KINGS & QUEENS OF ENGLAND from William I the Conqueror to HENRY III 1066-1272

WILLIAM I the Conqueror (1066-1087) In 1066 he conquered England and became English king – William I. Died in 1087 and left Normandy to his eldest son, Robert, and England to his second son, William who was nicknamed Rufus because of his red hair. As a consequence of this division, there was a great rivalry between the two rulers.

WILLIAM II RUFUS (1087-1100) William II treated his subjects brutally. The king SEEMS to have had little time for religion. On the 2nd of August in 1100 William went hunting in the New Forest and was killed by a bolt from a crossbow. An Accident or Murder? William didn’t marry and had no children. He is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

HENRY I (1100-1135) Henry was the fourth son of William the conqueror. After William II Death he was crowned within three days. HE Captured his brother Robert and held him prisoner until 1134. Henry was a very hard but just ruler, competent administrator. HE died in 1135 from over-eating and is buried in Reading abbey.

STEPHEN (1135-1154) HE WAS THE SON of William the conqueror’s daughter, ADELA. STEPHEN WAS CROWNED KING ALTHOUGH he had previously supported Henry’s daughter, matilda, as rightful heir. Matilda couldn’t accept this, invaded England in 1139 and set up alternative court. Civil war dogged most of Stephen’s reign. Peace was only achieved in 1153, by the treaty of Wallingford. Stephen died in 1154 and was buried at faversham.

HENRY II (1154-1189) Matilda’s son henry came to the throne in 1154 by the terms of the treaty of Wallingford. He controlled the barons and the church. He appointed his friend, thomaS becket, as archbishop of Canterbury, who afterwards opposed him on most deals (henry arranged his son’s coronation while he was still on the throne, an event unique in English history). Supporters of the king murdered becket in 1170. Henry died in 1189 at chinon.

RICHARD I the LIONHEART (1189-1199) In 1190 Henry II’s eldest son Richard – the new king set out on crusade against saladin, who occupied the holy land. Failing in his attempt to capture Jerusalem, he made a truce with saladin (1192) and set out for home. He was held captive in Germany for over a year until a large ransom was raised in England to free him. He had only spent 6 months in England during his entire reign.

JOHN (1199-1216) JOHN was the youngest son of henry ii. HE HAD spent most of his life in rebellion against his father and brother Richard I. John resortes to taxing the English barons heavily to finance a new war against france, he returned defeated and had to face the rebellious barons, who forced him to accept and attached his seal to magna carta (1215). He died of dysentery and is buried in Worchester cathedral.

HENRY III (1216-1272) Henry was the elder son of king john. He succeeded him at the age of 9 with London occupied by prince louis of france, who left the country in 1217 (the treaty of Kingston).DURING THRE rebellion led by simon de monfort, the king was captured at the battle of lewes. His son, Edward, rescued him. De monfort was killed, Henry was restored to the throne. He was buried in 1272 in his Westminster abbey.