A ruler-inspired royal chronology
Kings And Queens Of England And Britain
Follow the monarchs from the Norman Conquest to the present, then practise matching each reign to the person who held the Crown.
Before 1066
Britain's political story did not begin with William the Conqueror. Roman rule, competing Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Danish rule, and the reigns of Edward the Confessor and Harold II all precede this list. The review chronology begins at 1066 because it is the conventional starting point used by the Royal Family's modern sequence.
Practise the ruler
Start by hiding reign dates while the monarchs remain visible. Reverse the exercise when you are ready to reconstruct names from the dates.
Take It Offline
If you're in England, complete the experience with a proper wooden ruler of rulers. You can find one at English Heritage, Westminster Abbey, or Royal Museums Greenwich. Part study aid, part souvenir, and still useful for drawing a straight line.
Review this guide over time
Save every section and Learnalist will introduce them gradually.
1066 to 1154
The Normans
Review the Norman succession from the Conquest to the civil war between Stephen and Matilda.
Monarch
William I
Reign
1066-1087
Monarch
William II
Reign
1087-1100
Monarch
Henry I
Reign
1100-1135
Monarch
Stephen and Matilda
Reign
1135-1154
1154 to 1399
The Plantagenets
Follow the long Plantagenet succession from Henry II to Richard II.
Monarch
Henry II
Reign
1154-1189
Monarch
Richard I
Reign
1189-1199
Monarch
John
Reign
1199-1216
Monarch
Henry III
Reign
1216-1272
Monarch
Edward I
Reign
1272-1307
Monarch
Edward II
Reign
1307-1327
Monarch
Edward III
Reign
1327-1377
Monarch
Richard II
Reign
1377-1399
1399 to 1485
Lancaster And York
Review the rival successions associated with the Wars of the Roses.
Monarch
Henry IV
Reign
1399-1413
Monarch
Henry V
Reign
1413-1422
Monarch
Henry VI
Reign
1422-1461; 1470-1471
Monarch
Edward IV
Reign
1461-1470; 1471-1483
Monarch
Edward V
Reign
1483
Monarch
Richard III
Reign
1483-1485
1485 to 1603
The Tudors
Learn the Tudor monarchs from Henry VII to Elizabeth I.
Monarch
Henry VII
Reign
1485-1509
Monarch
Henry VIII
Reign
1509-1547
Monarch
Edward VI
Reign
1547-1553
Monarch
Mary I
Reign
1553-1558
Monarch
Elizabeth I
Reign
1558-1603
1603 to 1714
The Stuarts
Review the Stuart succession, the interruption of the monarchy, and the joint reign.
Monarch
James I
Reign
1603-1625
Monarch
Charles I
Reign
1625-1649
Monarch
Charles II
Reign
1660-1685
Monarch
James II
Reign
1685-1688
Monarch
William III
Reign
1689-1702
Monarch
Mary II
Reign
1689-1694
Monarch
Anne
Reign
1702-1714
1714 to present
Hanover To The Present
Follow the succession from George I through the modern House of Windsor.
Monarch
George I
Reign
1714-1727
Monarch
George II
Reign
1727-1760
Monarch
George III
Reign
1760-1820
Monarch
George IV
Reign
1820-1830
Monarch
William IV
Reign
1830-1837
Monarch
Victoria
Reign
1837-1901
Monarch
Edward VII
Reign
1901-1910
Monarch
George V
Reign
1910-1936
Monarch
Edward VIII
Reign
1936
Monarch
George VI
Reign
1936-1952
Monarch
Elizabeth II
Reign
1952-2022
Monarch
Charles III
Reign
2022-present
Sources And Conventions
The sequence follows The Royal Family's kings and queens from 1066. Reign years describe accession and rule, not coronation dates. Stephen and Matilda are grouped to acknowledge the disputed succession; William III and Mary II appear separately because their reigns ended in different years. The monarchy was interrupted between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the Restoration in 1660.
FAQ
Why begin in 1066?
The Norman Conquest provides a familiar and comparatively continuous starting point. Earlier rulers are important and are acknowledged in the introduction.
When did the monarch become monarch of Great Britain?
England and Scotland were united politically as Great Britain in 1707, during Queen Anne's reign.
Are queen consorts included?
No. This sequence covers people who reigned.