolt leads to signing of
Magna Carta 1215. Civil War with barons aided by Louis VIII
of France. Dies of dysentery. Son inherits throne.
HENRY III OF WINCHESTER 1216-1272 King of England,
Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine 1230 disastrous invasion
of Normandy. Peter de Roches Regency quashed in Revolt
1232. Devoted to Edward the Confessor, pious and generous.
Robs Jews. 1242 disastrous invasion of Poitou. Alliance with
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. 1258 Baron's revolts sour
reign. Son inherits throne.
EDWARD I LONGSHANKS 1239-1307 Hammer of the
Scots. Returned after Ninth Crusade to be crowned king.
Reformed royal administration and common law. Rebellion in
of civil war.
Wales 1276. Rebellion in Wales 1282. 1283 conquest of Wales
and Scotland. King Philip IV of France sides with Scottish and
confiscates Gascony. Establishes permanent Parliament to
raise taxes, which are very high. Expels Jews 1290. War with
Scotland continues into the reign of his son, Edward.
EDWARD II OF CAERNARFON 1307-1327 King of
England and Lord of Ireland. Favorite Piers Gaveston,
executed by barons 1312 lead by Thomas, 2nd Earl of
Lancaster. Defeat by Robert the Bruce of Scotland at
Bannockburn 1314. Famine followed. 1321 Thomas Lancaster
captured and executed. Truce signed with Bruce. Disastrous
reign. Isabella of France (with Roger Mortimer) invades 1326,
murders Edward and crowns 14 year old Edward III, his son,
as king.
EDWARD III 1327-1377 Overthrows Roger Mortimer (the
power behind the throne) 1329. Conquers Scotland, declares
himself heir to France 1337, starting Hundred Years War. Wins
incredible gains in Crecy and Poitiers and via Treaty of
Brittiany. Later years marked by poor health and stagnation.
Extremely beloved and popular king, mostly due to huge
military accomplishments. Eldest son, Edward of Woodstock,
the Black Prince, dies as the greatest general of the Hundred
Years War. Son of Edward of Woodstock, Richard II inherits
throne. John of Gaunt, son of Edward III, is passed over.
RICHARD II OF BORDEAUX 1377-1399 10 years old when
he succeeds throne. Possibly insane. Regency held by John of
Gaunt. Peasants Revolt 1381. Refined and cultivated patron of
the arts. 1397 Lords Appellant try coup but are executed or
exiled. 1399 John of Gaunt dies and his son Bolingbroke is
disinherited by Richard. Bolingbroke invades 1399 with small
force and takes crown, imprisoning Richard and taking the
crown as Henry IV. Richard starves to death.
HENRY IV BOLINGBROKE 1399-1413 Duke of Lancaster,
King of England. Rebellion by Owain Glyndwr of Wales and
Hotspur 1403. Hotspur killed at Shrewsbury. English, not
French, is his mother tongue. Prophecy: 'He would die in
Jerusalem" Actually dies in the Jerusalem Room of
Westminster Abbey
HENRY V OF MONMOUTH 1413-1422 King of England,
Lord of Ireland. Agincourt victory 1415, conquers Normandy.
1420 Treaty of Troyes recognizes Henry V as regent and heir
apparent to France. Pious, brave, military genius. Terrible
administrator. Died of dysentery before he could inherit
French throne. Throne goes to infant son Henry VI
HENRY VI OF LANCASTER 1422-1461 Declare fit to rule
1437 Timid and ineffectual, loses France. Collapse of law and
order in England as returning barons begin to squabble. Queen
Margaret takes advantage of the chaotic power vacuum to be
power behind the throne. Opens many universities. Richard,
Duke of York, wishes to depose unpopular, possibly insane
Henry VI. Civil War 1455. Richard’s son succeeds.
EDWARD IV OF YORK 1461-1483 Edward secretly marries
minor noble Elizabeth Woodville, a love marriage done
secretly and impulsively. Briefly deposed 1470 by chief
advisor Richard Neville the Kingmaker, who opposes the
match. Edward flees to Flanders, gathers army, and resumes
throne backed by wealthy Flemish merchants. Mentally and
physically frail. Ate himself to death. Incurred huge debts with
Medici. William Caxton makes first printing press in England
1476. Huge expenses spent on art, manuscripts, books, jewels,
fine clothes, mostly from Bruges craftsmen. Brother Clarence
executed for treason. Other brother takes throne.
RICHARD II OF LANCASTER 1377-1399 Declares
Edward's marriage to Elizabeth invalid, and therefore his sons
are bastards. Marries Anne Neville, daughter of Richard
Neville the Kingmaker. 1483Yorkist revolt defeated. 1485
Yorkists gain throne, killing Richard in Battle of Bosworth
Field, supported by Welsh, French, and Scottish forces
 ENRY VII TUDOR 1485-1509 Son of Lancaster, nephew of Henry VI. Founds the Tudor dynasty by marrying
Elizabeth of York, ending War of Roses and restoring power and stability to English throne. Poor health but
very charismatic, greedy tax collector, dotes on family with lavish gifts. Creates Justices of the Peace.
Establishes trade agreements with Papacy, starts trade war with Ghent. Queen and Prince of Wales die, 1502.
Henry is inconsolable and never remarries. Dies of tuberculosis.
HENRY VIII 1491-1547 Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. Creates Church of
England after Pope refuses to allow his annulment to Catherine of Aragon. Uses doctrine of Divine Right of
Kings to protest Pope's power. Dissolves convents and monasteries. Excommunicated by Pope. Executed or
imprisoned enemies by charges of treason or heresy. 1535 Union of Wales and England 1542 Union of Ireland and England. Always
on verge of financial ruin due to extravagance of court and endless wars.
EDWARD VI 1547-1553 Never reaches maturity. Rule by successive regents. Edward Seymor (Somerset) and John Dudly (Warwick)
First Protestant king. Abolition of clerical celibacy and Mass, compulsory services in English. His sister Mary takes the throne when
he dies a teenager.
MARY I BLOODY 1553-1558 Married Philip of Spain. heir to huge Catholic empire who sends hot portrait to Mary. False pregnancy
cools Philip's interest and he abandons her to go off to war. 1554 Catholicism restored. Rich Protestants flee country as more than 280
poor dissenters burn at stake. Terrible floods and poor collection of taxes leaves crown poor. Spanish marriage opens England to
expensive wars. Dies of uterine cancer. Philip: "I felt a reasonable regret for her death" Succeeded by sister.
ELIZABETH I VIRGIN QUEEN 1558-1603 Depends heavily on Advisor William Cecil, Spymaster Walsingham. Flourishing of
drama led by Shakespeare and Marlowe. Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh adventure for the Crown against Spain. 1558 Acts of
Uniformity and Supremacy officially restore Book of Common Prayer and Church of England. Pope declares her illegitimate: many
threats against her life by Catholics. 1588 Spanish Armada lost in storm, saving country. Timid English counterattack horribly
defeated, losing any advantage gained. 1594 Nine Years War is Irish revolt put down in extreme, brutal bloodshed. Her advisors all die
off, and their sons: idiots. The worst, favorite Lord Essex, raises abortive rebellion against her in 1601. The best, Robert Cecil
conspires behind her back to put James I on the throne.

AMES CHARLES STUART I OF ENGLAND, VI OF SCOTLAND 1566–1625: Wisest fool in

Christendom. Son of Mary, Queen of Scots (executed by Elizabeth I). Orders Plantation of Ulster and
Colonization of New World. Protestant policy tolerant towards Catholics, only requiring they respect law.
Flourishing of art through Patronage. Distrusts Parliament, ruling without convening Parliament. Tries to
prevent English involvement in Thirty Years War. Espouses Divine Right of Kings. 1605 Gunpowder Plot,
Sir Walter Raleigh's Main Plot. Sir Robert Cecil and other Privy Council advisors stay from Elizabeth's
time, negotiate peace with Spain. Largely peaceful. After death of Sir Robert Cecil, rule goes to court
favorites like bellicose Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers. Prince of Wales dies of typhoid.
CHARLES I 1625-1649 Catholic, second son of James I. Aiding Catholics causes friction with Protestant
Parliament. 1628 Parliament dissolved. Cannot levy taxes directly, so introduces new customary taxes.
Nationalization of private lands, goods, and such to raise money generates discontent, does not keep crown
from bankruptcy. 1633 Archbishop Laud appointed, policy of restoring High Church Anglican rites to
reformed English and Scottish churches results in rebellion. 1939 Bishop's War. Bankrupt, desperately tries
to convene Parliament to raise money, who instead demand list of powers and the execution of Strafford,
Charles' chief minister, for treason. Charles attests. 1642 English Civil War. 1645 Defeated, imprisoned,
refuses demand for constitutional monarchy. “I would know by what power I am called hither, by what
lawful authority?” 1649 executed, supporters flee to Ireland.
LORD PROTECTOR OLIVER CROMWELL 1649-1660 Ireland conquered, brutal massacres at Drogheda
1641 and Wexford recall just concluded Thirty Years War. Scottish Royalists crushed at Battle of Worcester
1651, Edinburgh quickly taken. Rump Parliament debates new form of government before Cromwell
dissolves Parliament 1653, taking power as Lord Protector. 1657 Welcomes Jews back to balance national
finances. 1658 dies of malaria.
CHARLES II 1660-1685 Offers tolerance, pardons, promises to rule in cooperation with Parliament, raising
1.2 million yearly for court. Cavalier Parliament overwhelmingly Royalist, Anglican. Theatres reopened with female actors, Book of
Common Prayer compulsory, Church of England reestablished. 1665 Great Plague Great Fire of London. Charles helps directly in
both, boosting support. 1674 unpopular Dutch Wars and support for Catholic France and Louis XIV sours the Cavalier Parliament on
Charles and is dissolved 1679. Charles bows to wishes of opponents and imprisons minister to tower of London for sedition.
Exclusion Bill: Charles' son could not inherit. Supporters called Whigs. Opponents are Tories. Charles dissolves Parliament,
preventing Exclusion Bill. Charles begins judicial campaign to destroy opposition by seizing estates, imprisoning rivals,
disenfranchising Whigs. Alchemical, scientific interests led to death from mercury poisoning.
JAMES II (VII OF SCOTLAND) 1685-1688 Monmouth Rebellion and Argyll's Rising quickly crushed. 1686 Presbyterianism
punishable by death. Expansion of Standing Army. Packs country, Parliament, with his supporters, dismissing Protestants from top
posts. 1688 Queen births Catholic son, paving way for Catholic dynasty. William and Mary land at request of Parliament. Army either
turns coat or surrenders.
WILLIAM AND MARY 1689-1702 Bill of Rights signed, limiting royal power and setting Anne as successor. 1690 Battle of the
Boyne, defeats James II in Ireland. Massacre at Glencoe, Scotland, follows. 1693 Famine, inflation. 1695 Currency crisis. 1696
Jacobite plot unmasked. 1702 Dies after fall from horse. Mary had died some years prior. Most of reign spent fighting in Nine Years
War against France's Louis XIV
QUEEN ANNE 1702-1707 Younger daughter of James II and sister of Mary. Union of Scotland and England into United Kingdom.
Raised Anglican. Obese and unhealthy, had 17 miscarriages and never produced an heir, the throne going to her second cousin.
EORGE I 1714-1727 King of Great Britain, House of Hanover. Robert Walpole establishes office of
Prime Minister 1715 Jacobite uprising under Bonnie Prince Charlie, half-brother of Queen Anne. 1719
War of the Quadruple Alliance (UK, HRE, Dutch, France VS Spain) Jacobite uprising supported by
Spain comes to naught. 1720 South Seas Bubble Crisis skillfully managed by Robert Walpole, who
assumes even greater powers. Absolute Monarch in Hanover, but leaves almost everything to Robert
Walpole except English foreign policy.
GEORGE II 1727-1760 Popular Prince of Wales, million+ crowds in London. Popularity leads to rift
with father; alliance with Walpole. Court buffoon: interested chiefly in foreign policy. 1743 General at
Dettingen. 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie defeated at Culloden, last Jacobite Uprising. Fond of hunting,
warfare, cards, bluntly honest and parsimonious. Court composer Handel.
GEORGE III 1760-1820 Spoke English rather than German. Never visited Hanover. 1756 Won Seven
Years War. 1772 Royal Marriages Act means no royals can marry without King's consent. 1776 American colonies revolt. 1778 France
and Spain join war against Britain, while Dutch Republic aids both sides. British generals free American slaves to recruit them. 1779
Sixty-six French and Spanish warships enter English Channel but turn back due to weather 1781 Defeat at Yorktown, American
colonies lost. 1783 William Pitt the Younger appointed Prime Minister 1807 Slavery banned in British Empire (Wilberforce). After
1788, becomes mentally ill, 1811 Regency. Collector of art and books, had common touch.
GEORGE IV 1820-1830 Prince Regent. Essentially a playboy, then a corpulent wastrel, with little impact on policy, but great impact
on fashion. Prime Minister appointed by House of Commons majority, rather than King's personal favor. Pompous and ostentatious
reign with many mistresses turns public opinion against monarchy. Childless, his brother inherits throne.
WILLIAM IV 1830-1837. No legitimate children, passing the throne to his niece. 1780 Midshipman in American War of
Independence 1827 Lord High Admiral of the Navy. Detests pomp and circumstance, almost cancelling coronation. 1832 Reform of
electoral system, passes in Parliament after threats to pack House of Lords with his supporters. Hanover ruled by his brother, he never
visits and loses Hanover when he dies due to Salic Law.

UEEN VICTORIA 1837-1901 House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Queen of the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1845 Great Irish Potato Famine.
English mismanagement causes blight, millions die, millions flee; population
never recovers. 1851 Great World's Fair Exhibition constructed by Isambard
Kingdom Brunel, sponsored by Schweppes. 1861 Prince Consort Albert dies,
she mourns forever. 1868 William Evart Gladstone- High Church Tory Liberal
Prime Minister supports Irish Home Rule and irrevocably splits his Liberal
Party. 1874 Benjamin Disraeli Conservative Prime Minister passes massive
Worker's Reforms giving rights to picket, sue employers, and take out larger
loans. 1876 Empress of India "The sun never sets on the British Empire".
Gladstone shows solidarity with April Uprising in Bulgaria. 1878 Congress of
Berlin wins Cyprus for Britain, establishes fractured Bulgarian state, and gives
leftovers to Russia, Disraeli’s enemy. "Der alte Jude, das ist der Mann" Eight
assassination attempts.
EDWARD VII 1901-1910 House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Fond of gambling,
hunting, horse races and fashion like tweed, Homburg hats, Norfolk jackets,
informal black ties and jackets at dinner, as well as unbuttoning the last vest
button, trouser legs pressed front and back, and the standup turn-down shirt
collar. A massive man fond of roast beef and potatoes on Sundays.
GEORGE V 1910-1936 House of Windsor, renamed due to Anti-German sentiment during WWI. 1911 Parliament Act means House
of Lords no longer veto laws, establishing elected House of Commons as superior 1921 British empire rules quarter of world's
landmass. 1922 Ireland partitioned and Irish Free-State created 1931 British Commonwealth created, with each state as separate and
independent nation. 1932 First Christmas Broadcast.
EDWARD VIII abdicated the throne almost immediately. Profligate Nazi sympathizer.
GEORGE VI 1936-1952 Graduates at the bottom of his Naval class, then marries a non-royal (future Queen Mother Elizabeth) and
breaks down in tears when he hears of Edward VIII's abdication. Visits speech therapist his entire life. Fearing war, visits North
America and France, bolstering alliances there. 1940 WWII British royal family shares in the bombs, rationing, and steadfast defiance
of the rest of Britain in the face of the Blitz. 1945 VE Day, Prime Minister Churchill joins royal family on balcony. 1947 Partition of
India means the end of Empire
ELIZABETH II 1952-2022 Longest verified reign of any female monarch in history. 1940 Addresses other children evacuated from
cities. 1944 Trained as driver during war. 1945 Joins arms with crowd on VE Day. 1947 Marriage to Prince Philip. Edward VIII and
Philip's German relations not invited. 1953 First televised coronation and worldwide tour of every Commonwealth country. 1978
Queen's Surveyor unmasked as communist spy, Uncle Mountbatten assassinated by IRA. 1992 Annus Horribilis: divorces among
royals, protesters throw eggs at her in Dresden, fire in Windsor Castle, forced to pay taxes. 2012 Platinum Jubilee shows 90 per cent
approval ratings. Wore solid suits and elaborate hats to stand out in the crowds she was constantly visiting.
CHARLES III 2022-Present 1981 Marries Diana Spencer and present at birth of their sons William, Henry. 1992 Infidelity on both
sides causes separation. 1995 First royal to visit Ireland. 1996 Divorces Diana. 1997 Diana is killed in a car crash following high
speed paparazzi chase down into tunnel. 2001 Silver Medal at Chelsea Flower Show 2005. Marriage to Camilla Bowles in a civil
wedding at Windsor Guildhall. 2008 Rainforest Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award. 2015 Prix Francois Rabelais award for Organic
Farming. 2015 Shakes hands with Gerry Adams, IRA leader. 2023 Coronation marks him as the oldest serving Prince of Wales. Son
William V is heir apparent.