Henry II, called Curtmantle (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189)ruled as King of England (1154–1189), Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry was the first of the House of Plantagenet to rule England and was the great-grandson of William the Conqueror. Henry was the first to use the title "King of England" (as opposed to "King of the English"). His reign was marked by his quarrel with the Arch Bishop of Cantebury, Thomas Beckett which led to the latter's murder in December 1170 and the his invasion of Ireland in1171.



(8 September, 1157 – 6 April, 1199)
Richard the Lionheart  (Coeur de Lion) spent most of his reign abroad fighting in France and as a Crusader and even as a hostage, it's thought he spent less than a year of his reign in England.

Richard (who spoke very little English) also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Ireland, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period.


Richard was a central Christian commander during the Third Crusade, effectively leading the campaign after the departure of Philip Augustus, and scoring considerable victories against his Muslim rival, Saladin. 
 

John I 1199-1216



Known as "Bad King John"  "Lackland" (French: Sans Terre) lost most of his French titles and possessions as well as upsetting Pope Innocent III in a dispute over who should become Archbishop of Cantebury leading to his excommunication in February 1213.


In 1215 he sealed Magna Carta (Great Charter)
requiring King John to proclaim certain rights (pertaining to freemen), respect certain legal procedures, and accept that his will could be bound by the law. It explicitly protected certain rights of the King's subjects, whether free or fettered — and implicitly supported what became the writ of habeas corpus, allowing appeal against unlawful imprisonment. It is regarded as a the foundation on English liberties and democracy.

Henry III  1216-1272


Henry III came to the thrown at just 9 years old and assumed full power 11 years later.  He alienated his barons who, led by Simon de Monfort, defeated Henry in battle at Lewis in 1264 and imprisoned the King. The following year, his son Edward, avenged his Father by defeating de Montefort.

Edward I



Edward 1 1272-1307 Edward, nicknamed "Longshanks" for his height - 6ft 2in, spent much his life as a military campaigner both as a Crusader and by reinforcing English rule with his castle building programme. In 1301 he named is son as the Prince of Wales, a title since taken my the Monarch's eldest son.




Edward II  1307-1327
Considered a weak king who was defeated by Robert the Bruce of Scotland at Bannockburn in 1314.




Murdered by a red hot poker at Berkeley Castle.

Edward III  1327-1377
Edward's reign was marked by military success abroad during the Hundred Years' War with France. 




English prosperity increased during his reign despite the impact of the Black Death in 1348.  Edward was the founder of the Order of the Garter.


Richard II  1377-1399



At 14 faced down Peasant's Revolt