All About History:. Book of British Royals

180 Pages·2015·84.45 MB·English

by  Alex Hoskins (Ed.)

W
E
N
Book of
BRITISH
ROYALS
Trace the
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WILLIAM I KING JOHN MARY I JAMES I ELIZABETH II
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Welcome to
Book of
BRITISH
ROYALS
The date is 14 October 1066, and the battlefield at Hastings lies
bloodied, littered with the remains of Harold II’s ruined army,
with Harold himself defeated by an arrow to the eye. William the
Conqueror has just earned his now-famous title, and more
importantly, the crown of England. This is where our story begins
– the fascinating tale of Britain’s monarchy. In this book, you’ll
discover incredible facts about every king and queen of Britain
from 1066 to the present day, and uncover the truth behind royal
scandals, conflicts and triumphs. From the bloody battles of
Hastings, Bosworth and Agincourt, to the treacherous political
courts of the Tudors and Stuarts, trace the turbulent history of
Britain’s royal bloodline from its beginnings right up to the
present day, with the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
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BRITISH
ROYALS
Imagine Publishing Ltd
Richmond House
33 Richmond Hill
Bournemouth
Dorset BH2 6EZ
% [phone]
Website: www.imagine-publishing.co.uk
Publishing Director
Aaron Asadi
Head of Design
Ross Andrews
Production Editor
Alex Hoskins
Senior Art Editor
Greg Whitaker
Designer
Lauren Debono-Elliot
Printed by
William Gibbons, 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XT
Distributed in the UK, Eire & the Rest of the World by
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Disclaimer
The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the
post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this bookazine may
be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are
recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the bookazine has
endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change.
This bookazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.
All About History Book of British Royals © 2015 Imagine Publishing Ltd
ISBN 9781910439906
Part of the
bookazine series
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98
British Royals
Contents
8 The birth of 54 Henry IV

the British How the Battle of Shrewsbury
Monarchy finally cemented Henry’s reign

How the union of England and 58 Henry V
Scotland shaped the monarchy
Why the Battle of Agincourt was XXXX
14 William I a defining moment for this king

The famous conqueror, and the 62 Henry VI 20 162
story of his momentous reign
A shy, charitable king, who was
18 William II never destined for greatness
Discover the story of this hard- 66 Edward IV
hearted soldier-king
Stylish and promiscuous, the king
20 Henry I who began the War of the Roses

A king who was keen to rule 68 Edward V
22 King Stephen A ‘Prince in the Tower’ whose fate
has never been discovered
The unfortunate king’s history of
usurpation and civil war 70 Richard III

24 Henry II A notoriously ruthless king, and
the last of the Plantagenets
Kicking off the Plantagenet
dynasty with style 76 Henry VII
146 70
26 Richard I Bosworth’s victor, Henry laid the
foundations of the Tudor dynasty
The tale of Lionheart’s reign
82 Henry VIII
36 King John

The tale of a warrior king with a
The controversial king with a
bone to pick with the church
strong legacy – the Magna Carta
90 Edward VI
40 Henry III
Henry VIII’s precious only son,
A boy-king who grew into one of
who died all too early
the longest-reigning monarchs
92 Lady Jane Grey
42 Edward I

The tragic tale of the young
A tale of conquest that led to the
queen of just nine days
consolidation of democracy
94 Mary I
44 Edward II
How the first Tudor queen gained
One of history’s most unpopular
her ‘Bloody Mary’ moniker
kings, and his murderous end
98 Elizabeth I
46 Edward III
A turbulent reign from one of
A mightily successful ruler and
history’s great women
military leader
110 James I
48 Richard II
The King of England and
Immortalised by Shakespeare, but
Scotland, subject to a failed
consumed by revenge
murder attempt
6
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110
Contents
114 Charles I

How the first king to be convicted
of treason met his end
118 Charles II

A controversial ruler with
mistresses and disastrous wars
1 20 James II

The ruler whose beliefs meant he
was ousted by his own family
122 William III &
Mary II

The dynamic duo who took the
throne from the Catholic king
126 Queen Anne

A queen who longed for power
beyond her own capability
130 George I

The king that couldn’t speak
English and warred with the Scots
132 George II

Disliked by his family, George II
sought approval from the people
136 George III
A British-born patriot with good
intentions, but poor results
140 George IV
How ‘Georgie Porgie’ followed the
tumultuous reign of his father
170 144 William IV

The true rebel king of Britain’s
history, and his fascinating story
146 Queen Victoria

The fearsome queen who
consolidated the Empire
156 Edward VII

Victoria may not have approved of
him, but the population did
158 George V

A monarch whose reign was
defined by the conflict of WWI
162 Edward VIII

The king known better for his
abdication than his short reign
166 George VI

A king who famously conquered
problems with speech
170 Elizabeth II

The current monarch, whose reign
has seen vast change
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British Royals
The birth
of the
British
monarchy
Discover how the union of England and Scotland
shaped the line of succession and the modern
British monarchy
T
he United Kingdom of Great Britain has through the Act of Settlement that Catholics
not always been united, or known as Great were to be prohibited from inheriting the throne,
Britain for that matter. Prior to 1707, this and so Sophia of Hanover, a Protestant and the
seemingly small island in the North Atlantic granddaughter of James VI and I, would become
had been divided for centuries. England Queen Anne’s heir. Although Anne had many
(including Wales) and Scotland were in fact two direct Catholic descendants, she had no surviving
independent countries, and it wasn’t until the children. Sophia of Hanover was her closest
passing of the Treaty of Union through both protestant relative, which meant in 1714, when
Parliaments in 1707 that the two kingdoms united, Queen Anne died, the House of Stuart dynasty
officially marking the birth of Great Britain, and as came to an end as the House of Hanover succeeded
a result, its monarchy. the throne.
The first sovereign to rule over Great Britain was By this time, however, Sophia of Hanover
Queen Anne. Officially she had reigned as queen of had died aged 83, and so her eldest son George
both countries for five years prior to the Treaty, as inherited the crown and became King George I of
both the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Great Britain. George’s succession was controversial,
Scotland had shared a monarch since 1603, when as many people hadn’t agreed with the protestant
King James VI of Scotland inherited the English succession that had been outlined in the Act of
throne from Queen Elizabeth I through relation. Settlement, and as a result riots were documented
This was known officially as the Union of Crowns. across England in opposition to his coronation.
It was the Treaty of Union, however, that united the Despite the initial hostility, George I reigned as king
monarchy under one crown, and then eventually up until his death in 1727. During his reign, Britain
one government. began to modernise and a cabinet government was
Due to the treaty, Queen Anne was the first and formed, which meant that the monarchy held less Queen Elizabeth II, the current
last monarch from the House of Stuart dynasty power over political affairs. monarch of Great Britain,
leaving Westminster Abbey as
to rule over the United Kingdom of Great Britain. George’s son and heir George II succeeded to part of a procession after her
Six years prior to 1707, in 1701, it had been decided the throne in October 1727 after his father’s death. coronation on 3 June 1953
8
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The birth of the British monarchy
Treaty
of Union
How England and Scotland
united to form Great Britain
and the British monarchy
The United Kingdom of Great Britain
was officially formed in 1707, when the
Parliaments of England and Scotland
passed the Treaty of Union agreement.
Prior to this date, England (including
Wales) and Scotland were independent
countries that had two separate
governments. The Treaty of Union was
designed to merge the Kingdoms of
England and Scotland together, creating
the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Negotiations to unite the countries
began in 1705 under the reign of the
English and Scottish monarch Queen
Anne, although there had been several
failed tempts prior to this date. 31
commissioners were appointed by each
Parliament to negotiate the terms, and
talks began on 16 April 1706 at the
Cockpit-in-Court in London. After a
few days, the Treaty was finalised on
22 July 1706, and two separate acts of
union were to be passed through each
government before it was put into effect.
The first act of union, known as the
Union with Scotland Act, was passed
by the Parliament of England in 1706,
with the second, the Union with England
Act, being passed by the Parliament of
Scotland shortly after in 1707.
The treaty itself consisted of 25
articles, with two stating that one
monarch was to rule over Great Britain
and a single unified Parliament of Great
Britain was to be formed. In addition
to this, agreements regarding trading
between England and Scotland were
set, alongside the decision to introduce
a common currency. On 1 May 1707,
England and Scotland officially united.
The union between Great Britain
and Ireland, however, did not occur for
another 93 years. It was during the reign
of King George III that in 1800, Great
Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland united
to form what is now known as the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
To signify the union, the Union Flag
incorporated the St Patrick’s Cross.
The official copy of the Treaty of
Union, ratified by the parliaments of
England and Scotland in 1907
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British Royals
Crowned golden lion
George II’s own son and heir apparent, Frederick Royal coat of arms
Tying the royal coat of arms altogether at the top is the royal helm,
Louis, Prince of Wales, was next in line to become How the royal coat of arms crest and mantling, which appear directly above the shield. A
crowned golden lion faces sideways, looking out, at the very top.
king. Frederick, however, died unexpectedly in represents the United Kingdom of
1751. This mean that in 1760, after King George II’s Great Britain and its monarchy The shield
death, Frederick’s eldest son George III inherited The central shield represents the different parts of the United
Kingdom. The two opposite quarters that bear three lions stand
the crown.
for England. The second quarter, which features a roaring red lion,
It was during George III’s reign that Great Britain details the arms of Scotland. And the third, which features a golden
harp, represents the arms of Ireland.
and Ireland united, changing his official title to
King George III of the United Kingdom of Great Arms of Dominion
The royal coat of arms is officially
Britain and Ireland. George III was also the first
known as the Arms of Dominion,
monarch of Great Britain since its formation in and is used to identify the current
British monarch. The imagery reflects
1707 to be born and raised in the country he ruled. the history of the country and the
While sovereign, George saw Britain through many monarchy it represents.
military conflicts, including the Battle of Waterloo
The supporters
in 1815. His early reign was considered successful. The English lion that
However, he is often remembered through history appears on the left-hand
side of the shield is known
for the mental illness that plagued him in later as the Dexter supporter,
life, which as a result earned him his nickname while the Scottish unicorn
on the right is known as
‘Mad George’. During his illness, his son and heir the Sinister supporter. Both
stand on top of the green
apparent, George the Prince of Wales, served as
compartment, which shows
Prince Regent – a position that enabled him to the Scottish thistle, Irish
shamrock and English rose.
exercise full power as king while his father was
incapacitated. This period is known as the Regency Mottos
in British history, and Regent’s Park, as well as Below the compartment
appears the sovereign’s
Regent Street in London, was named after him. motto ‘Dieu et mon droit’,
Upon George III’s death in 1820, his son, the Prince which stands for ‘God and
my right’. And around the
of Wales, inherited the throne and was titled King shield, along the blue belt
George IV of the United Kingdom of Great Britain reads, ‘Honi Soit qui mal y
pense’ (‘Evil to him who evil
and Ireland. thinks’), which symbolises
the ancient Knighthood, the
George IV reigned as king for ten years, and
Order of the Garter.
upon his own passing, had no legitimate issue to
inherit the throne. His younger brother, William IV,
Scottish royal coat of arms
who was third in line to the throne during George
III’s reign, became King. William himself reigned Scotland has its own version of the lion, as opposed to a gold one, appears on
for a relatively short period of time (1830-1837), and royal coat of arms. This features two top holding a banner that reads ‘In Defens’
also had no surviving legitimate children at the representations of Scotland as apposed to (‘In defence’). The motto of the Order of
one, and the unicorn appears as the Dexter the Thistle sits along the compartment and
time of his death. He was succeeded by his young
holding the Scottish flag, while the lion is reads ‘Nemo me immune lacessit’ (‘No one
niece Victoria, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and
the Sinister holding the English flag. A red attacks me with impunity’).
Strathearn’s daughter, who was only 18 at the time.
Defi ning moment Defi ning moment ● Monarch 6
Monarch 1 1707 Monarch 4 1760 Regnal name: King William IV
Name: William Henry
Regnal name: Queen Anne Regnal name: King George III Birth/death: 21 August 1765 – 20
Name: Anne Name: George William Frederick June 1837
Birth/death: 6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714 Birth/death: 4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820 Reign: 26 June 1830 – 20 June 1837
Reign: 1 May 1707 – 1 August 1714 Reign: 25 October 1760 – 29 January 1820 Dynasty: House of Hanover
Dynasty: House of Stewart Dynasty: House of Hanover King William IV was the third son
Queen Anne had reigned as Queen of England and George III became King of Great Britain in 1760, after of King George III; he inherited the
Scotland since 1702. However, the signing of the inheriting the throne from his grandfather King George II. throne from his eldest brother King
Treaty of Union in 1707 meant she became the first During his reign, Great Britain and Ireland united to officially George IV, who had no legitimate
monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and in issue at the time of death. Upon
William’s death in 1837, his 18-year-old
Timeline 1815, Britain defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. niece Victoria inherited the throne.
1707
● Monarch 2 ● Monarch 3 ● Monarch 5
Regnal name: King George 1 Regnal name: King George II Regnal name: King George IV
Name: George Louis Name: George Augustus Name: George Augustus Frederick
Birth/death: 28 May 1660 – 11 June 1727 Birth/death: 30 October 1683 – 25 October 1760 Birth/death: 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830
Reign: 1 August 1714 – 11 June 1727 Reign: 11 June 1727 – 25 October 1760 Reign: 29 January 1820 – 26 June 1830
Dynasty: House of Hanover Dynasty: House of Hanover Dynasty: House of Hanover
King George I was the first monarch from the House George II was the last British monarch to be born King George IV inherited the throne from his
of Hanover. He inherited the throne from Queen Anne, outside of Great Britain. He ascended the throne father George III after serving as Prince Regent
due to the Act of Settlement in 1707, which stated only upon the death of his father George I. His eldest for nine years previously, due to his father’s
Protestants could reign. By the time of Queen Anne’s son and heir apparent Frederick died, leading to his mental illness. George IV’s only legitimate
passing in 1714, George I was her closest protestant relative. grandson George III inheriting the throne. issue, Princess Charlotte of Wales, died in 1817.
10
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