TABLE OF THE SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND
| Names and Lineage of Sovereigns | Began to Reign | Years of Age | L’gth of Reign | Death | Character | Principal Statesmen | Chief Warriors | Events of Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANGLO-SAXON KINGS | ||||||||
| EGBERT (775?-837)—Son of Alcmund, descended from Inigisil, brother to Ina, king of West Saxons. | 801 | ... | 37 | Natural causes. | Possessed all the qualities required in a warrior. | ... | The king.—Ethelwolf.—Kenneth. | The kingdoms of the Heptarchy united, and take the name of England. |
| ETHELWOLF (—— -358)—Son of Egbert. | 838 | ... | 20 | Natural causes. | Pious, wise, valiant and clement. A lover of peace, and zealous for religion. | Athelstan. | Wolfhere.—Ethelhelm.—Ceorle. | Tithes instituted; London plundered by the Danes; England becomes tributary to the Holy See. |
| ETHELBALD—Son of Ethelwolf. | 858 | ... | 2 | Natural causes. | Neither pious nor valiant. | Swithun, Bishop of Winchester. | Osric. | Scots defeated by the Britons. |
| ETHELBERT—Son of Ethelwolf. | 860 | ... | 6 | Natural causes. | Sweet-tempered, wise, pious and valiant. | ... | The king. | Winchester burnt by the Danes. |
| ETHELRED I. (871).—Brother to Ethelbert. | 866 | ... | 6 | Killed in the battle of Wittingham. | Pious, valiant, prudent, and just. | ... | Young Alfred. | Battles of Aston and Basing—York taken. |
| ALFRED The Great (849-901).—Brother to Ethelred, and son of Ethelwolf. | 872 | 22 | 28 | By a contraction of the nerves. | A great sovereign, warrior, legislator, politician and scholar. | ... | The king.—Oddune, earl of Devonshire. | University of Oxford founded. Juries instituted. England divided into shires, tithings and hundreds. |
| EDWARD the Elder (870?-924).—Second son of Alfred the Great. | 900 | 17 | 25 | Natural causes. | Equal to his father—his love for learning and lenity excepted. | ... | The king. | Northumberland and East Anglia united to the crown. University of Cambridge founded. Battles of Temsford andMalden. |
| ATHELSTAN (895?-941).—Natural son of Edward the Elder. | 925 | 20 | 16 | Natural causes. | Possessed uncommon virtues; wise, valiant, and just. | Turketul, Chancellor. | Guy of Warwick. | Constantine III. of Scotland and six Irish and Welsh kings killed at battle of Brunanburh. |
| EDMUND the Pious (923-946).—Eldest legitimate son of Edward the Elder. | 941 | 25 | 7 | Assassinated by Leolf, while feasting at Puckle-kirk. | Pious, valiant and just, and much respected by his people. | ... | The king. | Cumberland and Westmoreland given up to Malcolm, king of Scotland. |
| EDRED (—— -955?).—Second legitimate son of Edward the Elder. | 948 | 29 | 7 | Natural causes. | Pious and valiant, but too obsequious to his council. | Aldheim, Archbishop of Canterbury. | The king. | Northumbrian Danes reduced. |
| EDWY (939?-959).—Eldest son of Edmund the Pious. | 955 | 17 | 4 | Died of grief on brother being set up in his stead. | Hated the monks, and persecuted them, which caused a rebellion. | Odo, Archbishop of Canterbury. | Prince Edgar. | Rebellion of the Mercians. |
| EDGAR (943?-975).—Brother to Edwy. | 959 | 13 | 16 | Natural causes. | Pacific, active, wise, and industrious. | Ethelwold. | ... | King of Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man, recognize Edgar for their sovereign. |
| EDWARD the Martyr (961?-978).—Eldest son of Edgar. | 975 | 15 | 3 | Assassinated by order of his step-mother Elfrida. | Amiable and sweet-tempered. | Dustan. | ... | ... |
| ETHELRED II. (Sweyn) (—— -1016).—Brother to Edward the Martyr, and son of thebeautiful Elfrida. | 979 | 12 | 37 | Natural causes. | Cowardly, indolent, and avaricious. | Siricius, Archbishop of Canterbury. | Prince Edmund. Alfric. | Arabic figures introduced. Sweyn, king of Denmark, conquers England. |
| EDMUND, Ironside (989-1017).—Eldest son of Ethelred II. | 1016 | 26 | 1 | Assassinated by order of Edric. | Valiant and prudent. | Edric, Earl of Wilts. | ... | Massacre of the Danes. England divided between Edward and Canute I. |
| DANISH KINGS | ||||||||
| CANUTE I. (995-1035).—Son of Sweyn, King of Denmark. | 1017 | ... | 19 | Natural causes. | A great king; humble, just, and truly religious. | Thurkell, Duke of East Anglia.—Urick, Duke of Northumberland. | Godwin, Earl of Kent. | Parents prohibited selling their children. End of the Danish war of two hundred years. |
| HAROLD I. (1040- ——)—Second son of Canute I., by Queen Alfwen. | 1036 | 30 | 3 | Occasioned by intemperance. | Impious, unjust, dissolute and mean. | Earl Godwin. | Godwin, Earl of Kent. | Paper first used in England. |
| CANUTE II. (1019-1042).—Third son of Canute I., by Emma of Normandy. | 1039 | 29 | 2 | By excessive eating. | To the vices of Harold I., he added that of cruelty. | Earl Godwin. | Leofric, Duke of Mercia. | ... |
| SAXON KINGS | ||||||||
| EDWARD the Confessor (1004-1066).—Son of Edmund Ironside. | 1041 | 40 | 24 | Natural causes. | Honored as a great saint; of a mild and peaceful temper; was charitable, but had no great genius. | Robert, Archbishop of Canterbury—Harold. | Siward, Duke of Northumberland. | Common law of England established. Westminster Abbey founded. |
| HAROLD II. (1022-1066).—Son of Earl Godwin, by the eldest daughter of Canute I. | 1065 | ... | 1 | Killed in the battle of Hastings. | A valiant warrior. | Morcar, Earl of Northumberland. | Gurth and Leofwin, the king’s brothers. | Battle of Hastings, Norman conquest. |
| NORMAN KINGS | ||||||||
| WILLIAM the Conqueror (1027-1087).—Son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, by hismistress Harlotte. | 1066 | 40 | 21 | Death occasioned by heat at the burning of Mantes. | Possessed great bodily strength, a great soul and an elevated mind, and a prodigious genius; and governed theEnglish with a heavy hand. | Odo, Bishop of Bayeaux. Fitzosborne, Earl of Hereford. | Malcolm, King of Scotland. | Tower of London built. Doomsday book. Bishoprics created. |
| WILLIAM Rufus (1056-1100).—Second son of William the Conqueror. | 1087 | 31 | 13 | Accidentally shot by Sir Walter Tyrrell, in New Forest. | Courageous and vicious to a high degree. | Herbert—Lozinga. | Earl of Northumberland—Duke of Normandy. | First Holy War. Westminster Hall built. Reduction of the Welsh. |
| HENRY I. (1068-1135).—Brother of William Rufus. | 1100 | 32 | 35 | Death occasioned by eating too many lampreys. | Handsome, brave, sober, cruel, avaricious, and unclean. | Archbishop Anselm. Bishop of Salisbury. | Earl of Flanders. | Normandy conquered. First Parliament. |
| STEPHEN (1105-1154).—Son of Stephen, Earl of Blois, and Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror. | 1135 | 31 | 19 | Natural causes. | In person majestic; his air placid and insinuating. Possessed great courage, an elevated genius, and soundjudgment. | William of Ypres. | Earl of Gloucester. | Canon law introduced. |
| PLANTAGENETS | ||||||||
| HENRY II. (1133-1189).—Eldest son of Geoffrey, Earl of Anjou, and of the Empress Maud. Heir toHenry I. | 1154 | 21 | 35 | Natural, before the High Altar at Chinon. | Brave, generous, magnificent, clement, just, prudent, ambitious, lustful, and violent in anger. | Thomas à Becket, Lord Chancellor. | Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke. | King takes possession of Ireland. Judicial circuits established. |
| RICHARD I. (1157-1199).—Second son of Henry II. | 1189 | 33 | 10 | Killed by a cross-bowman, at the siege of Chalus. | Brave to a high degree; but possessed no other virtue. | Bishop of Durham—Longchamp, Bishop of Ely. | The king, surnamed Cœur de Lion. | London divided into companies. King joins the Crusade. |
| King JOHN (1166-1216).—Brother to Richard I. | 1199 | 33 | 17 | Died of grief for having lost his rich baggage. | Witty, hot-headed and hasty. After his first transports, soft, indolent, fearful and wavering. | Archbishop of Hubert, Chancellor. | Prince Arthur. | Phillip II. of France takes possession of Normandy. War with the barons. Magna Charta signed. |
| HENRY III. (1207-1272).—King John’s eldest son. | 1216 | 9 | 56 | Natural causes. | Inconstant, capricious and prodigal of his money; continent and averse to cruelty. | William, Earl of Pembroke, Hugh de Burgh, Bishop of Winchester. | Simon, Earl of Leicester. Prince Edward. | Intestine wars. Westminster Abbey rebuilt. |
| EDWARD I. (1239-1307).—Eldest son of Henry III. | 1272 | 33 | 35 | Natural causes. | A good king and father, a formidable enemy, and a great captain; chaste, just, prudent and moderate. | Giffard Archbishop of York. | Llewellyn, Prince of Wales. | Wales united to England. Mariner’s compass invented. |
| EDWARD II. (1284-1327).—Eldest son of Edward I. | 1307 | 23 | 20 | Murdered by Gourney and Maltravers at Berkley Castle. | Handsome shaped, but had neither the capacity of warrior, statesman, or man of genius. | Pierce Gaveston—Hugh de Spencer. | Guy, Earl of Warwick. | King abdicates the throne. Courts of Nisi Prius established. |
| EDWARD III. (1312-1377).—Son of Edward II. | 1327 | 14 | 50 | Died of the St. Anthony’s fire at Sheen. | An excellent prince; gentle, beneficent, and valiant. | Mortimer, Earl of March. | Edward, the Black Prince—Sir Richard Knowles. | Battles of Cressy and Poictiers. Order of the Garter instituted. |
| RICHARD II. (1366-1400).—Son of Edward the Black Prince, and grandson of Edward III. | 1377 | 11 | 22 | Murdered by Exton, at Pontefract Castle, by order of Henry IV. | Handsomest monarch in the world. Kind, magnificent, soft, timid, of little genius, and a slave to hisfavorites. | Richard de Vere, Duke of Ireland. A. Neville, Archbishop of York. | H. Percy, surnamed Hotspur—John of Gaunt. | Wat Tyler’s insurrection. King deposed. |
| HOUSE OF LANCASTER | ||||||||
| HENRY IV. (1366?-1413).—Son of John of Gaunt, and grandson of Edward III. | 1399 | 32 | 14 | Died of a dropsy. | Courageous, prudent, vigilant, and extremely jealous of his throne, which he obtained by unwarrantablemeans. | R. Neville, Earl of Westmoreland. | Sir John Oldcastle. | Battle of Shrewsbury. |
| HENRY V. (1388-1422).—Eldest son of Henry IV. | 1413 | 24 | 9 | Natural causes. | A good soldier and politician; had an elevated genius; was extremely ambitious, and inclined to cruelty. | Beaufort, Duke of Exeter. | Duke of Gloucester, Wodehouse Gam. | Battle of Agincourt. Siege of Rouen. |
| HENRY VI. (1421-1471).—Son of Henry V. | 1422 | 9 m. | 39 | Dethroned. Afterwards killed, by order of Edward IV. | Just, chaste, temperate, pious and patient; but had a weak mind. | Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Somerset. | Joan of Arc, Duke of Bedford, Lord Talbot, R. Neville, Earl of Warwick. | Battles of Crevant, Verneuil, St. Albans, and Towton. Siege of Orleans. |
| HOUSE OF YORK | ||||||||
| EDWARD IV. (1441-1483).—Son of Richard, Duke of York; descendant of Edward III. | 1461 | 19 | 22 | Death occasioned by excessive eating. | One of the handsomest men in England, but after crowned was a voluptuary. | Earl Rivers. | Admiral Coulon. | Printing first in use. |
| EDWARD V. (1470-1483).—Eldest son of Edward IV. | 1483 | 12 | 2 m. | Smothered by order of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. | ... | Richard, Duke of Gloucester. | Lord Hastings. | Richard’s usurpation. |
| RICHARD III. (1452-1485).—Brother to Edward IV. | 1483 | 30 | 2 | Killed in the battle of Bosworth Field. | Small, ugly and crooked backed; dissembling and cruel, yet sagacious and brave. | Lord Stanley. | Henry, Earl of Richmond. Duke of Buckingham. | Battle of Bosworth Field. |
| HOUSE OF TUDOR | ||||||||
| HENRY VII. (1457-1509).—Son of Margaret, Countess of Richmond; descendant of John of Gaunt. | 1485 | 28 | 24 | By consumption. | A wise and able prince; pious, chaste, temperate and just; but insatiably covetous. | Cardinal Morton, Sir Edward Poynings. | Lord Lovell. | Discovery of America. |
| HENRY VIII. (1491-1547).—Second son of Henry VII. | 1509 | 18 | 38 | Natural causes. | Comely, but very corpulent; brave, candid and liberal; versed in music, philosophy, and divinity; yet wascruel and presumptuous. | Cardinal Wolsey, Sir Thomas More, Fox, Cromwell. | Duke of Norfolk—Earl of Surrey. Lord Maxwell. | The Reformation. Monasteries dissolved. |
| EDWARD VI. (1537-1553).—Son of Henry VIII., by Jane Seymour. | 1547 | 9 | 6 | Of a consumption. | Sweet tempered, and had a great genius. | Seymour, Duke of Somerset—Dudley, Earl of Warwick. | Lord Russell. | Religious insurrection. |
| Queen MARY (1516-1558).—Daughter of Henry VIII., by Catharine ofAragon. | 1553 | 38 | 5 | Of a dropsy. | Small capacity, bigoted, revengeful and cruel. | Gardiner, Chancellor. | Duke of Savoy. | Catholic religion restored. |
| Queen ELIZABETH (1533-1603).—Daughter of Henry VIII., by Anne Boleyn. | 1558 | 25 | 45 | Natural causes. | Tolerably handsome; had a noble air, and great affability; celebrated for her wit, judgment, economy, policy,sincerity, justice, liberality, and magnificence. | Robert Dudley, Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Burleigh. | Admiral Howard—Sir Francis Drake. Sir F. Vere. Sir P. Sidney. | Mary Queen of Scots executed. Spanish Armada destroyed. Protestant religion restored. |
| HOUSE OF STUART | ||||||||
| JAMES I. (1566-1625).—Son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley; and great-grandsonof Margaret, daughter of Henry VII. | 1603 | 37 | 22 | Of an ague. | Learned and pacific, but wavering and undetermined. | Robert Car, Earl of Somerset. George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Earl of Salisbury. | Sir Horace Vere. | Union of the crowns of England and Scotland. Gunpowder plot. |
| CHARLES I. (1600-1649).—Third son of James I. | 1625 | 25 | 24 | Beheaded near the windows of the banqueting house, Whitehall. | Religious, sober, chaste, affable and courageous; had great penetration and judgment, but too fond ofprerogative. | Earls of Portland and Strafford—Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury. | Earl of Essex. Sir T. Fairfax, Earl of Manchester. | Battles of Edge Hill, Tadcaster and Gisborough. |
| COMMONWEALTH declared May 19. | 1649 | ... | 11 | ... | ... | Oliver Cromwell. | Admiral Blake, General Monk. | Charles I. beheaded. Royal power usurped. Battle of Dunbar. |
| HOUSE OF STUART | ||||||||
| CHARLES II. (1630-1685).—Eldest son of Charles I. | 1660 | 29 | 25 | Supposed to have been poisoned. | Extremely liberal and affable; had a sprightly and witty genius, and a wonderful conception. | Earl of Clarendon. | Duke of York. Earl of Sandwich. | Restoration of monarchy. Plague and fire in London. Royal Society founded. |
| JAMES II. (1633-1701).—Brother to Charles II. | 1685 | 52 | 3 | Natural, having abdicated the throne. | A kind father, husband and master; more pious than resolute, and too submissive to his ministers. | Chancellor Jeffries. | Duke of Monmouth. | King abdicates the throne. Revolution. |
| WILLIAM (1650-1702) and MARY (1662-1694).—William, Prince of Orange, (Holland). Mary, eldest daughterof James II., by Anne Hyde. | 1688 | W. 37 M. 26 | W. 14 M. 6 | Mary died of the smallpox; William, by a fall from his horse. | Mary, pious and amiable; had an air of grandeur, without pride or affectation. William, not comely in person,had a great genius, was a good statesman and warrior. | Earl of Sunderland. Earl of Tankerville. | Russell, Shovel, Ginkle. | Bank of England established. Siege of Namur. Battles of Boyne and La Hogue. Treaty of Ryswick. |
| Queen ANNE (1685-1714).—Second daughter of King James II., and consort ofGeorge, Prince of Denmark. | 1702 | 37 | 12 | Natural causes. | In private life, virtuous, charitable and pious; as a sovereign, easy, kind and generous. | Lords Godolphin and Cowper—Earl of Oxford. Harcourt. Bollingbroke. | Duke of Marlboro’—Sir G. Rook, Ormund—Benbow. | Battles of Blenheim and Ramilles. Scotch union. |
| HOUSE OF HANOVER | ||||||||
| GEORGE I. (1660-1727).—Eldest son of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick, and Princess Sophia,daughter of Frederick V., of Bohemia. | 1714 | 54 | 13 | Died of a lethargic disorder, at Osnaburg. | Unostentatious and familiar; a circumspect general; a wise and virtuous prince. | Dukes of Newcastle and Devonshire. Lords Townsend and Carteret. | Earl of Mar. Duke of Argyle. Lord Cobham. | Insurrection in favor of the Pretender. Septennial parliament. |
| GEORGE II. (1683-1760).—Only son of George I., by Dorothy, daughter and heiress of the Duke ofZell. | 1727 | 44 | 34 | Died instantly, by a sudden rupture of the heart, while in good health. | Well-shaped, fair complexion; hasty, of moderate abilities, humane, liberal, temperate, and a scientificwarrior. | Sir R. Walpole. Mr. Sandys. Earl of Huntington. Duke of Bedford. | Duke of Cumberland. Lord Anson. Earl of Stair. Gen. Wolfe. | New style introduced. Battles of Dettingen, Culloden, and Minden. Peace of Aix La Chapelle. |
| GEORGE III. (1738-1820).—Eldest son of Frederick and Augusta, Prince and Princess of Wales, andgrandson of George II. | 1760 | 22 | 59 | By the gradual exhaustion of nature, having been in state of continual mental derangement for nine years. | His figure uniting strength and comeliness; his manners unassuming and liberal; hair light flaxen, eyes grey,eyebrows white, of moderate genius, and very pious. | Chatham. North, Pitt, Fox. | Rodney, Howe, Abercrombie—Nelson, Wellington. | French and American Revolutions. Union with Ireland. Battles of Leipsic and Waterloo. |
| GEORGE IV. (1762-1830).—Eldest son of George III., by his consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg. | 1820 | 58 | 9 | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| WILLIAM IV. (1765-1837).—Third son of George III. | 1830 | 65 | 7 | Natural causes. | A man of homely talents, immoral, tactless, but good hearted. | Lord John Russell, Robert Peel, Lord Melbourne. | ... | Reform Bill passed by Parliament. Municipal Corporations Act. Establishment of the University of London. |
| Queen VICTORIA (1819-1901).—Daughter of Edward, fourth son of GeorgeIII., and Victoria Maria Louisa, daughter of Francis, duke of Saxe-Coburg. | 1837 | 18 | 64 | Natural causes. | A sagacious ruler, jealous of her royal prerogative, persistent, self-devoted, but greatly beloved. | Lord Palmerston, Lord Derby, Disraeli, Gladstone, Rosebury, Salisbury. | Generals Gordon, Roberts, Kitchener. | Crimean war, Indian Mutiny, Zulu war, Boer war, Home Rule agitation. Australian Commonwealth bill.Imperialism strengthened. Marked literary achievements. |
| HOUSE OF SAXE-COBURG | ||||||||
| EDWARD VII. (1841-1910).—Son of Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. | 1901 | 60 | 9 | Natural causes. | Lacked political training, but cultivated the arts of peace. Popular, but lacking in moral force. | ... | Lord Roberts, General Kitchener. | King Edward and his Ministers were influential in establishing the Triple Entente, including England, Franceand Russia. |
| GEORGE V. (1865- ——).—Son of Edward VII. and Queen Alexandra, daughter of Christian IX.of Denmark. | 1910 | 45 | ... | ... | Without political training; like his father, his foreign policy almost wholly in the hands of a powerfulministry. Personally a notable sportsman and popular. | Asquith, Lloyd-George, Cecil. | Kitchener, French, Haig. | England the leading and directing power of the Entente in the Great European war against the GermanicAllies. |
| Names and Lineage of Sovereigns | Began to Reign | Years of Age | L’gth of Reign | Death | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANGLO-SAXON KINGS | |||||
| EGBERT (775?-837)—Son of Alcmund, descended from Inigisil, brother to Ina, king of West Saxons. | 801 | ... | 37 | Natural causes. | Possessed all the qualities required in a warrior. |
| ETHELWOLF (—— -358)—Son of Egbert. | 838 | ... | 20 | Natural causes. | Pious, wise, valiant and clement. A lover of peace, and zealous for religion. |
| ETHELBALD—Son of Ethelwolf. | 858 | ... | 2 | Natural causes. | Neither pious nor valiant. |
| ETHELBERT—Son of Ethelwolf. | 860 | ... | 6 | Natural causes. | Sweet-tempered, wise, pious and valiant. |
| ETHELRED I. (871).—Brother to Ethelbert. | 866 | ... | 6 | Killed in the battle of Wittingham. | Pious, valiant, prudent, and just. |
| ALFRED The Great (849-901).—Brother to Ethelred, and son of Ethelwolf. | 872 | 22 | 28 | By a contraction of the nerves. | A great sovereign, warrior, legislator, politician and scholar. |
| EDWARD the Elder (870?-924).—Second son of Alfred the Great. | 900 | 17 | 25 | Natural causes. | Equal to his father—his love for learning and lenity excepted. |
| ATHELSTAN (895?-941).—Natural son of Edward the Elder. | 925 | 20 | 16 | Natural causes. | Possessed uncommon virtues; wise, valiant, and just. |
| EDMUND the Pious (923-946).—Eldest legitimate son of Edward the Elder. | 941 | 25 | 7 | Assassinated by Leolf, while feasting at Puckle-kirk. | Pious, valiant and just, and much respected by his people. |
| EDRED (—— -955?).—Second legitimate son of Edward the Elder. | 948 | 29 | 7 | Natural causes. | Pious and valiant, but too obsequious to his council. |
| EDWY (939?-959).—Eldest son of Edmund the Pious. | 955 | 17 | 4 | Died of grief on brother being set up in his stead. | Hated the monks, and persecuted them, which caused a rebellion. |
| EDGAR (943?-975).—Brother to Edwy. | 959 | 13 | 16 | Natural causes. | Pacific, active, wise, and industrious. |
| EDWARD the Martyr (961?-978).—Eldest son of Edgar. | 975 | 15 | 3 | Assassinated by order of his step-mother Elfrida. | Amiable and sweet-tempered. |
| ETHELRED II. (Sweyn) (—— -1016).—Brother to Edward the Martyr, and son of thebeautiful Elfrida. | 979 | 12 | 37 | Natural causes. | Cowardly, indolent, and avaricious. |
| EDMUND, Ironside (989-1017).—Eldest son of Ethelred II. | 1016 | 26 | 1 | Assassinated by order of Edric. | Valiant and prudent. |
| DANISH KINGS | |||||
| CANUTE I. (995-1035).—Son of Sweyn, King of Denmark. | 1017 | ... | 19 | Natural causes. | A great king; humble, just, and truly religious. |
| HAROLD I. (1040- ——)—Second son of Canute I., by Queen Alfwen. | 1036 | 30 | 3 | Occasioned by intemperance. | Impious, unjust, dissolute and mean. |
| CANUTE II. (1019-1042).—Third son of Canute I., by Emma of Normandy. | 1039 | 29 | 2 | By excessive eating. | To the vices of Harold I., he added that of cruelty. |
| SAXON KINGS | |||||
| EDWARD the Confessor (1004-1066).—Son of Edmund Ironside. | 1041 | 40 | 24 | Natural causes. | Honored as a great saint; of a mild and peaceful temper; was charitable, but had no great genius. |
| HAROLD II. (1022-1066).—Son of Earl Godwin, by the eldest daughter of Canute I. | 1065 | ... | 1 | Killed in the battle of Hastings. | A valiant warrior. |
| NORMAN KINGS | |||||
| WILLIAM the Conqueror (1027-1087).—Son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, by hismistress Harlotte. | 1066 | 40 | 21 | Death occasioned by heat at the burning of Mantes. | Possessed great bodily strength, a great soul and an elevated mind, and a prodigious genius; and governed theEnglish with a heavy hand. |
| WILLIAM Rufus (1056-1100).—Second son of William the Conqueror. | 1087 | 31 | 13 | Accidentally shot by Sir Walter Tyrrell, in New Forest. | Courageous and vicious to a high degree. |
| HENRY I. (1068-1135).—Brother of William Rufus. | 1100 | 32 | 35 | Death occasioned by eating too many lampreys. | Handsome, brave, sober, cruel, avaricious, and unclean. |
| STEPHEN (1105-1154).—Son of Stephen, Earl of Blois, and Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror. | 1135 | 31 | 19 | Natural causes. | In person majestic; his air placid and insinuating. Possessed great courage, an elevated genius, and soundjudgment. |
| PLANTAGENETS | |||||
| HENRY II. (1133-1189).—Eldest son of Geoffrey, Earl of Anjou, and of the Empress Maud. Heir toHenry I. | 1154 | 21 | 35 | Natural, before the High Altar at Chinon. | Brave, generous, magnificent, clement, just, prudent, ambitious, lustful, and violent in anger. |
| RICHARD I. (1157-1199).—Second son of Henry II. | 1189 | 33 | 10 | Killed by a cross-bowman, at the siege of Chalus. | Brave to a high degree; but possessed no other virtue. |
| King JOHN (1166-1216).—Brother to Richard I. | 1199 | 33 | 17 | Died of grief for having lost his rich baggage. | Witty, hot-headed and hasty. After his first transports, soft, indolent, fearful and wavering. |
| HENRY III. (1207-1272).—King John’s eldest son. | 1216 | 9 | 56 | Natural causes. | Inconstant, capricious and prodigal of his money; continent and averse to cruelty. |
| EDWARD I. (1239-1307).—Eldest son of Henry III. | 1272 | 33 | 35 | Natural causes. | A good king and father, a formidable enemy, and a great captain; chaste, just, prudent and moderate. |
| EDWARD II. (1284-1327).—Eldest son of Edward I. | 1307 | 23 | 20 | Murdered by Gourney and Maltravers at Berkley Castle. | Handsome shaped, but had neither the capacity of warrior, statesman, or man of genius. |
| EDWARD III. (1312-1377).—Son of Edward II. | 1327 | 14 | 50 | Died of the St. Anthony’s fire at Sheen. | An excellent prince; gentle, beneficent, and valiant. |
| RICHARD II. (1366-1400).—Son of Edward the Black Prince, and grandson of Edward III. | 1377 | 11 | 22 | Murdered by Exton, at Pontefract Castle, by order of Henry IV. | Handsomest monarch in the world. Kind, magnificent, soft, timid, of little genius, and a slave to hisfavorites. |
| HOUSE OF LANCASTER | |||||
| HENRY IV. (1366?-1413).—Son of John of Gaunt, and grandson of Edward III. | 1399 | 32 | 14 | Died of a dropsy. | Courageous, prudent, vigilant, and extremely jealous of his throne, which he obtained by unwarrantablemeans. |
| HENRY V. (1388-1422).—Eldest son of Henry IV. | 1413 | 24 | 9 | Natural causes. | A good soldier and politician; had an elevated genius; was extremely ambitious, and inclined to cruelty. |
| HENRY VI. (1421-1471).—Son of Henry V. | 1422 | 9 m | 39 | Dethroned. Afterwards killed, by order of Edward IV. | Just, chaste, temperate, pious and patient; but had a weak mind. |
| HOUSE OF YORK | |||||
| EDWARD IV. (1441-1483).—Son of Richard, Duke of York; descendant of Edward III. | 1461 | 19 | 22 | Death occasioned by excessive eating. | One of the handsomest men in England, but after crowned was a voluptuary. |
| EDWARD V. (1470-1483).—Eldest son of Edward IV. | 1483 | 12 | 2 m. | Smothered by order of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. | ... |
| RICHARD III. (1452-1485).—Brother to Edward IV. | 1483 | 30 | 2 | Killed in the battle of Bosworth Field. | Small, ugly and crooked backed; dissembling and cruel, yet sagacious and brave. |
| HOUSE OF TUDOR | |||||
| HENRY VII. (1457-1509).—Son of Margaret, Countess of Richmond; descendant of John of Gaunt. | 1485 | 28 | 24 | By consumption. | A wise and able prince; pious, chaste, temperate and just; but insatiably covetous. |
| HENRY VIII. (1491-1547).—Second son of Henry VII. | 1509 | 18 | 38 | Natural causes. | Comely, but very corpulent; brave, candid and liberal; versed in music, philosophy, and divinity; yet wascruel and presumptuous. |
| EDWARD VI. (1537-1553).—Son of Henry VIII., by Jane Seymour. | 1547 | 9 | 6 | Of a consumption. | Sweet tempered, and had a great genius. |
| Queen MARY (1516-1558).—Daughter of Henry VIII., by Catharine ofAragon. | 1553 | 38 | 5 | Of a dropsy. | Small capacity, bigoted, revengeful and cruel. |
| Queen ELIZABETH (1533-1603).—Daughter of Henry VIII., by Anne Boleyn. | 1558 | 25 | 45 | Natural causes. | Tolerably handsome; had a noble air, and great affability; celebrated for her wit, judgment, economy, policy,sincerity, justice, liberality, and magnificence. |
| HOUSE OF STUART | |||||
| JAMES I. (1566-1625).—Son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley; and great-grandsonof Margaret, daughter of Henry VII. | 1603 | 37 | 22 | Of an ague. | Learned and pacific, but wavering and undetermined. |
| CHARLES I. (1600-1649).—Third son of James I. | 1625 | 25 | 24 | Beheaded near the windows of the banqueting house, Whitehall. | Religious, sober, chaste, affable and courageous; had great penetration and judgment, but too fond ofprerogative. |
| COMMONWEALTH declared May 19. | 1649 | ... | 11 | ... | ... |
| HOUSE OF STUART | |||||
| CHARLES II. (1630-1685).—Eldest son of Charles I. | 1660 | 29 | 25 | Supposed to have been poisoned. | Extremely liberal and affable; had a sprightly and witty genius, and a wonderful conception. |
| JAMES II. (1633-1701).—Brother to Charles II. | 1685 | 52 | 3 | Natural, having abdicated the throne. | A kind father, husband and master; more pious than resolute, and too submissive to his ministers. |
| WILLIAM (1650-1702) and MARY (1662-1694).—William, Prince of Orange, (Holland). Mary, eldest daughterof James II., by Anne Hyde. | 1688 | W. 37 M. 26 | W. 14 M. 6 | Mary died of the smallpox; William, by a fall from his horse. | Mary, pious and amiable; had an air of grandeur, without pride or affectation. William, not comely in person,had a great genius, was a good statesman and warrior. |
| Queen ANNE (1685-1714).—Second daughter of King James II., and consort ofGeorge, Prince of Denmark. | 1702 | 37 | 12 | Natural causes. | In private life, virtuous, charitable and pious; as a sovereign, easy, kind and generous. |
| HOUSE OF HANOVER | |||||
| GEORGE I. (1660-1727).—Eldest son of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick, and Princess Sophia,daughter of Frederick V., of Bohemia. | 1714 | 54 | 13 | Died of a lethargic disorder, at Osnaburg. | Unostentatious and familiar; a circumspect general; a wise and virtuous prince. |
| GEORGE II. (1683-1760).—Only son of George I., by Dorothy, daughter and heiress of the Duke ofZell. | 1727 | 44 | 34 | Died instantly, by a sudden rupture of the heart, while in good health. | Well-shaped, fair complexion; hasty, of moderate abilities, humane, liberal, temperate, and a scientificwarrior. |
| GEORGE III. (1738-1820).—Eldest son of Frederick and Augusta, Prince and Princess of Wales, andgrandson of George II. | 1760 | 22 | 59 | By the gradual exhaustion of nature, having been in state of continual mental derangement for nine years. | His figure uniting strength and comeliness; his manners unassuming and liberal; hair light flaxen, eyes grey,eyebrows white, of moderate genius, and very pious. |
| GEORGE IV. (1762-1830).—Eldest son of George III., by his consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg. | 1820 | 58 | 9 | ... | ... |
| WILLIAM IV. (1765-1837).—Third son of George III. | 1830 | 65 | 7 | Natural causes. | A man of homely talents, immoral, tactless, but good hearted. |
| Queen VICTORIA (1819-1901).—Daughter of Edward, fourth son of GeorgeIII., and Victoria Maria Louisa, daughter of Francis, duke of Saxe-Coburg. | 1837 | 18 | 64 | Natural causes. | A sagacious ruler, jealous of her royal prerogative, persistent, self-devoted, but greatly beloved. |
| HOUSE OF SAXE-COBURG | |||||
| EDWARD VII. (1841-1910).—Son of Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. | 1901 | 60 | 9 | Natural causes. | Lacked political training, but cultivated the arts of peace. Popular, but lacking in moral force. |
| GEORGE V. (1865- ——).—Son of Edward VII. and Queen Alexandra, daughter of Christian IX.of Denmark. | 1910 | 45 | ... | ... | Without political training; like his father, his foreign policy almost wholly in the hands of a powerfulministry. Personally a notable sportsman and popular. |
| Names and Lineage of Sovereigns | Principal Statesmen | Chief Warriors | Events of Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANGLO-SAXON KINGS | |||
| EGBERT (775?-837)—Son of Alcmund, descended from Inigisil, brother to Ina, king of West Saxons. | ... | The king.—Ethelwolf.—Kenneth. | The kingdoms of the Heptarchy united, and take the name of England. |
| ETHELWOLF (—— -358)—Son of Egbert. | Athelstan. | Wolfhere.—Ethelhelm.—Ceorle. | Tithes instituted; London plundered by the Danes; England becomes tributary to the Holy See. |
| ETHELBALD—Son of Ethelwolf. | Swithun, Bishop of Winchester. | Osric. | Scots defeated by the Britons. |
| ETHELBERT—Son of Ethelwolf. | ... | The king. | Winchester burnt by the Danes. |
| ETHELRED I. (871).—Brother to Ethelbert. | ... | Young Alfred. | Battles of Aston and Basing—York taken. |
| ALFRED The Great (849-901).—Brother to Ethelred, and son of Ethelwolf. | ... | The king.—Oddune, earl of Devonshire. | University of Oxford founded. Juries instituted. England divided into shires, tithings and hundreds. |
| EDWARD the Elder (870?-924).—Second son of Alfred the Great. | ... | The king. | Northumberland and East Anglia united to the crown. University of Cambridge founded. Battles of Temsford andMalden. |
| ATHELSTAN (895?-941).—Natural son of Edward the Elder. | Turketul, Chancellor. | Guy of Warwick. | Constantine III. of Scotland and six Irish and Welsh kings killed at battle of Brunanburh. |
| EDMUND the Pious (923-946).—Eldest legitimate son of Edward the Elder. | ... | The king. | Cumberland and Westmoreland given up to Malcolm, king of Scotland. |
| EDRED (—— -955?).—Second legitimate son of Edward the Elder. | Aldheim, Archbishop of Canterbury. | The king. | Northumbrian Danes reduced. |
| EDWY (939?-959).—Eldest son of Edmund the Pious. | Odo, Archbishop of Canterbury. | Prince Edgar. | Rebellion of the Mercians. |
| EDGAR (943?-975).—Brother to Edwy. | Ethelwold. | ... | King of Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man, recognize Edgar for their sovereign. |
| EDWARD the Martyr (961?-978).—Eldest son of Edgar. | Dustan. | ... | ... |
| ETHELRED II. (Sweyn) (—— -1016).—Brother to Edward the Martyr, and son of thebeautiful Elfrida. | Siricius, Archbishop of Canterbury. | Prince Edmund. Alfric. | Arabic figures introduced. Sweyn, king of Denmark, conquers England. |
| EDMUND, Ironside (989-1017).—Eldest son of Ethelred II. | Edric, Earl of Wilts. | ... | Massacre of the Danes. England divided between Edward and Canute I. |
| DANISH KINGS | |||
| CANUTE I. (995-1035).—Son of Sweyn, King of Denmark. | Thurkell, Duke of East Anglia.—Urick, Duke of Northumberland. | Godwin, Earl of Kent. | Parents prohibited selling their children. End of the Danish war of two hundred years. |
| HAROLD I. (1040- ——)—Second son of Canute I., by Queen Alfwen. | Earl Godwin. | Godwin, Earl of Kent. | Paper first used in England. |
| CANUTE II. (1019-1042).—Third son of Canute I., by Emma of Normandy. | Earl Godwin. | Leofric, Duke of Mercia. | ... |
| SAXON KINGS | |||
| EDWARD the Confessor (1004-1066).—Son of Edmund Ironside. | Robert, Archbishop of Canterbury—Harold. | Siward, Duke of Northumberland. | Common law of England established. Westminster Abbey founded. |
| HAROLD II. (1022-1066).—Son of Earl Godwin, by the eldest daughter of Canute I. | Morcar, Earl of Northumberland. | Gurth and Leofwin, the king’s brothers. | Battle of Hastings, Norman conquest. |
| NORMAN KINGS | |||
| WILLIAM the Conqueror (1027-1087).—Son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, by hismistress Harlotte. | Odo, Bishop of Bayeaux. Fitzosborne, Earl of Hereford. | Malcolm, King of Scotland. | Tower of London built. Doomsday book. Bishoprics created. |
| WILLIAM Rufus (1056-1100).—Second son of William the Conqueror. | Herbert—Lozinga. | Earl of Northumberland—Duke of Normandy. | First Holy War. Westminster Hall built. Reduction of the Welsh. |
| HENRY I. (1068-1135).—Brother of William Rufus. | Archbishop Anselm. Bishop of Salisbury. | Earl of Flanders. | Normandy conquered. First Parliament. |
| STEPHEN (1105-1154).—Son of Stephen, Earl of Blois, and Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror. | William of Ypres. | Earl of Gloucester. | Canon law introduced. |
| PLANTAGENETS | |||
| HENRY II. (1133-1189).—Eldest son of Geoffrey, Earl of Anjou, and of the Empress Maud. Heir toHenry I. | Thomas à Becket, Lord Chancellor. | Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke. | King takes possession of Ireland. Judicial circuits established. |
| RICHARD I. (1157-1199).—Second son of Henry II. | Bishop of Durham—Longchamp, Bishop of Ely. | The king, surnamed Cœur de Lion. | London divided into companies. King joins the Crusade. |
| King JOHN (1166-1216).—Brother to Richard I. | Archbishop of Hubert, Chancellor. | Prince Arthur. | Phillip II. of France takes possession of Normandy. War with the barons. Magna Charta signed. |
| HENRY III. (1207-1272).—King John’s eldest son. | William, Earl of Pembroke, Hugh de Burgh, Bishop of Winchester. | Simon, Earl of Leicester. Prince Edward. | Intestine wars. Westminster Abbey rebuilt. |
| EDWARD I. (1239-1307).—Eldest son of Henry III. | Giffard, Archbishop of York. | Llewellyn, Prince of Wales. | Wales united to England. Mariner’s compass invented. |
| EDWARD II. (1284-1327).—Eldest son of Edward I. | Pierce Gaveston—Hugh de Spencer. | Guy, Earl of Warwick. | King abdicates the throne. Courts of Nisi Prius established. |
| EDWARD III. (1312-1377).—Son of Edward II. | Mortimer, Earl of March. | Edward, the Black Prince—Sir Richard Knowles. | Battles of Cressy and Poictiers. Order of the Garter instituted. |
| RICHARD II. (1366-1400).—Son of Edward the Black Prince, and grandson of Edward III. | Richard de Vere, Duke of Ireland. A. Neville, Archbishop of York. | H. Percy, surnamed Hotspur—John of Gaunt. | Wat Tyler’s insurrection. King deposed. |
| HOUSE OF LANCASTER | |||
| HENRY IV. (1366?-1413).—Son of John of Gaunt, and grandson of Edward III. | R. Neville, Earl of Westmoreland. | Sir John Oldcastle. | Battle of Shrewsbury. |
| HENRY V. (1388-1422).—Eldest son of Henry IV. | Beaufort, Duke of Exeter. | Duke of Gloucester, Wodehouse Gam. | Battle of Agincourt. Siege of Rouen. |
| HENRY VI. (1421-1471).—Son of Henry V. | Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Somerset. | Joan of Arc, Duke of Bedford, Lord Talbot, R. Neville, Earl of Warwick. | Battles of Crevant, Verneuil, St. Albans, and Towton. Siege of Orleans. |
| HOUSE OF YORK | |||
| EDWARD IV. (1441-1483).—Son of Richard, Duke of York; descendant of Edward III. | Earl Rivers. | Admiral Coulon. | Printing first in use. |
| EDWARD V. (1470-1483).—Eldest son of Edward IV. | Richard, Duke of Gloucester. | Lord Hastings. | Richard’s usurpation. |
| RICHARD III. (1452-1485).—Brother to Edward IV. | Lord Stanley. | Henry, Earl of Richmond. Duke of Buckingham. | Battle of Bosworth Field. |
| HOUSE OF TUDOR | |||
| HENRY VII. (1457-1509).—Son of Margaret, Countess of Richmond; descendant of John of Gaunt. | Cardinal Morton, Sir Edward Poynings. | Lord Lovell. | Discovery of America. |
| HENRY VIII. (1491-1547).—Second son of Henry VII. | Cardinal Wolsey, Sir Thomas More, Fox, Cromwell. | Duke of Norfolk—Earl of Surrey. Lord Maxwell. | The Reformation. Monasteries dissolved. |
| EDWARD VI. (1537-1553).—Son of Henry VIII., by Jane Seymour. | Seymour, Duke of Somerset—Dudley, Earl of Warwick. | Lord Russell. | Religious insurrection. |
| Queen MARY (1516-1558).—Daughter of Henry VIII., by Catharine ofAragon. | Gardiner, Chancellor. | Duke of Savoy. | Catholic religion restored. |
| Queen ELIZABETH (1533-1603).—Daughter of Henry VIII., by Anne Boleyn. | Robert Dudley, Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Burleigh. | Admiral Howard—Sir Francis Drake. Sir F. Vere. Sir P. Sidney. | Mary Queen of Scots executed. Spanish Armada destroyed. Protestant religion restored. |
| HOUSE OF STUART | |||
| JAMES I. (1566-1625).—Son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley; and great-grandsonof Margaret, daughter of Henry VII. | Robert Car, Earl of Somerset. George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Earl of Salisbury. | Sir Horace Vere. | Union of the crowns of England and Scotland. Gunpowder plot. |
| CHARLES I. (1600-1649).—Third son of James I. | Earls of Portland and Strafford—Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury. | Earl of Essex. Sir T. Fairfax, Earl of Manchester. | Battles of Edge Hill, Tadcaster and Gisborough. |
| COMMONWEALTH declared May 19. | Oliver Cromwell. | Admiral Blake, General Monk. | Charles I. beheaded. Royal power usurped. Battle of Dunbar. |
| HOUSE OF STUART | |||
| CHARLES II. (1630-1685).—Eldest son of Charles I. | Earl of Clarendon. | Duke of York. Earl of Sandwich. | Restoration of monarchy. Plague and fire in London. Royal Society founded. |
| JAMES II. (1633-1701).—Brother to Charles II. | Chancellor Jeffries. | Duke of Monmouth. | King abdicates the throne. Revolution. |
| WILLIAM (1650-1702) and MARY (1662-1694).—William, Prince of Orange, (Holland). Mary, eldest daughterof James II., by Anne Hyde. | Earl of Sunderland. Earl of Tankerville. | Russell, Shovel, Ginkle. | Bank of England established. Siege of Namur. Battles of Boyne and La Hogue. Treaty of Ryswick. |
| Queen ANNE (1685-1714).—Second daughter of King James II., and consort ofGeorge, Prince of Denmark. | Lords Godolphin and Cowper—Earl of Oxford. Harcourt. Bollingbroke. | Duke of Marlboro’—Sir G. Rook, Ormund—Benbow. | Battles of Blenheim and Ramilles. Scotch union. |
| HOUSE OF HANOVER | |||
| GEORGE I. (1660-1727).—Eldest son of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick, and Princess Sophia,daughter of Frederick V., of Bohemia. | Dukes of Newcastle and Devonshire. Lords Townsend and Carteret. | Earl of Mar. Duke of Argyle. Lord Cobham. | Insurrection in favor of the Pretender. Septennial parliament. |
| GEORGE II. (1683-1760).—Only son of George I., by Dorothy, daughter and heiress of the Duke ofZell. | Sir R. Walpole. Mr. Sandys. Earl of Huntington. Duke of Bedford. | Duke of Cumberland. Lord Anson. Earl of Stair. Gen. Wolfe. | New style introduced. Battles of Dettingen, Culloden, and Minden. Peace of Aix La Chapelle. |
| GEORGE III. (1738-1820).—Eldest son of Frederick and Augusta, Prince and Princess of Wales, andgrandson of George II. | Chatham. North, Pitt, Fox. | Rodney, Howe, Abercrombie—Nelson, Wellington. | French and American Revolutions. Union with Ireland. Battles of Leipsic and Waterloo. |
| GEORGE IV. (1762-1830).—Eldest son of George III., by his consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg. | ... | ... | ... |
| WILLIAM IV. (1765-1837).—Third son of George III. | Lord John Russell, Robert Peel, Lord Melbourne. | ... | Reform Bill passed by Parliament. Municipal Corporations Act. Establishment of the University of London. |
| Queen VICTORIA (1819-1901).—Daughter of Edward, fourth son of GeorgeIII., and Victoria Maria Louisa, daughter of Francis, duke of Saxe-Coburg. | Lord Palmerston, Lord Derby, Disraeli, Gladstone, Rosebury, Salisbury. | Generals Gordon, Roberts, Kitchener. | Crimean war, Indian Mutiny, Zulu war, Boer war, Home Rule agitation. Australian Commonwealth bill.Imperialism strengthened. Marked literary achievements. |
| HOUSE OF SAXE-COBURG | |||
| EDWARD VII. (1841-1910).—Son of Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. | ... | Lord Roberts, General Kitchener. | King Edward and his Ministers were influential in establishing the Triple Entente, including England, Franceand Russia. |
| GEORGE V. (1865- ——).—Son of Edward VII. and Queen Alexandra, daughter of Christian IX.of Denmark. | Asquith, Lloyd-George, Cecil. | Kitchener, French, Haig. | England the leading and directing power of the Entente in the Great European war against the GermanicAllies. |
FRANCE
Location and Extent.—France occupies the narrowest part of the great western peninsula of the European continent between the Mediterranean on the one side, and the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel on the other. As both coasts have many harbors, the situation between two seas is a very advantageous one. In extent it is fully three and a half times larger than England, measuring about six hundred miles each way across it.
Most of its frontiers are natural. On the south the high barrier of the Pyrenees rises between it and Spain; on the east the Alps and Jura separate it from Italy and Switzerland and part of the Vosges mountains forms the boundary towards Germany. On the northeast alone the political limit towards Germany and Belgium is artificially drawn, and has to be guarded by a line of fortresses.
Since 1768, France had held the Mediterranean island of Corsica, a rugged pyramid of forest-covered mountains.
Divisions of the Country.—Previous to the French Revolution, France was divided into provinces, which bore the names of the separate territories out of which the state had been gradually built up. These are accordingly of much greater historical interest than the present division into eighty-seven departments, which are almost universally named after the river basins in which they lie. The provincial names are also those which are still most in use in ordinary life in France.
The following are the provinces, with the dates of their incorporation as parts of France, and the departments they include: