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Medieval English Kings Facts & Worksheets

Medieval England started in 1066 with William the Conqueror gaining the English throne after his victory at the Battle of Hastings.

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Medieval England started in 1066 with William the Conqueror gaining the English throne after his victory at the Battle of Hastings. King Edward I’s reign is seen as the end of Medieval England.

See the fact file below for more information on the Medieval English Kings or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Medieval English Kings worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PRE-MONARCHY ENGLAND

  • Prior to any homeland monarchy in Britain, the Greeks only referred to the country as Cassiterides, or “tin islands”. They described the country as situated somewhere near the west coast of Europe.
  • Carthaginian sailor Himilco and Greek explorer Pytheas were said to have visited the island in the 5th and 4th centuries BC.
  • Aulus Plautius, another general, conquered Britain in the year 43 AD. By 55 AD, General Julius Caesar had made two ‘expeditions’ to Britain.
  • In 410 AD, Roman rule in Britain ended.
  • The open land became the subject of the Anglo-Saxons, and they soon took over.
  • A new form of governance then emerged across the land – the Heptarchy.
  • The seven kingdoms were Northumbria, Wessex, Mercia, East-Anglia, Essex, Kent, and Sussex.
  • The Heptarchy continued for 400 years but not without constant conflicts with other kingdoms. Mercia was the most expansive of the seven kingdoms and controlled East Anglia and Kent, but it fell under other kingdoms over time.
  • Ultimately, Wessex would gain the upper hand over the other six kingdoms.
  • Egbert, the King of Wessex, and Alfred the Great emerged as the dominant kings who eventually consolidated the divided land into one country called England.

THE MEDIEVAL KINGS

  • Edward the Confessor – He was the king of England from 1042 to 1066. He preserved the crown and managed to keep the kingdom united during his reign of 24 years. He was childless.
  • Despite his title, the majority control of the kingdom was under Godwine, Earl of Wessex, who eventually secured the title of king for his son, Harold.
  • Harold Godwine was a strong ruler and a skilled general who held the crown for nine months in 1066. He was killed at the Battle of Hastings by Norman invaders under William the Conqueror after a botched promise of the former to secure William’s position on the throne.
  • William I ‘The Conqueror’ – He claimed the throne after defeating King Harold and was crowned on Christmas Day of 1066 in Westminster Abbey. He commissioned Domesday Survey to determine the taxes to be made in order to fund his military.
  • William Rufus – Unlike his father, he was not a popular king due to his extravagance and cruelty. He was never married and was eventually killed in the New Forest by a stray arrow while out hunting.
  • Henry I – The youngest son of William I, he was called the ‘Lion of Justice’ because he gave England good laws, even if the punishments were savage. After his sons drowned and died, his daughter Matilda was made his successor.
  • Stephen – He gained the throne by usurpation since many English nobles were reluctant to accept a woman ruler in Matilda. However, his lack of firm leadership led to a 19-year civil war known as The Anarchy. Matilda took the opportunity to wage war against him in 1139.
  • Empress Matilda – Not officially crowned the queen of England because of her known arrogance and tactless demands for money, the English citizens chased her away. She escaped twice from capture and eventually retired while the throne was returned to Stephen, who agreed to the Treaty of Westminster with Matilda’s son, Henry, who would succeed Stephen.
  • Henry II was a strong king. He laid the foundation of the English Jury System by introducing his own courts and magistrates and raised new taxes from the landholders to pay for a militia force.
  • He extended his French lands until he ruled most of France but was unable to control his sons, who waged war against him.
  • Richard I – As young as 16, he led his own army putting down rebellions in France. Richard spent most of his reign abroad, leading the Third Crusade and spending taxes to fund his various armies and military ventures.
  • John – Termed as the “worst English king”, he was cruel, self-indulgent, selfish, and avaricious. The raising of punitive taxes united all the elements of society, including clerical and laymen, against him.
  • Henry III – Only 9 years old when he became king, Henry was brought up by priests and became devoted to church, art, and learning. His leadership was influenced by churchmen and his wife’s French relations.
  • Edward I – A statesman, lawyer, and soldier, he brought the knights, clergy, nobility, and the Lords and Commons together to form the Model Parliament in 1295.
  • To unite Britain, he conquered the territories of Welsh chieftains and made his eldest son Prince of Wales.
  • He was also known as the ‘Hammer of the Scots’ for his victories in Scotland. He brought the famous coronation stone from Scone to Westminster.

Medieval English Kings Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Medieval English Kings across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Medieval English Kings worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Medieval England which started in 1066 with William the Conqueror gaining the English throne after his victory at the Battle of Hastings. King Edward I’s reign is seen as the end of Medieval England.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • United Kingdom Medieval English Kings Facts
  • Monarchs’ Homes
  • Castle for a King
  • Life of Royalty
  • Medieval England
  • Medieval Hierarchy
  • The Lion of Justice
  • The Conqueror
  • Hammer of the Scots
  • Brainstorming
  • Wordfind

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Link will appear as Medieval English Kings Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 5, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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