All English Kings and Queens (Animated History)

History is peppered with fascinating facts about Kings and Queens who ruled England and who it’s fair to say, have had a significant impact - good and bad - on the world we live in.

Who came before King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II?

Who were the Kings and Queens of England? This video explores 64 of them - a timeline of 62 Kings and Queens and two Lord Protectors, to be precise.

Get set for a quick wizz through every single English monarch (and other rulers) from King Egbert, right the way through to the most famous member of the British Royalty, Queen Elizabeth II.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction: Celtic Tribes and Romans
00:53 Anglo-Saxon and Danish Kings (802-1066)
05:00 The Norman Kings (1066-1154)
06:01 The Plantagenets (1154-1485)
10:32 The Tudors (1485-1603)
11:54 The Stuarts (1603-1714)
14:39 The House of Hannover (1714-1901)
16:31 The Windsors (1901-present)

In this video, we’re going to wizz through history taking a very brief look at 64 Kings and Queens.

From the Wessex King Egbert who was crowned King in 802, right the way up to the current Queen of England Elizabeth II, who was crowned 1,150 years later.

The aforementioned Egbert was one of the last in a long line of Wessex Kings.

He was succeeded by his son AEthelwulf, who ruled from 839-858 and was the father of one of England’s most famous early Kings …. Alfred the Great.

Alfred was his youngest son though, so before he could take over, his older brothers AEthelbald, AEthelbert and Athelstan ruled as Wessex Kings.

His son Edward the Elder, who ruled from 899 to 924, defeated the Vikings and pushed the Vikings back further by conquering the southern part of Danelaw.

Edward’s son Athelstan, who ruled from 924-939 is our first King of the English and obtained that title after conquering Danelaw, sending the Vikings packing and uniting all Anglo-Saxons.

AEthelstan didn’t produce an heir so he was followed by his brother Edmund I who ruled from 939-946 and who initially lost part of the north of his kingdom before regaining it.

Edmund did produce a male heir called Eadwig, but at six years of age, he was too young to take the crown, so instead Edmund’s brother Eadred reigned next, from 946-955. After Eadred passed away, Eadwig took the reins, ruling from 955 until 959.

Edgar the Peaceful came next, ruling from 959-975 and is famous for being the father of two English kings, Edward and AEthelred. Though AEthelred ruled until 1016, in 1013 the King of Denmark Sweyn Forkbeard invaded. Unfortunately he had to fight Sweyn Forkbeard’s son Canute for the crown and passed away after just seven months.

After that the way was open for Canute, who reigned from 1016 to 1035. His son Harold Harefoot reigned after he passed away from 1035 to 1040, then Canute’s other son Hathacanute ruled until 1042, before keeling over at a friend’s wedding and passing. Edward the Confessor would be the last king from Egbert’s House of Wessex dynasty and ruled from 1042 to 1066.

Edward was followed by these Kings and Queens: William I, William II, Henry I, Stephen, Henry II, Richard I, John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward III, Richard II, Henrys IV, V & VI, Edward IV & V, Richard III, Henrys VII & VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I, James I, Charles I, Oliver & Richard Cromwell, Charles II, James II, William III, Anne, George I, George II, George III, George IV, William IV, Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and finally the current Queen of England, Elizabeth II.

Corrections and clarifications: Robert Catesby led the Gunpowder Plot, not Guy Fawkes. Lady Jane Grey was declared Queen for nine days, but never crowned, hence she is not mentioned here. Finally, Queen Anne did have children, though tragically none survived to succeed her.