English and British Kings and Queens

The first king of England is generally said to be Egbert, who united the realms of Wessex, Cornwall, Mercia, Kent, Sussex, Essex and East Anglia in the 9th century and gave them the name England. His descendants ruled England until Canute the Great, a Danish king, assumed control of the country. The Saxon line was briefly restored in Edward the Confessor before the William the Conqueror became the first Norman king of England in 1066. This was a turning point not only in English history but also in the English language, since the Normans spoke French, which had a lasting impact on the English tongue. The Normans also introduced many continental Germanic names to England resulting in many Old English names becoming unused.

Various families (all interrelated) have given England rulers since that time, including the houses of Anjou, Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart, Hanover, and Windsor. After the English Civil War (1642-1648) the country was briefly governed by Oliver Cromwell and then his son Richard.

In 1707 the English and Scottish kingdoms were formally merged into the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Over the last several centuries the powers of the British monarchy have been gradually reduced, and they are now little more than figureheads.

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Edward11 kings11
Henry8 kings8
George6 kings6
Richard3 kings, 1 protector4
William4 kings4
Æðelred2 kings2
Charles2 kings2
Edmund2 kings2
Elizabeth2 queens2
Harold2 kings2
James2 kings2
Mary2 queens2
Æðelbald1 king1
Æðelbert1 king1
Æthelric1 king1
Æðelstan1 king1
Æthelweard1 king1
Æðelwulf1 king1
Alfred1 king1
Anne1 queen1
Beorhtric1 king1
Canute1 king1
Eadred1 king1
Eadwig1 king1
Edgar1 king1
Egbert1 king1
Harthacnut1 king1
Jane1 queen1
John1 king1
Oliver1 protector1
Stephen1 king1
Sven1 king1
Victoria1 queen1
33 results