Neville, Richard, Earl of Warwick and Salisbury ("The Kingmaker") (1428-1471) - Fabulously wealthy baron, defeated Henry VI, putting Edward IV on the throne. Fell out with Edward, and joined the Lancastrian side. Defeated and killed at the Battle of Barnet by Edward.
Oldcastle, Sir John (d.1417) - An ardent Lollard, he was convicted of heresy, escaped and launched a revolt. Captured and executed.
Owain Gwnedd (1110-1170) - Ruler of Gwynedd, acknowledged Henry II as his lord, but later helped defend southern Wales against henry's invasion.
Percy, Henry, Earl of Northumberland (1342-1408) - Supporter of Richard II, switched sides to support Bolingbroke. Rebelled in 1403, was pardoned, rebelled again, fled the country. Rebelled yet again, and was killed.
Percy, Sir Henry ("Hotspur") (1364-1403) - Son of Earl Henry, fought in Scotland, and later joined his father in 1403 rebellion and was killed in battle.
Percy, Henry, Earl of Northumberland (1446-1489) - In and out of favor (and the Tower of London) with Edward IV. Chamberlain to Richard III. Switched sides at Bosworth to support Henry VII.
Perrers, Alice (d.1400) - Mistress of Edward III, a schemer by all accounts. Exercised enormous influence in Edward's last days. Said to have stripped the rings from Edward's fingers as he died.
Richard I (1157-1199) - "The Lion Heart", son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. A great warrior, not a great king. Spent most of his reign crusading, killed in France by an arrow when he removed his helmet to better study a castle he was besieging.
Richard II (1367-1400) - A weak ruler, actual government was handled largely by John of Gaunt. Showed great personal courage in conciliating the rebel army in the Peasant's Revolt of 1381. Extravagant, he had to accept a commission to run his household affairs. Defeated by Bolingbroke, he died in captivity at Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire.
Richard III (1452-1485) - Duke of Gloucester, a successful warrior on behalf of his brother Edward IV at Barnet and Tewkesbury. Protector for his nephew, Edward V. The prince and his younger brother disappeared from the Tower of London while under Richard's care. This turned public opinion against Richard, and provided the excuse for the invasion of Henry Tudor. Richard lost the Battle of Bosworth, his crown, and his life to Henry.
Richard, Earl of Cornwall ((1209-1272) - Son of John I. Rebelled against Henry III, reconciled and fought for him at Lewes.
Robert, Duke of Normandy (1054-1134) - "Curthose", eldest son of William I, received Normandy when William died, claimed England (rightfully) when William II died. Defeated and captured at Tinchbrai in 1106, he was kept a prisoner for the rest of his life.
Robert, Earl of Gloucester (d.1147) - Bastard son of Henry I, and the military leader for Queen Maud when she invaded England in 1139. Defeated Stephen twice, capturing him once,but Robert's death led to Maud's retreat to France and an eventual end to hostilities.
Scrope, Richard le (1350-1405) - Archbishop of York, supported Duke of Northumberland's 1405 rebellion. He was captured and executed, but his tomb at York Minster became a popular pilgrimage centre.
Simnel, Lambert (1475-1525) - Either a clever impostor or Edward V, depending on your allegiance. Appeared after Edward had disappeared from the Tower of London, he gained support for an invasion of England. Was defeated and captured at Stoke in 1487.
Stephen I (1097-1154) - Grandson of William I, he seized the throne in 1135. His struggle with Matilda, Henry I's official heir, plunged the country into civil war. When his only son died, Stephen recognized Maud's son Henry as his heir. His reign was remarkable for the amount of church building which took place.
Thomas, Earl of Lancaster (1227-1322) - Executor of Piers Gaveston, and virtual ruler of England until ousted by the DeSpensers. Executed by Edward II.
Tyler, Wat (d.1381) - Leader of the 1381 Peasant's Revolt, he was killed by the Lord Mayor of London while negotiating with Richard II at Mile End, just outside London.
Warbeck, Perkin (1474-1499) - Impersonator (probably) of Richard, the younger of the "Princes in the Tower". Invaded in 1497, was defeated and executed by Henry VII.
Whittington, Richard (d.1423) - Rich merchant, philanthropist, and three times Lord Mayor of London. The tale of Dick Whittington and his cat was probably a pleasant fiction invented long after his death.
William I (1027-1087) - "The Conqueror", Duke of Normandy. May have been promised the throne of England, he invaded and took it anyway, defeating Harold at Hastings in 1066. Brought Norman influence and custom to England. Responsible for the great Domesday Book of 1086, a very thorough tax record of the entire realm.
William II (1060-1100) - "Rufus". Son of William I, king from 1087. Unpopular, he was killed in a hunting accident, or was it murder?
Wycliffe, John (d.1384) - Oxford scholar, he attacked church power and the necessity of organized religion. His ideas were taken up by the Lollards.
Wykeham, William of (1324-1404) - Bishop of Winchester, founder of Winchester School and New College, Oxford.
York, Richard, Duke of (1411-1460) - Protector during Henry VI's insanity, he rebelled twice, actually had his claim to the throne accepted, but he was killed at Wakefield before he could be crowned.