List of British Monarchs with Period

List of British Monarchs: In Britain, there is a constitutional monarchy where the king or queen shares power with a government organized by the constitution. The current king or queen is the head of state, but all political power is held by the prime minister, who leads the government, and the cabinet. The monarch must follow their advice.

Below is the list of British monarchs in table below.

List of British Monarchs

Below is a list that shows the order of kings and queens who have ruled Britain over time.

Name	Dynasty/House	Period
Egbert	Saxon	802–839
Aethelwulf	Saxon	839–856/858
Aethelbald	Saxon	855/856–860
Aethelberht	Saxon	860–865/866
Aethelred I	Saxon	865/866–871
Alfred the Great	Saxon	871–899
Edward the Elder	Saxon	899–924
Athelstan	Saxon	925–939
Edmund I	Saxon	939–946
Eadred	Saxon	946–955
Eadwig	Saxon	955–959
Edgar	Saxon	959–975
Edward the Martyr	Saxon	975–978
Ethelred II	Saxon	978–1013
Sweyn Forkbeard	Danish	1013–14
Ethelred II	Saxon	1014–16
Edmund II	Saxon	1016
Canute	Danish	1016–35
Harold I	Danish	1035–40
Hardecanute	Danish	1040–42
Edward the Confessor	Saxon	1042–66
Harold II	Saxon	1066
William I	Norman	1066–87
William II	Norman	1087–1100
Henry I	Norman	1100–35
Stephen	Blois	1135–54
Henry II	Plantagenet	1154–89
Richard I	Plantagenet	1189–99
John	Plantagenet	1199–1216
Henry III	Plantagenet	1216–72
Edward I	Plantagenet	1272–1307
Edward II	Plantagenet	1307–27
Edward III	Plantagenet	1327–77
Richard II	Plantagenet	1377–99
Henry IV	Plantagenet: Lancaster	1399–1413
Henry V	Plantagenet: Lancaster	1413–22
Henry VI	Plantagenet: Lancaster	1422–61
Edward IV	Plantagenet: York	1461–70
Henry VI	Plantagenet: Lancaster	1470–71
Edward IV	Plantagenet: York	1471–83
Edward V	Plantagenet: York	1483
Richard III	Plantagenet: York	1483–85
Henry VII	Tudor	1485–1509
Henry VIII	Tudor	1509–47
Edward VI	Tudor	1547–53
Mary I	Tudor	1553–58
Elizabeth I	Tudor	1558–1603
James I	Stuart	1603–25
Charles I	Stuart	1625–49
Oliver Cromwell	(Commonwealth)	1653–58
Richard Cromwell	(Commonwealth)	1658–59
Charles II	Stuart	1660–85
James II	Stuart	1685–88
William III	Orange/Stuart	1689–1702
Anne	Stuart	1702–14
George I	Hanover	1714–27
George II	Hanover	1727–60
George III	Hanover	1760–1820
George IV	Hanover	1820–30
William IV	Hanover	1830–37
Victoria	Hanover	1837–1901
Edward VII	Saxe-Coburg-Gotha	1901–10
George V	Windsor	1910–36
Edward VIII	Windsor	1936
George VI	Windsor	1936–52
Elizabeth II	Windsor	1952–2022
Charles III	Windsor	2022 – Present

Details of British Monarchs

Alfred the Great

Alfred the Great was a king from a place called Wessex, ruling from 871 to 899. He fought against Vikings who were invading England. He was the first to call himself the King of all the Anglo-Saxons, and his family continued to be kings after him. He made big improvements to the country’s laws and army.

He’s called “the Great” because of his significant contributions to his kingdom and his people.

Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II born in 1926, is the Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. She ascended to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI. Throughout her reign, Elizabeth II has been a symbol of stability and continuity for the British people. She has witnessed significant historical events, including the end of the British Empire, the Cold War, and the rise of technology. Elizabeth II is known for her dedication to public service and has become the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Victoria

Victoria also known as Queen Victoria, was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901. She was born on May 24, 1819, and became queen at the age of 18. Victoria’s reign, known as the Victorian era was a period of significant cultural, political, industrial, and military change within the United Kingdom and was marked by the expansion of the British Empire. Victoria is remembered for her strong influence on British society, her long marriage to Prince Albert, and her numerous children. She was the longest-reigning British monarch until she was surpassed by her great-great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

James I

James I was the king of Scotland starting from 1567 and then he became the king of England and Ireland from 1603 until he died in 1625. During his time as king, trade with places like India got a lot bigger because of the British East India Company. Also, art and books became really popular and were enjoyed by many people.

Edward I

King Edward I was also called “Longshanks.” He lived in the 13th century. Edward was tough and wanted to control places like Wales and Scotland. He bEdward I, also known as Edward Longshanks, was a king of England who ruled from 1272 to 1307.

He was a strong and determined ruler who worked to strengthen the power of the English monarchy. Edward is famous for his conquest of Wales, where he built numerous castles to control the region. He also tried to conquer Scotland but faced resistance from Scottish leaders like William Wallace. Edward’s reign saw the development of Parliament as an important institution in England. He is remembered as a powerful and influential king in English history.

Henry V

Henry V was the king of England and Ireland from 1413 to 1422. He is best known for his role in the Hundred Years’ War, particularly for his victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where the English army defeated a much larger French force. He almost conquered France and signed a treaty that said he would be the next king of France. He’s in three plays by Shakespeare, where he is shown as a brave leader, saying “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.”

Henry VIII

Henry VIII was the king of England and Ireland from 1509 to 1547. Henry is famous for many things, but mostly for having six wives. He wanted a son to be his heir, so he married many times trying to have a son. He is also known for separating the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church because he wanted to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn. This caused big changes in England. Henry’s reign also saw lots of other changes in laws and government. He is one of the most famous kings in English history.

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I was the queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. She became queen when she was 25 years old and people really liked her. She was called the “Virgin Queen”. Her navy beat the Spanish Armada in 1588, which made her very famous. Elizabeth was known for her intelligence, political skill, and strong leadership. She is considered one of England’s greatest monarchs and is sometimes called “Good Queen Bess”.

9. Edward VII

Edward VII was the king of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 1901 until his death in 1910. He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Edward played a significant role in British society as a patron of the arts and sciences. He was also known for his diplomatic skills, helping to maintain peace between European powers during his reign. Edward VII was succeeded by his son, George V.

10. William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror was in charge after leading the Norman conquest of England in 1066. He was born in Normandy, France, and became Duke of Normandy in 1035. He ruled until his death in 1087. While he was king he stopped a lot of rebellions and made the kingdom safer by building lots of castles and mottes. One of the most famous is the central keep of the Tower of London. He also ordered the first big count of everyone in England. He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in English history.

Conclusion

The British monarchy has seen many major rulers throughout history each leaving their mark on the nation in various ways. From Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II, these monarchs have shaped British history through their leadership, military endeavors, cultural patronage, and diplomatic efforts. Their legacies continue to influence the United Kingdom and the world today.

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List of British Monarchs – FAQs

Who was the first King of all England?

The first King of all England was Athelstan, who ruled from 925 to 939.

Who was the longest-reigning British monarch?

Queen Elizabeth II holds the title of the longest-reigning British monarch, ruling from 1952 to 2022.

How many monarchs have ruled Britain since the Norman Conquest in 1066?

Including William the Conqueror, there have been 67 monarchs who ruled Britain since the Norman Conquest.

Who was known as the “Virgin Queen”?

Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, was known as the “Virgin Queen” due to her unmarried status and commitment to her role as queen.

Which monarch separated the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church?

Henry VIII separated the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church during his reign from 1509 to 1547.