Who is the shortest reigning British monarch? It’s an interesting question and one that prompts a lot of debate. There are many things to consider, not least whether we are considering British monarchs, English monarchs, or Scottish monarchs. Or all three. Just for fun, in this article, we will consider all three. Lady Jane Grey…
Ascending to the English throne in 1199, King John ruled until 1216, following his elder brother, Richard I. As the youngest son of Henry II, he manoeuvred his way to the crown by sidelining his nephew, Arthur. John’s reign was characterised by his reputation as a harsh, exploitative, and avaricious monarch. His failed military campaigns…
Henry II was the King of England from 1154 to 1189. He ascended the throne after Stephen I and established the formidable Plantagenet dynasty. His lengthy reign saw significant legal reforms, the expansion of English royal power, and an extensive augmentation of Angevin territories in France. However, Henry II was not without conflict. He faced…
Richard I, better known as Richard the Lionheart, took to the English throne in 1189, stepping into the shoes of his elder brother, Henry the Young King. His reign spanned a decade, and was distinguished by his exceptional courage, the trait that earned him his illustrious nickname. The third son of Henry II, Richard’s reign…
Stephen of Bois served as King of England from 1135 to 1154. Following the death of his uncle, Henry I, he usurped the throne, defying the appointment of Henry’s chosen successor, his daughter Matilda. This contentious move triggered nearly two decades of civil war in England, a period known as ‘The Anarchy’. Stephen I’s turbulent…
Henry I reigned as King of England from 1100 to 1135. As the fourth son of William the Conqueror, he ascended to the throne following the death of his brother William II, who died during a hunting incident without leaving an heir. Henry I’s rule was characterised by adept administration and effective stabilisation of Norman…
William II, often referred to as William Rufus, was the third son of William the Conqueror. He succeeded to the English throne in 1087, after the death of his older brother Richard, and his reign lasted until 1100. His rule was characterised by fraught political rivalries, conflict with the Church, and ongoing hostilities with Scotland….
Prominently known as William the Conqueror, William I was the inaugural Norman king of England, whose reign extended from 1066 until his demise in 1087. This pivotal figure was the illegitimate offspring of Robert I, the Duke of Normandy, and secured the English crown through an audacious act of conquest, most notably evidenced by the…
Henry VIII, born on June 28, 1491, in Greenwich Palace, London, was the son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. His reign, lasting from April 21, 1509, until his death on January 28, 1547, in Whitehall Palace, London, was marked by his notable six marriages, which produced three surviving children: Mary…
The ancient Roman Empire was a polytheistic civilization for the most part, and as such, the Roman people accepted multiple gods and goddesses and worshipped them accordingly. The Roman deities were instrumental in the formation of the Roman civilization, so it was believed fundamentally shaping the daily lives of its people. Because of the close…