Note:
This list includes only the monarchs of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom. It does not include the monarchs of the other countries that have been part of the British Isles, such as the monarchs of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
William the Conqueror (1066-1087): William the Conqueror was the first Norman King of England. He is best known for his successful invasion of England in 1066 and the subsequent Norman Conquest. He also established a strong and centralized government in England, which laid the foundations for the English monarchy and the English legal system.
William II (1087-1100): William II, also known as William Rufus, was the second Norman King of England. He is best known for his efforts to strengthen the English monarchy and for his conflicts with the English nobility.
Henry I (1100-1135): Henry I was the third Norman King of England and the son of William the Conqueror. He is best known for his efforts to improve the English legal system, including the establishment of the first English common law courts. He is also known for his efforts to promote education and learning in England.
Stephen (1135-1154): Stephen was the King of England from 1135 to 1154. He is best known for his struggles with the English nobility during a period of civil war known as the Anarchy.
Henry II (1154-1189): Henry II was the King of England from 1154 to 1189. He is best known for his efforts to strengthen the English monarchy and for his role in the development of the English common law system. He is also known for his conflicts with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Richard I (1189-1199): Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart, was the King of England from 1189 to 1199. He is best known for his military campaigns in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade and for his conflicts with the English nobility.
John (1199-1216): John was the King of England from 1199 to 1216. He is best known for signing the Magna Carta, a document that established the principle of the rule of law and limited the power of the English monarchy.
Henry III (1216-1272): Henry III was the King of England from 1216 to 1272. He is best known for his efforts to reform the English legal system and for his support of the arts and learning.
Edward I (1272-1307): Edward I was the King of England from 1272 to 1307. He is best known for his military campaigns in Wales and Scotland, which helped to bring these regions under English control. He is also known for his efforts to reform the English legal system and for his support of the arts and learning.
Edward II (1307-1327): Edward II was the King of England from 1307 to 1327. He is best known for his conflicts with the English nobility and his unpopularity with the English people.
Edward III (1327-1377): Edward III was the King of England from 1327 to 1377. He is best known for his military victories during the Hundred Years' War with France and for his support of the arts and learning.
Richard II (1377-1399): Richard II was the King of England from 1377 to 1399. He is best known for his efforts to reform the English government and for his support of the arts and learning.
Henry IV (1399-1413): Henry IV was the King of England from 1399 to 1413. He is best known for his efforts to stabilize the English monarchy after the tumultuous reign of Richard II and for his efforts to
Henry V (1413-1422): Henry V was the King of England from 1413 to 1422. He is best known for his military victories in the Hundred Years' War with France, including the decisive English victory at the Battle of Agincourt. He is also known for his efforts to reform the English government and for his support of the arts and learning.
Henry VI (1422-1461 and 1470-1471): Henry VI was the King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471. He is best known for his role in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between the House of Lancaster and the House of York for control of the English throne.
Edward IV (1461-1470 and 1471-1483): Edward IV was the King of England from 1461 to 1470 and again from 1471 to 1483. He is best known for his victory in the Wars of the Roses and for his efforts to reform the English government.
Edward V (1483): Edward V was the King of England from April to June 1483. He is best known for his brief and disputed reign, during which he was deposed by his uncle, Richard III.
Richard III (1483-1485): Richard III was the King of England from 1483 to 1485. He is best known for his controversial reign, during which he was accused of murdering his two young nephews, the Princes in the Tower. He was defeated and killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, which marked the end of the Wars of the Roses.
Henry VII (1485-1509): Henry VII was the King of England from 1485 to 1509. He is best known for his victory in the Wars of the Roses and for his efforts to stabilize the English monarchy. He is also known for his efforts to reform the English government and for his support of the arts and learning.
Henry VIII (1509-1547): Henry VIII was the King of England from 1509 to 1547. He is best known for his six marriages and his role in the English Reformation, which resulted in the Church of England breaking away from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. He is also known for his efforts to strengthen the English monarchy and for his support of the arts and learning.
Edward VI (1547-1553): Edward VI was the King of England from 1547 to 1553. He is best known for his role in the English Reformation and for his efforts to reform the English government.
Mary I (1553-1558): Mary I was the Queen of England from 1553 to 1558. She is best known for her efforts to restore the Roman Catholic Church in England and for her persecution of Protestants, which earned her the nickname "Bloody Mary."
Elizabeth I (1558-1603): Elizabeth I was the Queen of England from 1558 to 1603. She is best known for her long and successful reign, during which she oversaw the growth of the English naval and military power and the flourishing of English literature and the arts. She is also known for her skillful handling of the threat of invasion from Spain and for her efforts to stabilize the English monarchy.
Elizabeth I (1558-1603): Elizabeth I was the Queen of England from 1558 to 1603. She is best known for her long and successful reign, during which she oversaw the growth of the English naval and military power and the flourishing of English literature and the arts. She is also known for her skillful handling of the threat of invasion from Spain and for her efforts to stabilize the English monarchy.
James I (1603-1625): James I was the King of England from 1603 to 1625. He is best known for his role in the unification of England and Scotland and for his efforts to promote peace and stability in Europe. He is also known for his support of the arts and learning and for his contributions to English literature.
Charles I (1625-1649): Charles I was the King of England from 1625 to 1649. He is best known for his conflicts with Parliament and for his role in the English Civil War, which resulted in his execution.
Oliver Cromwell (1653-1658): Oliver Cromwell was the leader of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 to 1658. He is best known for his role in the English Civil War and for his efforts to reform the English government.
Richard Cromwell (1658-1659): Richard Cromwell was the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1658 to 1659. He is best known for his brief and controversial reign, during which he struggled to maintain control of the government.
Charles II (1660-1685): Charles II was the King of England from 1660 to 1685. He is best known for his efforts to restore stability to the English monarchy after the tumultuous period of the English Civil War and the Commonwealth. He is also known for his support of the arts and learning and for his role in the development of English science and exploration.
James II (1685-1688): James II was the King of England from 1685 to 1688. He is best known for his efforts to promote the rights of Catholics in England and for his conflicts with Parliament. He was eventually deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
William III (1689-1702): William III was the King of England from 1689 to 1702. He is best known for his role in the Glorious Revolution and for his efforts to promote peace and stability in Europe. He is also known for his support of the arts and learning and for his contributions to English literature.
Anne (1702-1714): Anne was the Queen of England from 1702 to 1714. She is best known for her efforts to maintain the stability of the English monarchy and for her support of the arts and learning.
George I (1714-1727): George I was the King of England from 1714 to 1727. He is best known for his efforts to maintain the stability of the English monarchy and for his role in the development of the British Empire.
George II (1727-1760): George II was the King of England from 1727 to 1760. He is best known for his efforts to maintain the stability of the English monarchy and for his role in the development of the British Empire. He is also known for his support of the arts and learning.
George III (1760-1820): George III was the King of England from 1760 to 1820. He is best known for his long reign and for his role in the development of the British Empire. He is also known for his efforts to reform the English government and for his support of the arts and learning.
George IV (1820-1830): George IV was the King of England from 1820 to 1830. He is best known for his lavish lifestyle and for his efforts to reform the English legal system.
William IV (1830-1837): William IV was the King of England from 1830 to 1837. He is best known for his efforts to reform the English government and for his support of social reform.
Victoria (1837-1901): Victoria was the Queen of England from 1837 to 1901. She is best known for her long and successful reign, during which the British Empire reached its height of power and prosperity. She is also known for her support of the arts and learning and for her efforts to promote social reform.
Edward VII (1901-1910): Edward VII was the King of England from 1901 to 1910. He is best known for his efforts to maintain the stability of the English monarchy and for his role in the development of the British Empire. He is also known for his support of the arts and learning.
George V (1910-1936): George V was the King of England from 1910 to 1936. He is best known for his efforts to maintain the stability of the English monarchy and for his role in the development of the British Empire. He is also known for his support of the arts and learning.
Edward VIII (1936): Edward VIII was the King of England from January to December 1936. He is best known for his abdication from the throne in order to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
George VI (1936-1952): George VI was the King of England from 1936 to 1952. He is best known for his role in leading the United Kingdom through the challenges of World War II and for his efforts to maintain the stability of the English monarchy. He is also known for his support of the arts and learning.
Elizabeth II (1952-2022): During her reign, which began in 1952, she has played a prominent role on the international stage and has helped to maintain the stability of the English monarchy. She is also known for her support of the arts and learning and for her efforts to promote social reform.
Some specific achievements of Elizabeth II include:
Leading the United Kingdom through significant events and challenges, including the end of the British Empire, the Cold War, and the aftermath of World War II.
- Promoting international relations and diplomacy, including through her role as Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, which includes 54 member countries.
- Supporting the arts and learning, including through her patronage of various cultural institutions and her efforts to promote education.
- Promoting social reform, including through her efforts to address issues such as poverty, homelessness, and mental health.
- Building strong relationships with the people of the United Kingdom and around the world, through her dedication to public service and her many visits and engagements with individuals and communities.
Elizabeth II has also been recognized for her achievements with numerous awards and accolades, including being made a Knight of the Garter and a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. She has also received numerous honorary degrees and other honors from universities and other institutions around the world.
Charles III (2022- present)
