Many British children were taught this following Mnemonic Poem to memorize the monarchs from William the Conqueror to the present Queen Elizabeth.
- Willie Willie Harry Stee
- Harry Dick John Harry three;
- One two three Neds, Richard two
- Harrys four five six....then who?
- Edwards four five, Dick the bad,
- Harrys (twain), Ned six (the lad);
- Mary, Bessie, James you ken,
- Then Charlie, Charlie, James again...
- Will and Mary, Anna Gloria,
- Georges four, Will four Victoria;
- Edward seven next, and then
- Came George the fifth in nineteen ten;
- Ned the eighth soon abdicated
- Then George six was coronated;
- After which Elizabeth
- And that's all folks until her death.
Before the Romans left Britannia around 410AD, there was a rich history. The admiring citizens and those who could not wait to get rid of the Romans alike both were left with an impressionable view of not only an ordered society, but to gain the roots of a world superpower.
However, the people needed order and discipline. The Romans brought their newfound Christian state religion and introduced it to the populace. While some embraced it, others never quite fully embraced it, but it did allow some measure of stability into the region, especially when the Roman troops left as they had to save what was left of their empire that was in decline.
The seat of the monarchy changed hands throughout the history of England. Other nationals who have had a vested interest in the throne include Scotland, Germany, and even the Vikings.
Around the mid-1650s was a growing movement that threatened to tear the whole monarchy apart. Life was miserable for anyone who was not among the wealthy, the religious order, or royalty. Everyone else felt they had the same rights to life, liberty and happiness as anyone else. They wanted freedom and got it in the voices of Oliver Cromwell and ended in total anarchy with his son Richard Cromwell.
The result was to restore the House of Stuart because although there were imperfections, it offered stability. With the new system in place, it would eventually take away most of the ultimate power this office once held. Most of the real power today lies with the people who elect officials to represent them in Parliament.
Queen Elizabeth is now the reigning monarch. She may not enjoy the same privileges as earlier rulers, but she is still a powerful force which represents all of what the United Kingdom stands.
The following is the list of ruling monarchs:
House of Wessex
- Egbert (802-39)
- Aethelwulf (839-55)
- Aethelbald (855-60)
- Aethelbert (860-6)
- Aethelred (866-71)
- Alfred, the Great (871-99)
- Edward, the Elder (899-925)
- Athelstan (925-40)
- Edmund, the Magnificent (940-6)
- Eadred (946-55)
- Eadwig (Edwy), All-Fair (955-59)
- Edgar, the Peaceable (959-75)
- Edward, the Martyr (975-78)
- Aethelred, the Unready (978-1016)
- Edmund, Ironside (1016)
Danish Line
- Svein, Forkbeard (1014)
- Canute, the Great (1016-35)
- Harald, Harefoot (1035-40)
- Hardicanute (1040-42)
House of Wessex, Restored
- Edward, the Confessor (1042-66)
- Harold II (1066)
Norman Line
- William I, the Conqueror (1066-87)
- William II, Rufus (1087-1100)
- Henry I, Beauclerc (1100-35)
- Stephen (1135-54)
- Empress Matilda (1141)
Plantagenet, Angevin Line
- Henry II, Curtmantle (1154-89)
- Richard I the Lionheart (1189-99)
- John, Lackland (1199-1216)
- Henry III (1216-72)
- Edward I, Longshanks (1272-1307)
- Edward II (1307-27)
- Edward III (1327-77)
- Richard II (1377-99)
Plantagenet, Lancastrian Line
- Henry IV, Bolingbroke (1399-1413)
- Henry V (1413-22)
- Henry VI (1422-61, 1470-1)
Plantagenet, Yorkist Line
- Edward IV (1461-70, 1471-83)
- Edward V (1483)
- Richard III, Crookback (1483-85)
House of Tudor
- Henry VII, Tudor (1485-1509)
- Henry VIII (1509-47)
- Edward VI (1547-53)
- Lady Jane Grey (1553)
- Mary I, Tudor (1553-58)
- Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
House of Stuart
- James I (1603-25)
- Charles I (1625-49)
The Commonwealth
- Oliver Cromwell (1649-58)
- Richard Cromwell (1658-59)
House of Stuart, Restored
- Charles II (1660-85)
- James II (1685-88)
House of Orange and Stuart
- William III, Mary II (1689-1702)
House of Stuart
House of Brunswick, Hanover Line
- George I (1714-27)
- George II (1727-60)
- George III (1760-1820)
- George IV (1820-30)
- William IV (1830-37)
- Victoria (1837-1901)
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
House of Windsor
- George V (1910-36)
- Edward VIII (1936)
- George VI (1936-52)
- Elizabeth II (1952-present)
