Scottish Monarchs

The Scottish Crown has a long and complex history. From a number of local rulers governing separate territories and peoples, a single king emerged by the beginning of the twelfth century to govern most of what is today's Scotland.

The thirteenth century was a time of instability for the Scottish Crown in the face of internal fighting and the Wars of Independence with England.

A sense of nationhood and a stable monarchical succession began to develop from the fourteenth century onwards, culminating in the Stewart dynasty.

In 1603 a member of this dynasty, King James VI, succeeded to the English Crown. King James VI of Scotland became James I of England as well. The Union of the Crowns was followed by the Union of the Parliaments in 1707. In 1707, the Act of Union was passed. Under this agreement, the Scottish parliament was dissolved and some of its members joined the English and Welsh parliament in London and the former two kingdoms became one “United Kingdom of Great Britain”.

Then, in 1801, in order to increase British control Ireland was united with Britain and the Dublin parliament was closed. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland lasted for 120 years until Ireland was divided in 1921.

England's Royal History

The Anglo-Saxons

Reigned from the 5th century AD to 1066

Alfred the Great and other kings

The Normans

Reigned 1066-1154

William I, William II, Henry I, Stephen

The Angevins

Reigned 1154-1216

Henry II, Richard I, John

The Plantagenets

Reigned 1216-1399

Henry III, Edward I, Edward II,

Edward III, Richard II

The Lancastrians

Reigned 1399-1461

Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI

(Henry VI restored in 1470 but deposed again in 1471)

The Yorkists

Reigned 1461-1485

Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III

(Edward IV deposed in 1470, restored in 1471)

The Tudors

Reigned 1485-1603

Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI,

Jane Grey, Mary I, Elizabeth I

The Stuarts

Reigned 1603-1649

Monarchy abolished in 1649, restored in 1660

Stuarts reigned 1660-1714

James I, Charles I

Charles II, James II,

William III and Mary II,Anne

The Hanoverians

Reigned 1714-1901

George I, George II, George III,

George IV, William IV, Victoria

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Reigned 1901-1910

Edward VII

The Windsors

Reigned 1910-Today

George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II

Parliament

And now some words about the establishment of Parliament should be said. The first attempt to limit the Sovereign’s power resulted in Magna Carta (the Great Charter). It was written in 1215 by nobles, barons and other reach people of England, and they forced Prince John Lackland (r.1199 – 1216) to sign it. That time is believed to be the beginning of the parliamentary system as the king has had limited power since then.

The Great Charter was an important symbol of political freedom. The king promised all “freemen” protection from his officers, and the right to a fair and legal trial. Nobles established a committee of twenty-four lords to make sure John kept his promises. This so-called House of Lords also controlled all the expenses of the king and gave him money on his projects.

Then John’s son, Henry III, wanted to be independent from the nobles’ influence. Understanding the situation, the nobles acted like a class under the leadership of Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester. In 1258 they took over the government and elected a council of nobles. De Montfort called it a “parliament”, a French word meaning a “discussion meeting”. This parliament took control of the treasury and also it was supported by the towns, which wished to be free of Henry’s heavy taxes.

Edward I, Henry’s son, created a “representative institution” which could provide the money he needed, as nobles were not interested in raising taxes and the king’s income was getting lower and lower. This institution became the House of Commons (1275). Unlike the House of Lords it contained a mixture of “gentry” (knights and other wealthy freemen) and merchants.

During the 150 years following Edward’s death the agreement of the Commons became necessary for the making of all statutes, and all special taxation additional to regular taxes.