Special Sub-Topic: British Royalty Firsts and Lasts Authored by: chessart Sub-topic of: U.K. Royals

Who was the first English monarch to be crowned during his minority?

Henry III. Henry III inherited the throne at the age of nine from his father, John Lackland, who died in 1216 in the midst of an invasion by the French in the South and a rebellion by his barons in the North.

During whose reign did Parliament formally divide into two separate houses?

Edward III. The growth of a merchant middle class during the 14th century led to a lower house being developed to represent their interests, with the upper house remaining the place for the nobility and high clergy. The 50-year reign (1327-1377) of Edward III is also notewothy as the time when English replaced French as the national language.

Who was the last English king to die on the battlefield?

Richard III. The last of the Plantagenet line, Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 by the forces of Henry VII, who then became the first Tudor king. Henry's marriage the following year to Elizabeth of York combined both the Lancaster and York factions, finally ending the Wars of the Roses and ushering in a period of relative stability.

During whose reign did England lose Calais, its last continental possession?

Mary I. Mary's husband, Philip II of Spain, pressured her into a war with France, resulting in the loss of Calais. The five-year reign (1553-1558) of "Bloody Mary", marked as it was by the persecution of Protestants and by foreign policy disaster, was a complete failure.

Who was the first king to enter the House of Commons?

Charles I. In 1642 Charles entered the House of Commons intent on arresting John Pym, his leading critic in Parliament, and four other staunch opponents. Unfortunately for Charles, Pym and the others had already gone into hiding. The Civil War soon erupted.

Who was the last monarch to veto an act of Parliament?

Anne. It was during Anne's reign that the Act of Union of 1707 was passed, creating Great Britain by fully unifying England and Scotland.

Who was the last monarch who didn't speak English?

George I. Under the terms of the 1701 Act of Settlement, George, Elector of Hanover, was invited to take the throne upon the death of Queen Anne, who had no children. His heart always remained in Germany, however, and he ruled mainly through his ministers.

Who was the last king to command troops in the field?

George II. George II commanded troops against the French at Dettingen in 1743.

Who is the last monarch to succeed to the throne during the lifetime of his predecessor?

George VI. George VI became King in 1936 after Edward VIII abdicated so that he could marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. The others listed, along with Edward IV, are the only other English monarchs to take the throne during the lifetimes of their predecessors.

Who is the last member of the royal family to be convicted of a crime?

Princess Anne. In November of 2002, Princess Anne became the first member of the royal family in 353 years (since Charles I) to be convicted of a crime when she plead guilty to violating the U.K.'s Dangerous Dog Bill. She paid a fine and her dog was ordered to undergo training, certainly a less severe punishment than that faced by Charles I, who was convicted of treason and beheaded in 1649.