List of British monarchs

This is a list of British monarchs, that is, the monarchs on the thrones of the various kingdoms that have existed on, or incorporated, the island of Great Britain, namely:

The small kingdoms which existed prior to the formation of England, Scotland or Wales;
England up to 1707;
Scotland up to 1707;
The Kingdom of Great Britain (when England & Scotland merged in 1707);
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (when Great Britain and Ireland merged in 1801)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The UK after the Irish Free State was formed and became a separate kingdom in the 1920s).

Table of contents

1 Complications over Title and Style
2 Monarchs
3 Mnemonics
4 See also

Complications over Title and Style

Royal titles are also complicated because in some cases, names of kingdoms are used that did not officially come into existence until later, or came into existence earlier without immediate adoption of the royal title.

For example, in October 1604, one year after James VI of Scotland had become king of England, he decreed that the Royal Title would use the term 'Great Britain' to refer to the "one Imperiall Crowne" made up of England and Scotland. However using that title is problematic because the 'state' of Great Britain was only created in the 1707 Act of Union. Nor was the united crown generally referred to as 'imperial'. Furthermore, monarchs continued to use ordinals attached to the two previous kingdoms, for instance James VII/II. To avoid confusion, historians in general thus refer to all monarchs up to 1707 as monarchs of 'England' and 'Scotland' (so explaining their two ordinals where they existed), with the monarch's title at all times accurately following the 'official' name or names of the state or states they reigned over, where it differed from the official royal title. (Hence though many English and British monarchs claimed 'France' as part of their official title, as that had no reality in substance it isn't used.) After the Union, the ordinal has either been the English number, or the greater of the two numbers - the results have been the same and there is no formal rule.
In different documents, the terms 'Kingdom of Great Britain' and 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' feature, even documents as official as the 1707 Act of Union. Most historians presume the 'United' was meant to be descriptive (indicating a union as a form of unity by marriage rather than coercion). For clarity and because the 'United' is far more strongly associated with the later name United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland produced in the 1801 Act of Union, the 1707 kingdom is generally referred to as the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Similarly, though the Irish Free State ceased to be part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1922, neither the full name of the United Kingdom nor the royal title was changed until the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act, 1927. In this instance historians generally retrospectively date the coming into being of the modern United Kingdom to December 1922, even though in this case the formal change did not occur for another five years.

The list of monarchs below cannot be exhaustive. For succession to the many thrones often did not pass smoothly from parent to child; lack of heirs, civil wars, murders and invasions affected the inheritance in ways that a simple list does not show. The relationships that formed the basis for claims to throne are noted where we know them, and the dates of reign indicated.

Monarchs

Monarchs of England Monarchs of Scotland

Name Reign Notes
The Saxons
Ælfred the Great 878-899
Edward the Elder 899-924 Ælfred's son
Ethelweard 924 Edward's son
Athelstan 925-940 Edward's son
Edmund I 939-946 Edward's son
Edred 946-955 Edward's son
Edwy 955-959 Edmund's son
Edgar the Peaceful 959-975 Edmund's son
St Edward the Martyr 975-978 Edmund's son
Ethelred II 978-1013
1014-1016 Edgar's son
Edmund II 1016 Ethelred II's son
The Danelaw
For a period of time, both the Saxons and the Danish claimed the English throne.
Sweyn Forkbeard 1013-1014
Canute the Great 1016-1035 Svein's son
Harold I 1035-1040 Canute's illegitimate son
Harthacanute 1040-1042 Canute's son
The Saxon Restoration
St Edward the Confessor 1042-1066 Ethelred II's son
Harold II 1066 Edward the Confessor's brother-in-law
The Normans
After the Norman Conquest in 1066, numbering of kings (a French tradition applied to the Saxons only by historians) begins anew, although this affects only the Edwards.
William I 1066-1087
William II 1087-1100 William I's son
Henry I 1100-1135 William I's son
Stephen 1135-1154 William I's grandson
The Angevins or Plantagenets
The Royal House name changed to reflect Matilda's marriage to Geoffrey Plantagenet.
Matilda (Empress Maud) 1141 Henry I's daughter
Henry II 1154-1189 Matilda's son
Richard I 1189-1199 Henry II's son
John 1199-1216 Henry II's son
Henry III 1216-1272 John's son
Edward I 1272-1307 Henry III's son
Edward II 1307-1327 Edward I's son
Edward III 1327-1377 Edward II's son
Richard II 1377-1399 Edward III's grandson
The House of Lancaster
Henry Bolingbroke deposed Richard II, and the Royal House name came to reflect Henry's father's title, Duke of Lancaster.
Henry IV 1399-1413 Edward III's grandson
Henry V 1413-1422 Henry IV's son
Henry VI 1422-1461 Henry V's son
The House of York
The Houses of Lancaster and York had fought the War of the Roses, and the Yorkists took the throne.
Edward IV 1461-1483 Edward III's great-great-grandson
Edward V 1483 Edward IV's son
Richard III 1483-1485 Edward IV's brother
The House of Tudor
The Lancastrian Henry Tudor reclaimed the throne from the Yorkists.
Henry VII 1485-1509 Edward III's great-great-grandson
Henry VIII 1509-1547 Henry VII's son
Edward VI 1547-1553 Henry VIII's son
Lady Jane Grey 1553 Henry VII's great-granddaughter
Mary I 1553-1558 Henry VIII's daughter
Elizabeth I 1558-1603 Henry VIII's daughter

Name Reign Notes
The House of Alpin
Kenneth I 843-858
Donald I 858-862 Kenneth I's brother
Constantine I 862-877 Kenneth I's son
Aedh 877-878 Kenneth I's son
Eochaid 878-889 Aedh's nephew
Jointly with Giric
Giric 878-889 Aedh's first cousin
Jointly with Eochaid
Donald II 889-900 Constantine I's son
Constantine II 900-943 Aedh's son
Malcolm I 943-954 Donald II's son
Indulf 954-962 Constantine II's son
Dubh 962-966 Malcolm I's son
Culen 966-971 Indulf's son
Kenneth II 971-995 Malcolm I's son
Constantine III 995-997 Culen's son
Kenneth III 997-1005 Dubh's son
Malcolm II 1005-1034 Kenneth II's son
Duncan I 1034-1040 Malcolm II's grandson
Macbeth 1040-1057 Malcolm II's grandson
Lulach 1057-1058 Kenneth III's grandson
The House of Dunkeld
Malcolm III 1058-1093 Duncan I's son
Donald III 1093-1094
1094-1097 Duncan I's son
Duncan II 1094 Malcolm III's son
Edgar 1097-1107 Malcolm III's son
Alexander I 1107-1124 Malcolm III's son
David I 1124-1153 Malcolm III's son
Malcolm IV 1153-1165 David I's grandson
William I 1165-1214 David I's grandson
Alexander II 1214-1249 William I's son
Alexander III 1249-1286 Alexander II's son
Margaret 1286-1290 Alexander III's granddaughter
The House of Balliol
When Margaret died, there was no clear heir. King Edward I of England took over and installed a puppet, John Balliol.
John Balliol 1292-1296 David I's great-great-great-grandson
The House of Bruce
When John Balliol rebelled, the Wars of Scottish Independence commenced, during which Robert the Bruce became King.
Robert I 1306-1329 David I's great-great-great-great-grandson
David II 1329-1371 Robert I's son
The House of Balliol
For a period of time, both Edward Balliol and David II claimed the throne.
Edward Balliol 1332-1338 John Balliol's son
The House of Stuart
When Robert Stewart took over, the Royal House name was changed to Stuart (the French spelling of Stewart).
Robert II 1371-1390 Robert I's grandson
Robert III 1390-1406 Robert II's son
James I 1406-1437 Robert III's son
James II 1437-1460 James I's son
James III 1460-1488 James II's son
James IV 1488-1513 James III's son
James V 1513-1542 James IV's son
Mary I 1542-1567 James V's daughter
James VI 1567-1625 Mary I's son

Monarchs of England and of Scotland
In 1603, James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne upon the death of Elizabeth I. From then until 1707, England and Scotland had shared monarchs.

Name Reign Notes
James I (England)
James VI (Scotland) 1603-1625 Henry VII of England's great-great-grandson
Mary of Scotland's son
Charles I 1625-1649 James I's son

The Commonwealth and Protectorate
There was no King between Charles I's execution in 1649 and the Restoration in 1660. The nation's rulers were known as Lords Protector.

Name Reign Notes
Oliver Cromwell 1653-1658
Richard Cromwell 1658-1659 Oliver Cromwell's son

Monarchs of England and of Scotland In 1603, James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne upon the death of Elizabeth I. From then until 1707, England and Scotland had shared monarchs.

Name	Reign	Notes
James I (England) James VI (Scotland)	1603-1625	Henry VII of England's great-great-grandson Mary of Scotland's son
Charles I	1625-1649	James I's son

The Commonwealth and Protectorate There was no King between Charles I's execution in 1649 and the Restoration in 1660. The nation's rulers were known as Lords Protector.

Name	Reign	Notes
Oliver Cromwell	1653-1658
Richard Cromwell	1658-1659	Oliver Cromwell's son

Monarchs of England and of Scotland
In 1659, Richard Cromwell abdicated. Anarchy existed until the Stuart Restoration in 1660.
Name Reign Notes

Charles II 1660-1685 Charles I's son
James II (England)
James VII (Scotland) 1685-1689 Charles I's son
Mary II 1689-1694 James II's daughter
Jointly with William III
William III (England)
William II (Scotland) 1689-1702 Mary II's husband
Jointly with his wife
Anne 1702-1707 James II's daughter

Monarchs of England and of Scotland In 1659, Richard Cromwell abdicated. Anarchy existed until the Stuart Restoration in 1660.
Name	Reign	Notes

Charles II	1660-1685	Charles I's son
James II (England) James VII (Scotland)	1685-1689	Charles I's son
Mary II	1689-1694	James II's daughter Jointly with William III
William III (England) William II (Scotland)	1689-1702	Mary II's husband Jointly with his wife
Anne	1702-1707	James II's daughter

Monarchs of Great Britain
In 1707, the Act of Union combined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Name Reign Notes
Anne 1707-1714 James II's daughter
The House of Hanover
Under the Act of Settlement, descendants of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, as the closest Protestant relatives of Anne, became entitled to the throne, and the Royal House name was changed when George, Elector of Hanover became King.
George I 1714-1727 James I's great-grandson

George II 1727-1760 George I's son
George III 1760-1801 George II's son

Monarchs of Great Britain In 1707, the Act of Union combined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Name	Reign	Notes
Anne	1707-1714	James II's daughter
The House of Hanover Under the Act of Settlement, descendants of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, as the closest Protestant relatives of Anne, became entitled to the throne, and the Royal House name was changed when George, Elector of Hanover became King.
George I	1714-1727	James I's great-grandson
George II	1727-1760	George I's son
George III	1760-1801	George II's son

Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
In 1801, the Act of Union combined the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into the United Kingdom.

Name Reign Notes
George III 1801-1820 George II's son
George IV 1820-1830 George III's son
William IV 1830-1837 George IV's son
Victoria 1837-1901 George III's granddaughter
The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
The Royal House name was changed to reflect Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
Victoria 1837-1901 George III's granddaughter
Edward VII 1901-1910 Victoria's son
George V 1910-1936 Edward VII's son
The House of Windsor
The name of the Royal House changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor due to anti-German sentiments during World War I.
George V 1910-1936 Edward VII's son

Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland In 1801, the Act of Union combined the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into the United Kingdom.
Name	Reign	Notes
George III	1801-1820	George II's son
George IV	1820-1830	George III's son
William IV	1830-1837	George IV's son
Victoria	1837-1901	George III's granddaughter
The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha The Royal House name was changed to reflect Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
Victoria	1837-1901	George III's granddaughter
Edward VII	1901-1910	Victoria's son
George V	1910-1936	Edward VII's son
The House of Windsor The name of the Royal House changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor due to anti-German sentiments during World War I.
George V	1910-1936	Edward VII's son

Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
In 1922, the Irish Free State left the United Kingdom. The name of the Kingdom was amended in 1927 to reflect the change.
Name Reign Notes
George V 1910-1936 Edward VII's son
Edward VIII 1936 George V's son
George VI 1936-1952 George V's son
Elizabeth II 1952- George VI's daughter

Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland In 1922, the Irish Free State left the United Kingdom. The name of the Kingdom was amended in 1927 to reflect the change.
Name	Reign	Notes
George V	1910-1936	Edward VII's son
Edward VIII	1936	George V's son
George VI	1936-1952	George V's son
Elizabeth II	1952-	George VI's daughter

Mnemonics

A useful rhyme for memorising the names of the English and UK monarchs since the Norman Conquest in chronological order:

Willy Willy Harry Steve,
Henry Dick John Henry three;
Then three Edwards Richard two,
Henry Four, Five Six then who?
Edward four five, Dick the bad,
Two more Henries, Ned the lad;
Bloody Mary she came next,
Then we have our Good Queen Bess.
From Scotland we got James the Vain;
Charlie one, two, James again.
William and Mary, Anna Gloria,
Four Georges, William, and Victoria.
Edward, George, the same again,
Now Elizabeth - and the end.

(Compare with Chinese history mnemonics.)