Ball, John (d.1381) - Follower of Wycliffe, preached social reform. One of the leaders of the Peasant's Revolt. Famous for the couplet "When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman."
Beauchamp, Guy de, Earl of Warwick (1272-1315) - "The Black Dog of Arden", Lord Ordainer, capturer of Piers Gaveston.
Beauchamp, Richard de, Earl of Warwick (1382-1439) - Member of the Regency Council 1422, responsible for the education of Henry VI.
Beaufort, Henry (1377-1447) - Son of John of Gaunt , wealthy churchman, Bishop of Lincoln and, later, of Winchester, three time Lord Chancellor.
Becket, Thomas a (1118-1170) - Archbishop of Canterbury, opposed Henry II on the question of legal jurisdiction over clergy accused of crimes. Murdered in the cathedral, his tomb became the most famous pilgrimage centre in medieval England.
Bedford, John, Duke of Lancaster (1389-1435) - Son of Henry IV, administered France during Henry VI's minority. Had Joan of Arc executed.
Cadwgan (d.1111) Welsh prince. Tried and failed to hold Anglesey against the Normans.
Catherine of Valois (1401-1437) - Daughter of Charles VI of France, married to Henry V in 1420. Secretly married Owen Tudor after Henry's death in 1422. Mother of Henry VI.
Caxton, William (1422-1491) - Pioneer of printing, responsible for the first book printed in England in moveable type, 1477.
Chaucer, Geoffrey (1340-1400) - Court official and poet, the first great author in the English language. Wrote Canterbury Tales, 1387.
Chichele, Henry (1362-1443) - Archbishop of Canterbury, persecutor of the Lollards. Founded All Soul's College, Oxford.
Clare, Gilbert de, Earl of Hereford and Gloucester (1243-1295) - Supporter of first Simon de Montfort, then Henry III, mediated between king and rebels. Married Edward I's daughter.
Clarence, George, Duke of (1449-1478) - Brother of Edward IV and Richard III. Helped Warwick the Kingmaker depose Edward in 1470, then switched sides to help reinstate him a year later. Arrested and murdered, probably on orders of Edward.
Courtenay, William (1342-1396) - Archbishop of Canterbury and vigorous opponent of John Wycliffe.
Dafydd ap Gruffudd (d.1283) - Welsh prince, aided by Edward I in struggle with his brother, Llewelyn. Later turned on Edward, but was captured and executed.
Derby, Thomas Stanley, Earl of (1435-1504) - Husband of Margaret Beaufort. His betrayal of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth ensured the victory of Henry VII.
DeSpenser, Henry le (1341-1406) - Bishop of Norwich, helped suppress the Peasant's Revolt.
DeSpenser, Hugh le, the Elder (1262-1326) - Favorite of Edward II, virtual ruler before his capture and execution by Queen Isabella and Roger de Mortimer.
DeSpenser, Hugh le, the Younger (d.1326) - Favorite of Edward II, along with his father (see above) enjoyed almost regal power before execution by Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer.
Edgar the Atheling (1053-1125) - Grandson of Edmund Ironside, briefly contested the throne with William I but quickly and sensibly submitted. Later fought against Henry I.
Edward I (1239-1307) - Son of Henry III, king from 1272. "Hammer of Scots" also fought against the Welsh, where he established a new style of concentric castle.
Edward II (1284-1327) - Son of Edward I, first Prince of Wales. King from 1307. Ineffective and easily swayed by favorites Piers Gaveston and later Hugh le DeSpenser the Younger. Deposed and murdered by his wife Isabella and Roger de Mortimer.
Edward III (1312-1377) - Son of Edward II, king from 1327 under regency, ruled from 1330. Wars with Scotland and France (The Hundred Years War).
Edward IV (1442-1483) - Son of the Duke of York, defeated the Lancastrians (Wars of the Roses) and gained the throne in 1461. Briefly deposed by Warwick the Kingmaker, but quickly regained his throne.
Edward V (1470-1483) - Son of Edward IV, deposed by his uncle, Richard III and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Disappeared, presumed murdered.
Edward, Prince of Wales (1453-1471) - Son of Henry VI, fought with Warwick the Kingmaker against Edward IV, killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury
Edward the Black Prince (1330-1376) - Son of Edward III, fought at Crecy and Poitiers. Respected as the ideal of medieval knighthood, in reality a harsh, oppressive administrator,
Edward of Norwich, Duke of York (1373-1376) - Grandson of Edward III. Killed at Agincourt.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1120-1204) - Wife of first Louis VIII of France, then of Henry II of England. Helped establish the romantic ideal of chivalry. Supported her sons ("The Devil's Brood") in rebellion against Henry.
Eleanor of Castile (1246-1290) - Queen to Edward I. On her death Edward built "Eleanor Crosses" at each stopping place of her funeral cortege from Norfolk to London. Three of these crosses still remain.
Eleanor of Provence (1223-1291) - Married to Henry III. Unpopular at court, exiled to France during struggle with the barons, she raised money and troops to support henry.
Elizabeth Woodville (1437-1492) - Married Edward IV in secret ceremony in 1464. Promoted her relatives to positions of power. Retired to monastery on Edward's death
Flambard, Ranulf (d.1128) - Bishop of Durham from 1099, counselor to William II.
Folio, Gilbert (d.1187) - Bishop of Hereford and London. Opponent of Thomas Becket, counselor to Henry II after Becket's death.