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Monarchs of England Timeline (1066-Present) Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Timeline of the Monarchs of England (1066-Present)

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

The Norman Dynasty (1066–­1154)

William I (William the Conqueror) 1066–1087
1066: Wins the Battle of Hastings, defeating King Harold II, and becomes the first Norman King of England.
 
1069–1070: Harrying of the North, a brutal campaign to subdue Northern England.
 
1085–1086: Commis­sioning of the Domesday Book, a compre­hensive survey of land and resources in England.
 
Death: 1087, succeeded by his son William II.
William II (William Rufus) 1087–1100
Continued his father's efforts to consol­idate Norman control over England.
 
Known for conflicts with the Church and his barons.
 
1100: Killed in a hunting accident in the New Forest under mysterious circum­sta­nces, succeeded by his brother Henry I.
Henry I 1100-1135
1106: Battle of Tinche­bray, defeating his brother Robert Curthose and securing Normandy.
 
Issued the Charter of Liberties, a precursor to the Magna Carta.
 
His only legitimate son, William Adelin, died in the White Ship disaster (1120), leading to a succession crisis.
 
Death: 1135, succeeded by his nephew Stephen.
Stephen 1135-1154
His reign was marked by a civil war known as The Anarchy, fought against his cousin Matilda, daughter of Henry I.
 
1153: Treaty of Wallin­gford, where Stephen agrees to recognize Matilda’s son, Henry, as his heir.
 
Death: 1154, succeeded by Henry II, the first of the Planta­genet kings.

The Planta­genet Dynasty (1154–­1399)

Henry II 1154-1189
Restored order after The Anarchy and expanded the Angevin Empire.
 
1170: Murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canter­bury, leading to a signif­icant conflict with the Church.
 
Implem­ented judicial reforms that laid the foundation for English Common Law.
 
Death: 1189, succeeded by his son Richard I.
Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) 1189-1199
Renowned for his role in the Third Crusade, spending most of his reign outside England.
 
1192: Captured and held for ransom by Duke Leopold of Austria.
 
His absence led to unrest and heavy taxation in England.
 
Death: 1199 from a wound sustained during a siege, succeeded by his brother John.
John (John Lackland) 1199-1216
Lost most of the Angevin Empire’s French territ­ories, leading to the nickname "­Lac­kla­nd."­
 
1215: Forced to sign the Magna Carta, a seminal document in limiting the power of the monarchy.
 
His reign saw the start of the First Barons' War.
 
Death: 1216, succeeded by his son Henry III.
Henry III 1216-1272
Long reign marked by struggles with the barons, leading to the Second Barons' War.
 
1265: Simon de Montfort's parliament is the first to include commoners, a signif­icant step towards repres­ent­ative government
 
Rebuilt Westmi­nster Abbey in the Gothic style.
 
Death: 1272, succeeded by his son Edward I.
Edward I (Longs­hanks) 1272-1307
Conquered Wales and built numerous castles to secure control.
 
1296: Invaded Scotland, beginning a series of conflicts known as the Wars of Scottish Indepe­ndence.
 
1297: Faced the rebellion of William Wallace, a Scottish national hero.
 
Death: 1307, succeeded by his son Edward II.
Edward II 1307-1327
Defeated by Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannoc­kburn in 1314, losing English control over Scotland.
 
His close relati­onships with male favorites, such as Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser, led to conflict with the nobility.
 
Deposed by his wife, Isabella of France, and her lover, Roger Mortimer.
 
Death: 1327, likely murdered; succeeded by his son Edward III.
Edward III 1327–1377
Restored royal authority and began the Hundred Years’ War against France in 1337, asserting a claim to the French throne.
 
His reign saw the rise of the English Parliament and the Black Death (1348-­1350).
 
The victories at Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356) were signif­icant in the early stages of the Hundred Years' War.
 
Death: 1377, succeeded by his grandson Richard II.
Richard II 1377-1399
Became king at age 10, leading to a regency council dominated by his uncles.
 
1381: Faced the Peasants’ Revolt, which was brutally suppre­ssed.
 
His later years saw increasing autocracy and conflict with the nobility, leading to his deposition by his cousin Henry Boling­broke.
 
Death: 1400, likely murdered in captivity; succeeded by Henry IV, beginning the Lancas­trian branch of the Planta­genets.

The House of Lancaster (1399–­1461, 1470–1471)

Henry IV 1399-1413
First king from the House of Lancaster, having deposed Richard II.
 
Faced multiple rebell­ions, including the Percy Rebellion and the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr in Wales.
 
Struggled with illness towards the end of his reign, leading to a transfer of power to his son.
 
Death: 1413, succeeded by his son Henry V.
Henry V 1413-1422
Renowned for his military leadership in the Hundred Years’ War, most notably at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
 
Secured the Treaty of Troyes (1420), recogn­izing him as heir to the French throne and regent of France.
 
Died unexpe­ctedly of dysentery during a campaign in France.
 
Death: 1422, succeeded by his infant son Henry VI.
Henry VI 1422–1461 (first reign), 1470–1471 (second reign)
Ascended to the throne as a child, with his minority marked by regency councils.
 
His reign saw the contin­uation of the Hundred Years’ War, culmin­ating in the loss of all English territ­ories in France except Calais.
 
His mental illness and weak leadership led to the Wars of the Roses, a dynastic conflict between the Houses of Lancaster and York.
 
Deposed twice, first by Edward IV in 1461 and briefly restored in 1470 before his final defeat and death.
 
Death: 1471, likely murdered in the Tower of London, succeeded by Edward IV.

The House of York (1461–­1470, 1471–1485)

Edward IV 1461–1470 (first reign), 1471–1483 (second reign)
First Yorkist king, taking the throne from Henry VI during the Wars of the Roses.
 
Succes­sfully defeated the Lancas­trian forces at battles such as Towton (1461) and Tewkesbury (1471).
 
Restored stability and streng­thened the monarchy after re-est­abl­ishing his rule.
 
Death: 1483, succeeded by his son Edward V.
Edward V April–June 1483
One of the "­Princes in the Tower,­" he was never crowned and disapp­eared along with his brother Richard, Duke of York.
 
His uncle, Richard, Duke of Glouce­ster, took the throne as Richard III.
 
Disapp­earance: 1483, presumed murdered; succeeded by Richard III.
Richard III 1483–1485
Became king after declaring his nephews illegi­timate, but his rule was marred by suspicion over the fate of the Princes in the Tower.
 
Faced rebellion from supporters of Henry Tudor, the Lancas­trian claimant.
 
1485: Killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field, marking the end of the Wars of the Roses and the Planta­genet dynasty.
 
Death: 1485, succeeded by Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch.
 

The Tudor Dynasty (1485–­1603)

Henry VII 1485-1509
Founded the Tudor dynasty by defeating Richard III at Bosworth Field and marrying Elizabeth of York to unite the warring houses of Lancaster and York.
 
Establ­ished a strong central govern­ment, improved the economy, and reduced the power of the nobility.
 
Death: 1509, succeeded by his son Henry VIII.
Henry VIII 1509-1547
Famous for his six marriages and the English Reform­ation, which saw the break from the Roman Catholic Church and the establ­ishment of the Church of England.
 
1534: Act of Supremacy, declaring him Supreme Head of the Church of England.
 
Dissol­ution of the Monast­eries (1536-­1541) and signif­icant religious and political upheaval.
 
Death: 1547, succeeded by his son Edward VI.
Edward VI 1547-1553
A devout Protes­tant, his reign saw the further establ­ishment of Protes­tantism in England through the Book of Common Prayer and other reforms.
 
His health was poor, and he died young, leading to a succession crisis.
 
Death: 1553, succeeded by his cousin Lady Jane Grey (dispu­ted), followed by Mary I.
Mary I (Bloody Mary) 1553-1558
The first queen regnant of England, she sought to restore Roman Cathol­icism after the Protestant reforms of her father and brother.
 
Known for her persec­ution of Protes­tants, earning her the nickname "­Bloody Mary."
 
Married Philip II of Spain, a deeply unpopular move among her subjects.
 
Death: 1558, succeeded by her half-s­ister Elizabeth I.
Elizabeth I 1558-1603
The Elizab­ethan Era is noted for the flouri­shing of English culture, including the works of William Shakes­peare, and the expansion of English power overseas.
 
1588: Defeat of the Spanish Armada, establ­ishing England as a major naval power.
 
Her reign also saw religious tensions but establ­ished a relatively stable Protestant Church of England.
 
Death: 1603, ending the Tudor dynasty, succeeded by James I, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland.

The Stuart Dynasty (1603–­1714)

James I (James VI of Scotland) 1603-1625
First monarch to rule both England and Scotland, starting the Stuart dynasty.
 
1605: Gunpowder Plot, a failed Catholic conspiracy to blow up Parliament and kill the king.
 
Commis­sioned the King James Bible, an enduring legacy in Englis­h-s­peaking Protes­tan­tism.
 
Death: 1625, succeeded by his son Charles I.
Charles I 1625-1649
His reign was marked by conflicts with Parlia­ment, leading to the English Civil War (1642–­1651).
 
1649: Tried and executed for treason, leading to the temporary abolition of the monarchy and the establ­ishment of the Common­wealth under Oliver Cromwell.
Interr­egnum (Commo­nwealth and Protec­torate) 1649-1660
England was declared a republic, and Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658.
 
After Cromwell’s death, the Protec­torate collapsed, leading to the restor­ation of the monarchy.
Charles II 1660-1685
Restored to the throne in 1660, his reign is known as the Restor­ation period.
 
Faced challenges like the Great Plague (1665) and the Great Fire of London (1666).
 
Navigated religious tensions between Anglicans, Catholics, and dissen­ters.
 
Death: 1685, succeeded by his brother James II.
James II 1685-1688
A Catholic king in a predom­inantly Protestant country, his attempts to promote Cathol­icism led to widespread discon­tent.
 
1688: Deposed during the Glorious Revolu­tion, succeeded by his daughter Mary II and her husband, William III.
William III and Mary II Reign: 1689–1702 (William III), 1689–1694 (Mary II)
Jointly ruled after the Glorious Revolu­tion, which establ­ished consti­tut­ional monarchy and parlia­mentary sovere­ignty.
 
1689: Bill of Rights, a key document in the develo­pment of the British consti­tut­ional system.
 
Their reign saw the end of absolute monarchy and the beginning of a more modern consti­tut­ional state.
Anne 1702-1714
Last monarch of the Stuart dynasty, her reign saw the Act of Union (1707), which united England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
 
Her reign also saw the War of the Spanish Succes­sion, which establ­ished Britain as a major European power.
 
Died without surviving heirs, succeeded by the House of Hanover.

The House of Hanover (1714–­1901)

George I 1714-1727
First Hanoverian king, his reign marked the beginning of the modern British parlia­mentary system.
 
His reliance on ministers like Robert Walpole, often considered the first Prime Minister, streng­thened the role of Parlia­ment.
 
Death: 1727, succeeded by his son George II.
George II 1727-1760
Last British monarch to lead troops into battle, at the Battle of Dettingen (1743) during the War of the Austrian Succes­sion.
 
His reign saw the expansion of British influence overseas, partic­ularly in North America and India.
 
Faced the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, led by Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), which was defeated at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
 
Death: 1760, succeeded by his grandson George III.
George III 1760-1820
His long reign saw the American Revolution (1775–­1783), leading to the loss of the American colonies.
 
Suffered from bouts of mental illness, leading to the Regency of his son, the future George IV, from 1811.
 
Oversaw the Napoleonic Wars (1803–­1815), which ended with the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo.
 
Death: 1820, succeeded by his son George IV.
George IV 1820-1830
Known for his extrav­agant lifestyle and as a patron of the arts and archit­ecture, including the constr­uction of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.
 
His reign saw the passage of the Catholic Emanci­pation Act (1829), which allowed Catholics to sit in Parlia­ment.
 
Death: 1830, succeeded by his brother William IV.
William IV 1830-1837
Known as the "­Sailor King," he had a naval career before ascending the throne.
 
His reign saw the passage of the Reform Act 1832, which began the process of electoral reform and expanded the franchise.
 
Death: 1837, succeeded by his niece Victoria.
Victoria 1837-1901
Her 63-year reign is known as the Victorian Era, a period of signif­icant indust­rial, cultural, political, and military changes in the United Kingdom.
 
The British Empire expanded to its height, becoming the largest empire in history.
 
Her reign saw the Great Exhibition (1851), the Crimean War (1853–­1856), and numerous social reforms.
 
Death: 1901, succeeded by her son Edward VII.

The House of Saxe-C­obu­rg/­Windsor (1901–­Pre­sent)

Edward VII 1901-1910
Known for his diplomacy and streng­thening ties between Britain and other European nations, partic­ularly France (leading to the Entente Cordiale).
 
His reign marked the beginning of the Edwardian Era, charac­terized by relative social stability and the contin­uation of the British Empire's global influence.
 
Death: 1910, succeeded by his son George V.
George V 1910-1936
His reign saw World War I (1914–­1918), after which the British Empire reached its zenith but also faced signif­icant changes.
 
1917: Changed the royal house's name from Saxe-C­oburg and Gotha to Windsor, in response to anti-G­erman sentiment during World War I.
 
His reign also saw the rise of Irish indepe­ndence, leading to the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.
 
Death: 1936, succeeded by his son Edward VIII.
Edward VIII Januar­y–D­ecember 1936
Abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, causing a consti­tut­ional crisis.
 
His abdication led to his brother Albert becoming king as George VI.
 
Abdication: 1936, succeeded by his brother George VI.
George VI 1936-1952
Known for his leadership during World War II, including his morale­-bo­osting visits to bombed-out areas of London.
 
His reign saw the start of the decolo­niz­ation of the British Empire, with India gaining indepe­ndence in 1947.
 
Also saw the creation of the modern Common­wealth.
 
Death: 1952, succeeded by his daughter Elizabeth II.
Elizabeth II 1952-2022
The longes­t-r­eigning British monarch, overseeing signif­icant changes in British society, the monarchy, and the Common­wealth.
 
Her reign saw the decolo­niz­ation of Africa and the Caribbean, the UK's entry into and exit from the European Union, and numerous techno­logical and social changes.
 
Celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and became the longes­t-r­eigning British monarch in 2015.
 
Death: 2022, succeeded by her son Charles III.
Charles III 2022-P­resent
Ascended the throne after the death of Elizabeth II.
 
His reign continues to focus on the modern­ization of the monarchy and issues like climate change, reflecting his long-s­tanding personal interests as Prince of Wales.