His Royal… Who?
England is known for its kings. Many of them have lived in history for the good, or more often awful, things that they did for either the country or their personal lives. However, those are just a drop in the ocean of kings England had. So, here are a few kings you’ve never heard of.
Edward The Elder
Long before William the Conqueror, England was ruled by kings. A few, like Alfred the Great, remain spoken of by true history buffs, but most are forgotten—such as Edward the Elder, who reigned from 899–924.
Edward The Elder
As is often the case in history, Edward had to defend his crown. His cousin Aethelwold made a claim for the crown that Edward defeated. While his father, Alfred, is better known, medieval historian William of Malmesbury thought Edward was “incomparably more glorious in the power of his rule” than his father.
Edmund The Magnificent
Edmund I was Edward’s eldest son to his third wife. He succeeded not his father, but his half-brother Aethelstan, who passed childless. England was often in danger during this time, and Edmund the Magnificent became the first king to rule over all of England as he defeated Viking rule in York.
Edmund The Magnificent
Edmund’s rule met a tragic end. He perished during a brawl in Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire. One account claims that he was taken by a “most wicked thief” who had gotten a hold of his steward. Edmund’s heroic attempt to save his steward failed, ending his life in the process.
Edgar The Peacemaker
Although Edgar the Peacemaker was Edmund I’s younger son, he would not come to the throne until both his uncle and his elder brother passed without children. As is often the case with these old kings, their reigns are poorly recorded, so little is known about them.
Edgar The Peacemaker
Most records from this time revolve around religion. Edgar’s reign saw the English Benedictine Reform become the dominant force, both religiously and socially. His reign also saw a lull in the frequent Viking invasions that plagued his predecessors, and those who came after him.
Edgar The Peacemaker
Edward’s reign may have been considered peaceful, as indicative of his title. However, his passing divided the nation, pitting his two sons against each other and disrupting English rule for decades.
Edward The Martyr
When Edgar passed, both of his sons were children. This left a vacuum for family loyalties to fester. They pit Eward’s claim for the throne against that of his brother, Aethelred. Edward won out in the feud, though not for long.
Edward The Martyr
Based on existing records, Edward was 13 when he became king. When his life was ended three years later, he was around 16. This was a great sin at the time.
Edward The Martyr
Medieval English kings were sacred; they were blessed by God himself. Removing Edward was considered a mortal sin. As such, he became honored as a saint; however, some historians consider this undeserved, as Edward had a temper and was an aggressive king, far from saintly.
Aethelred The Unready
Following the passing of his elder brother, Aethelred the Unready became king with about as much experience as his brother had once had. Aethelred was about 12 at the time of his coronation.
Aethelred The Unready
Aethelred’s epithet is a play on Old English. His name essentially means “well advised”, whereas “The Unready” comes from an Old English term that means “poorly advised”. Despite being “poorly advised”, Aethelred enjoyed a long reign.
Aethelred The Unready
Aethelred may have been only 12 when he came to the throne, however, he was almost 50 when he passed. His reign lasted for 37 years, the longest of any Anglo-Saxon English king. However, there was an interruption.
Sweyn
Did you know that England had a Danish king? Now you do. Aethelred’s reign was plagued by Danish invasions, and in the winter or fall of 1013, Sweyn succeeded in chasing Aethelred to Normandy and taking the English throne. It would be a short-lived success.
Sweyn
England’s Danish king was only king for five weeks. Shortly after succeeding in capturing the English throne, Sweyn passed. No one knows what ended his life. Some say he was targeted, though others say he fell off a horse. Regardless, England was lost to the Danes once more.
Aethelred The Unready
Sweyn’s younger son, Cnut, was given the title “King of England”. However, he was no match for Aethelred, who returned from Normandy. Aethelred pushed Cnut out easily and took his throne back. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the last time England faced Danish control.
Edmund Ironside
Aethelred’s son, Edmund Ironside took the throne from his father after his passing. He also continued his fight with the still-invading Denmark. On top of this, many of his own people remained loyal to the exiled Danish king, Cnut.
Edmund Ironside
Edmund had the loyalty of those in London; the rest of England were loyal to Cnut. After a battle in 1016, England was divided between Edmund, who had Wessex, and Cnut, who had everything else. When Edmund passed, Cnut took Wessex too.
Cnut
Although he is all but forgotten, Cnut ruled England for nearly two decades. He helped solidify England and defeated Viking invaders. Once he passed, England remained under his family's control until 1042, when the throne was taken by a better-known English king, Edward the Confessor, returning England to English control.
Harold II
Everyone remembers William the Conqueror. However, few remember the king that he conquered. That would be Harold II, or Harold Godwinson. This is of no surprise, as the only real claim to fame Harold has was losing his throne to William the Conqueror and setting off English history as we know it today.
Harold II
Harold had good prestige: his family had been made Earl of Wessex by Cnut. He was Edward the Confessor's brother-in-law. It was this connection that helped him gain the title after Edward passed without an heir. Unfortunately, he could not hold off the Norman invasion.
Harold II
Harold lost control of the English throne in 1066 when he fell to William the Conqueror (William I) at the Battle of Hastings. However, he did make one thing of note before that time. It is believed he’s likely the first English monarch crowned at Westminster Abbey.
William II
Everyone is lost in the shadow of William the Conqueror. William I made history by claiming England for the Normans, officially ending the Angle-Saxon rule, and ushering the Normans. However, his son of the same name is often forgotten.
William II
Casual history buffs may be able to remember that William was succeeded by a son of the same name. However, they don’t recall much of what he did. William II continued to follow his father’s rule, attempting to push their control, trying to tame Scotland and Wales to mixed success.
William II
Some historians believe William II may have been gay. However, there’s no proof of this. He passed after being hit by an arrow while hunting. Some historians speculate that this may have been intentional, given his brother’s reaction.
Henry I
Everyone knows England had a lot of King Henrys (eight, to be exact). However, only a small handful are remembered. Henry I is not among them. However, he wasted little time in taking the throne once his brother was gone.
Henry I
Henry was William the Conqueror’s fourth son, and he was left with little land or power. He took control of England from his brother firmly, leading to many suspecting William’s passing had not been an accident. Henry also passed without an heir, leading to perhaps the most forgotten king of all.
Stephen
Yes, there was a King Stephen. Even though he ruled for 18 years, he has been forgotten—perhaps because he took the throne under dubious circumstances. Though, really, who didn’t? Have you read history?
Stephen
Henry’s son passed before Henry. He named his daughter, Matilda, as heir. However, Stephen saw an opportunity to take control instead. Stephen was Matilda’s cousin, the son of Count of Blois (in France) and William the Conqueror’s daughter, Adela.
Stephen
Stephen had been raised in Henry I’s court, which gave him the knowledge and authority to usurp his cousin, despite promising his uncle to support her. Order, however, was restored when Matilda’s son, Henry II, took the throne following Stephen’s passing.
Edward I
It's difficult to keep track of the kings when they all have the same name. Much like the Henrys, everyone knows there were many Edwards; however, few of them distinguished themselves enough to be remembered beyond “oh, another Edward”.
Edward I
Edward I was Henry III’s eldest son. He ruled over England, as well as having claims to Ireland and land in France. He united England after his father’s more chaotic rule—but also spent much time in conflict.
Edward I
Edward started the first Scottish War of Independence, and he fought with France after King Philip IV took the Duchy of Gascony from him. He was an imposing king and was succeeded by his son, Edward II, who was less respected.
Edward II
The one thing that makes Edward II memorable to some people is his friendship with Piers Gaveston. Piers Gaveston was an English nobleman that Edward was very close with—unusually close with.
Edward II
Gaveston joined the royal household in 1300. Their exact relationship remains speculation. Were they friends, sworn brothers, or lovers? No one knows, but Edward gave Gaveston clear favoritism, which upset the nobility.
Edward II
There were years of conflict over Gaveston until he was executed by a group of nobles led by Edward’s cousin, Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster. Edward’s rule was marked by opposition and betrayal, including from his wife.
Edward II
His wife, Isabella, was sent to France in 1325 to sign a peace treaty. She refused to come back. Instead, she returned with an exiled nobleman, Robert Mortimer. They invaded England in 1326 and forced Edward to give his crown to his son, who was only 15. Mortimer and Isabella took the regency and executed Edward II.
Edward III
We’re almost done with the Edwards, we swear. Edward III deposed Mortimer a few years later, when he was 17, starting his rule properly. He was a temperamental king who believed fully in his great power, going so far as thinking he could heal by “royal touch”. His rule was marked by the start of the Hundred Years War. Fortunately for England, but unfortunately for Edward, he was the last forgettable king for several generations.
Richard Cromwell
This is another one that’s a bit of a cheat. Technically, Richard Cromwell, like his father, Oliver Cromwell, was the “Lord Protector” of the Commonwealth of England. Most people remember Cromwell Sr. However, they forget that Cromwell, acting much like a king, named his son to succeed him as Lord Protector.
Richard Cromwell
Unlike Oliver Cromwell, Richard did not have the charisma or power to organize the people. He lost the metaphorical crown only a few months after receiving it from his father. England returned to the monarchy it always was.
William Of Orange
William of Orange was the son of William II, Prince of Orange and Mary, Princess Royal, the daughter of Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland. He also married his first cousin, Mary, the eldest daughter of his uncle King Charles I’s son, King James II.
William Of Orange
England suffered from religious conflict since Henry VIII turned the nation Protestant, and after Queen Mary’s bloody rule, England feared another Catholic ruler. This gave William and Mary, devoted Protestants, the influence to take the throne.
William Of Orange
William invaded England during the “Glorious Revolution”, deposing the Catholic king, his father-in-law, King James II. He gained support due to his commitment to Protestantism. William co-ruled with his wife, Mary II, until her passing.
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