Game of thrones Marking our country’s history through the houses that ruled it
‘I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong’
House of Normandy (1066–1135)
William I Battle of Hastings; Domesday Book William ll (‘Rufus’) Built Westminster Hall Henry I Law giver who lost his son and heir in the White Ship (1120)
House of Blois (1135–54)
Stephen I Civil war over the succession with Henry l’s daughter, Matilda, during the Anarchy
House of Anjou (1154–1216)
Henry II Had Thomas Becket murdered in Canterbury Cathedral Richard l Crusades won him the name of Lionheart John Magna Carta
House of Plantagenet (1216–1399)
Henry III Abbey Edward I Hammer of the Scots and builder of castles Edward II Unfortunate weakness for royal favourites Edward III Wins Battle of Crécy in 1346 Richard II Rides to face the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 Rebuilt Westminster
House of Lancaster (1399–1461 and 1470–71)
Henry IV Usurps throne and unites the Duchy of Lancaster with the patrimony of the Crown Henry V Wins Battle of Agincourt in 1415 Henry VI Weakness leads to civil war and his murder
House of York (1461–70 and 1471–85)
Edward IV Makes a secret marriage with Elizabeth Woodville Edward V Murdered in Tower of London Richard III Killed at the Battle of Bosworth
House of Tudor (1485–1603)
Henry VII Penny-conscious administrator Henry VIII Dissolution of the Monasteries; first head of the Church of England Edward VI Child king and ardent Protestant Mary I First English queen to inherit the crown Elizabeth I Defeated the Spanish Armada
House of Stuart (1603–1714)
James VI and I United crowns of England and Scotland Charles I Beheaded Charles II Restored the monarchy James II Fled the throne William and Mary The Glorious Revolution Anne Act of Union
House of Hanover (1714–1901)
George I Cabinet government introduced George II Bonnie Prince Charlie invades George III Loses America George IV Profligate patron of the visual arts William IV Great Reform Bill Victoria Empress of India
House of Saxe-coburg and Gotha (1901–10)
Edward VII Entente Cordiale