The First of Their Name Trivia Quiz

William I "The Conqueror" - born ca. 1028, died 1087

William was born as an illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy, but was recognized by his family as the legitimate heir upon his father's death in 1035. A dozen years later, the still-young Duke of Normandy waged a successful campaign against rebellion and threats from neighbouring nobles to secure his rule. By the time of his invasion across the English Channel in 1066, William had established a reputation as a ruthless but effective ruler and, of course, military commander.

With the support of the Holy Roman Emperor (Henry IV) and Pope Alexander II, William pursued his claim to the throne of England, succeeding in defeating Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon ruler, at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066.

William was crowned king on Christmas Day in Westminster Abbey. Even with this ultimate victory, it took William a number of years to consolidate his conquest. By the end of his reign, he had established a firm hold on the land and had conducted a survey of the land, his holdings and what was due to him. This 'Liber de Wintonia,' meaning 'Book of Winchester' later came to be known as the Domesday Book.

Every monarch in the nearly thousand years since his conquest can trace their ancestry back to William "The Conqueror," the first of his name.

Henry I ("Beauclerc") - born ca. 1068, died 1135

Following William I's death in 1087, his kingdoms were divided between his two eldest surviving sons, with his firstborn Robert "Curthose" taking the Dukedom of Normandy and William II "Rufus" taking the throne of England. In 1096, Robert ceded Normandy to his brother's control in exchange for the funds needed to join the First Crusade. He returned shortly after William II's death while hunting in the New Forest (Aug 2nd, 1100), but not before the younger brother, Henry, claimed the throne.

Henry I "Beauclerc," the youngest son of William I, became king in 1100, crowned three days after his brothers death. This transition was disputed by his elder brother, and Robert invaded in 1101, although no battle was fought. The two brothers met with their armies at Alton, Hampshire, and agreed to a peace, with Henry keeping the throne of England and Robert regaining Normandy. Just a few years later, however, Henry invaded Normandy in 1105 and eventually defeated Robert in the Battle of Tinchebrai. Afterwards, Henry I ruled both England and Normandy, and Robert spent the last 28 years of his life as Henry's captive.

Stephen of Blois - born 1092 or 1096, died 1154

The ruler of England until 1135 was Henry I "Beauclerc," but his only male heir died in a shipwreck, which led to a succession crisis and a period of civil war following Henry's death. Stephen of Blois, who claimed the throne, was Henry's nephew (son of his sister Adela).

Despite previous promises to support the claim of his cousin Matilda (who had married the Holy Roman Emperor), Stephen secured the throne for himself with the help of his brother Henry (Bishop of Winchester), arguing that the preservation of order across the kingdom took priority. His reign was marked by conflict and instability, known as "The Anarchy." He struggled to maintain authority and faced continuous opposition, eventually agreeing to pass the crown to Matilda's son, Henry II. Stephen died in 1154, ending his troubled rule.

Richard I "The Lionheart" - born 1157, died 1199

Henry II "Curtmantle" ruled England from 1154 until 1189 and upon his death, his eldest surviving son, Richard, took the throne. Of note, during Henry II's reign, he faced a rebellion (The Great Revolt 1173-74) led by three of his sons (Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey), his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their supporters. Ultimately, they reconciled.

Richard I "Coeur de Lion" was a warrior king best known for leading the Third Crusade. He spent most of his reign abroad, focusing on military campaigns rather than domestic affairs. Though admired for his bravery, his rule had limited impact on England itself, and his extended absence actually caused problems as his youngest brother John tried to subvert his power. Captured during his return from the Crusade, Richard's ransom strained England's finances, and with his release he returned to England and was recrowned in 1194. Soon after, he returned to conflict, fighting to reclaim lands lost to France during his absence. He died in 1199 from a battle wound sustained during a minor siege against a rebellious nobleman.

John "Lackland" - born 1166, died 1216

John was nicknamed "Lackland" because, as a younger son, he was not expected to inherit significant lands. Even so, having not participated in the revolt against his father in 1173-74, he became Henry II's favourite son, and was appointed Lord of Ireland and granted some land in England and in Normandy. He inherited the throne after his brother Richard I's death, and quickly lost many French territories. His harsh rule and disputes with nobles led to the creation of the Magna Carta in 1215. He also clashed with the Church, causing further unrest. His reign was plagued by rebellion and instability. John died in 1216, leaving a young heir and a kingdom in turmoil.

Edward I "Longshanks" - born 1239, died 1307

Edward I was the eldest son of Henry III (son of John "Lackland"), who had ruled from 1216-72... the longest reign of any king to date. In 1270 Edward joined the Ninth Crusade and learned of his father's death while traveling back home in 1272. His rule was proclaimed in his absence, and he was crowned upon his return to London in 1274.

Edward, also called "The Hammer of the Scots," was a tall and formidable king who expanded English control over Wales and fought to dominate Scotland. He also introduced legal reforms and strengthened the role of Parliament. His military campaigns earned him a reputation as a fierce ruler and he built many castles to secure his conquests. Edward died in 1307 while preparing another campaign against Scotland.

Lady Jane Grey "The Nine Days Queen" - born 1536 or 1537, died 1554.

Following the reign of Edward I "Longshanks" that ended in 1307, there were twelve monarchs until Lady Jane Grey, each of them with a previously used regnal name:

Edward II (1307-27)
Edward III (1327-77)
Richard II (1377-99)
Henry IV (1399-1413)
Henry V (1413-22)
Henry VI (1422-61 and 1470-71)
Edward IV (1461-70 and 1471-83)
Edward V (April-June 1483)
Richard III (1483-85)
Henry VII (1485-1509)
Henry VIII (1509-47)
Edward VI (1547-53)

Jane was placed on the throne in 1553 by political allies, namely the powerful Duke of Northumberland (President of the King's Council), after Edward VI's death. Northumberland had convinced Edward to name Jane (a great-niece of Henry VIII) his heir, and then married Jane to his son, Lord Guilford Dudley.

Although supported by the entire Privy Council, Jane's rule lasted only nine days before Mary I claimed the crown with a more legitimate claim as the daughter of Henry VIII over what was obviously a political machination imposed upon a frail, dying King Edward VI. Jane imprisoned in the Tower of London. In 1554, after her father's involvement in a rebellion, Jane was executed. Her brief reign is remembered as a tragic episode in Tudor history.

Mary I "Bloody Mary" - born 1516, died 1558

Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, became queen in 1553 and aimed to restore Catholicism in England (her father had incorporated Protestantism in separating from the Roman Catholic Church and forming the Church of England in 1534). Her efforts included persecuting Protestants through the revival of old heresy laws, with about 300 heretics killed during her reign, which earned Mary her grim nickname. In 1556, she married Philip II of Spain, a move that also caused unrest. After a reign marked by religious conflict and failed reforms, Mary died in 1558, paving the way for Elizabeth I.

Elizabeth I "The Virgin Queen" - born 1533, died 1603

After her younger half-brother (Edward VI) and older half-sister (Mary I), Elizabeth ruled from 1558 to 1603 and oversaw a golden age of English culture and exploration. She re-established Protestantism and avoided marriage to maintain political independence. Her leadership brought stability and national pride, especially after defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588. The arts flourished under her patronage, highlighted by the era of William Shakespeare. Her death ended the Tudor dynasty, as she had no heirs.

James I - born 1566, died 1625

James, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, united the crowns of England and Scotland in 1603. From the age of 1 he (under various regencies) was King James VI of Scotland, and with the death of Elizabeth I, he took the throne of England as the great-great-grandson of Henry VII, becoming King James I of England (and Lord of Ireland), joining together all three kingdoms for the first time.

James I believed strongly in royal authority, which led to tensions with Parliament. His reign saw the Gunpowder Plot and the publication of the King James Bible. Though intellectually curious, his governance was often criticized. He died in 1625, succeeded by his son Charles I.

Charles I - born 1600, died 1649

Charles was the only surviving son of James I when the king died in 1625. Charles I's insistence on absolute monarchy led to a breakdown in relations with Parliament, and his actions sparked the English Civil War, resulting in his defeat and trial. He was executed in 1649, a rare event for a reigning monarch, which led to a temporary abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the Commonwealth of England as a republic. In 1653, this transformed into a Protectorate with Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell as ruler (until 1858), followed by his son Richard (until 1859). The monarchy was restored after 11 years in 1660 with the Charles I's son (Charles II) ascending to the throne.

Anne - born 1665, died 1714

Following the reign of Charles I that ended in 1649, and the Interregnum (1659-60) there were four monarchs until Anne, each of them with a previously used regnal name:

Charles II (1660-85)
James II (1685-88)
William III (1689-1702) & Mary II (1689-94)

Queen Anne ruled during a time of political and national transformation, including the union of England and Scotland. She supported the Church of England and saw the rise of party politics. Her personal life was marked by illness and the loss of all her children. Despite her challenges, she presided over a period of growing parliamentary influence. She died in 1714, ending the Stuart line.

George I - born 1660, died 1727

George I came to the throne due to his Protestant heritage, despite being born in Germany. He was the great-grandson of James I and the second cousin to Queen Anne, and was selected ahead of Catholic relatives that had closer claims to the throne. The first of the Hanover monarchs, George I spoke little English and relied heavily on ministers, which helped develop the cabinet system. Before the end of his reign, Robert Walpole became the first de facto Prime Minister. George I died in 1727, and was succeeded by his son, George II.

Victoria - born 1819, died 1901

Following the reign of George I that ended in 1727, there were four monarchs until Victoria, each of them with a previously used regnal name:

George II (1727-60)
George III (1760-1820)
George IV (1820-30)
William IV (1830-37)

Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward (the youngest son of George III), and became queen in 1837 (none of her uncles had any heirs). She ruled for over six decades - longer than any of her predecessors - and oversaw vast changes in British society. Her reign saw industrial growth, empire expansion, and cultural development, and she became a symbol of national pride and moral values. After the death of her husband Prince Albert in 1861, she withdrew from public life for many years. Her death in 1901 marked the end of an era.

Following Victoria, the subsequent monarchs have chosen regnal names that have already seen use:

Edward VII (1901-10)
George V (1910-36)
Edward VIII (January-December 1936)
George VI (1936-52)
Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Charles III (took the throne in 2022)