British Monarchs

The tradition and family tree of the current Royal Family is contested by some to be a continuous line throughout History. This is of course debatable. It is reasoned that within the historical lineage known to scholars that there are some very tenuous links connecting the "Houses" of the succession. The French monarchy and other European monarchies had dynastic changes where a "new" family ruled as sovereign. Some of those dynasties had closer bloodlines to their predecessors, than say, William 1 "the Conqueror" did to Edward "the Confessor". Even so, the growth of the British Empire, the spread of the English language and the events involved with the birth of parliament and democracy owe in some measure to the stability provided by the English Monarchy.....add, advances in warfare, exploration, the arts, inventions and ultimately the Industrial Revolution are all testimony of the success of patient resolve of the Monarchy and its "common law "system.

Some notable Monarch's that are worth reading more about are:

*Edward the Confessor last of the Saxon/Danish Kings bequeathed his Kingdom to two men, resulting in the Battle of Hastings.

*William I a ruthless King born of humble beginnings.His fierce subjugation of Saxon revolts gave name to the tactic of "scorched earth policy". And then....there were tales of his humour, his sense of fair play and dispensation of justice. His supreme idea of leadership and tactics was ceaseless vigilance, setting the foundation of Norman rule in England for his son and to rule many years after his death.

* Henry II married the most influential woman in Europe, the father of 4 sons, one who would die the others to "battle" him later in life. It was the time of "troubadours' and the culture of Aquitaine and Anjou and the "crusades".Two of his sons Richard I "lionheart" and John I "lackland" would also forge their own paths in history. A French speaking King, Henry ruled most of France also Scotland and Ireland. His legendary energy and cunning make him one of the truly great monarchs.

*Edward III, this monarch overcome a childhood of adversity. He came to power in a time when the decadence of his parents had brought the monarchy into peril and at the mercy of the European Dynasties. This young King with some great advisors and statesmen restored the monarchy to its place of respect. With his son the "Black Prince", England defeated the French Army at Crecy. Edward created an Age Of Chivalry in England that would be the mark of the ruling class. Many enlightened acts were the measure oh his reign. Edward enabled parliament and understood the necessity of appeasing the" voice" of his nobles. His legacy?...a massive family that would for 100 years divide the throne and create many years of internal war.

*Henry V the "Soldier King" victor of Argincourt, defender of English pride and struck down in the prime of his life by dysentery, a soldiers disease.

*Elizabeth I, the greatest monarch of all? Much written and talked about, she is the signpost for the "dawn" of English dominance over Europe. Supported by some of the greatest men of the era. England's "light" shone on the world stage. Dying childless and the being the last member of the Tudor line she indeed heightened the spirit and morale amongst the nations people. Her advisors introduced systems and institutions that would become the core of the English "democratic system". "Faerie Queen or "Mother England", her reign and time is remembered and treated kindly by history.

*Victoria a young girl that through fate would become Queen. In a time when definite moral standards were declining, she attempted to be a a guiding light of purity and morality. In doing so, raised the awe of respect for the monarchy to idolatry, in an age where monarchies fell all over Europe. It is noticeable that including this current monarch Elizabeth II, three monarchs stand out over the last 400 years, they are all females, all very successful rulers for their times.

*The links at bottom will give you more information about the these monarchs.

 British Monarchs

Picture Gallery

Alfred the Great	SAXON KINGS	Canute
NORMAN William the Conqueror
Henry II	PLANTAGENETS	Richard I
LANCASTRIAN Henry V
Henry VIII	TUDORS	Elizabeth I
William III	STUARTS	Mary II
Victoria	HANOVERIAN /SAXE -COBURG	Edward VII

RELATED LINKS

• The Official British Monarchy Site
• Westminster Abbey
• British Parliament
• Anglo Saxon England
• Invasion of England 1066
• Murder of Thomas a'Beckett
• The Crusades
• Tudor England
• The House of Stuart
• Victorian England
• Timeline on British History

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