Monarchs of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom
House of Normandy
William I "the Conqueror" (1066-1087)
William II "Rufus" (1087-1100)
Son of William I. Inherited England but not Normandy (which went to his older brother Robert). Died in a slightly suspicious hunting accident.
Henry I "Beauclerc" (1100-1135)
Son of William I and brother of William II. Lost his male heir in the White Ship disaster of 1120. Named his eldest daughter Matilda as his heir. Matilda was married to Geoffrey, Count of Anjou. She was also the widow of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (hence the moniker Empress Matilda).
House of Blois
Stephen of Blois (1135-1154)
Stephen was the nephew of Henry I through his sister Adela. He seized the crown forcefully upon his uncle's death and waged a civil war against Matilda. A settlement was eventually reached whereupon Stephen would be king, but Matilda's son would be his heir.
House of Plantagenet
The original name of the house is Anjou, named so because of the county of Anjou. From this the family also get the name of the Angevins. Anjou was quickly lost, however, and the more lasting name for the dynasty is Plantagenet. After Richard II the monarchy fell to the cadet branches of Lancaster and York.
House of Anjou
Henry II "Curtmantle" (1154-1189)
Henry II inherited England through his mother's settlement with Stephen of Blois, the county of Anjou from his father, and the Duchy of Aquitane, from his wife Eleanor. This made him the most powerful ruler in western Europe at in his time.
Richard I "Lionheart" (1189-1199)
Son of Henry II.
John
Son of Henry II and brother of Richard I. Famous for losing the European possessions and for the signing of the Magna Carta. From here on, the house is generally known as Plantagenet.
House of Plantagenet
Henry III (1216-1272)
Son of John. Exceptionally long reign.
Edward I "Longshanks" (1272 - 1307)
Son of Henry III. Bad guy in Braveheart.
Edward II (1307 - 1327)
Son of Edward I. A poorly regarded king who was overthrown by his wife and died in prison.
Edward III (1327 - 1377)
Son of Edward II. Gained power through his mother's coup. Very capable king who started the Hundred Years' War in 1337 following disputes with the French king. Acts as the focal point of all descendants who would claim power in the Wars of the Roses.
Richard II (1377 - 1399)
Grandson of Edward III through his oldest son, the black prince. Another poorly regarded king who was overthrown by his cousin.
House of Lancaster
Henry IV "Bolingbroke" (1399 - 1413)
Grandson of Edward III through John of Gaunt. Seized the throne from his cousin Richard II.
Henry V (1413 - 1422)
Brilliant military king, most famous for his victory at Agincourt. Left the throne to his less than one year old incapable child Henry VI.
Henry VI (1422 - 1461, 1470 - 1471)
Incapable child king whose disastrous reign lost England the Hundred Years' war and sparked the Wars of the Roses.
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