Memorizing the English Monarchs

We don’t know how much this song would help Jeopardy players in getting the English kings straight, but it certainly is entertaining.

Probably a better method is to go by century. The song starts out with William the Conqueror, but we’re starting with who was King of England at the beginning of the 11th century. Some of them overlap centuries but you can see that by when the next king’s reign begins.

It’s just a quick glance at how many there are in each century so if you go on Jeopardy! and they are talking about an 18th century monarch, you are not going to give them one from the 16th century!

11th Century (1001 – 1100)
978 – Ethelred II (the Unready)
1016 – Edmund II (Ironside)
1016 – Cnut (the Great; also, Canute)
1037 – Harold I (Harefoot)
1040 – Hardicnut
1042 – Edward (the Confessor)
1066 – Harold II (Godwinson)
1066 – William I (the Conqueror, the Bastard)
1087 – William II (Rufus)

12th Century (1101 – 1200)
1100 – Henry I (Beauclerc)
1135 – Stephen (of Blois)
1154 – Henry II (Curtmantle, Fitzempress)
1189 – Richard I (Richard the Lionheart)

13th Century (1201 – 1300)
1199 – John (Lackland)
1216 – Henry III (of Winchester)
1272 – Edward I (Longshanks)

14th Century (1301 – 1400)
1307 – Edward II (of Caernarfon)
1327 – Edward III
1377 – Richard II

15th Century (1401 – 1500)
1399 – Henry IV (of Bolingbroke)
1413 – Henry V (the Star of England)
1422 – Henry VI
1461 – Edward IV (overthrown in 1470, brief return of Henry VI, restored in 1471)
1483 – Edward V
1483 – Richard III
1485 – Henry VII

16th Century (1501 – 1600)
1509 – Henry VIII
1547 – Edward VI
1553 – Jane (Lady Jane Grey)
1553 – Mary I (Bloody Mary)
1558 – Elizabeth I (The Virgin Queen)

17th Century (1601 – 1700)
1603 – James I (James VI of Scotland)
1625 – 1649 Charles I (executed)
1660 – Charles II
1689 – William (III) and Mary (II)

18th Century (1701 – 1800)
1702 – Anne
1714 – George I
1727 – George II
1760 – George III (The Farmer King)

19th Century (1801 – 1900)
1820 – George IV
1830 – William IV
1837 – Victoria

20th Century (1901-2000)
1901 – Edward VII
1910 – George V
1936 – Edward VIII
1936 – George VI
1952 – Elizabeth II

If you want to add what House they belonged to, here is a timeline showing that. Add any nicknames and buzzwords that will be helpful to you personally, and you’re good to go.

Here is a link to a complete study guide.