There are about 250 plus iconic monuments, two thousand forts, hundreds (1600) of museums, two millennium old churches and palaces in United Kingdom. Beautiful villages, snow clad and green mountains, the preserved houses of great literary personalities too invite tourists. This article is written for the knowledge of tourists who intend to visit United Kingdom. Without knowledge root of history it will be impossible to understand UK and its people.
England before 1000 AD
It is believed widely that Celts (Central Europe) and Welsh (those born in Wales but originally Celt ethnicity) lived in Britain, Picto tribes (those born in Ireland but originally Celt ethnicity) in Ireland. They spoke Celtic language and were true Britons living since iron age (800 BC). Mid of 1st century AD when Julius Ceasar invaded Britain in passion of rule over Gaulic countries (France, Belgium, Switzerland, North Italy, Norway, Netherlands). Romans occupied England up to South of Scotland including Wales and called region as Britannia. In these 400 years Roman culture got prevalent and their Goddess “Britannia” became the personification of Britain. They created this Goddess soon after winning Britain to apologize. Romans introduced better agriculture, industry and architecture in Britain. They had not occupied North of Scotland which they called Caledonia. The frequent attack by Picts tribe from Scotland was the reason that Romans were forced to build two walls Hadrian’s Wall (117 AD) and Antonine Wall (138 AD). A few forts were also built around these walls. Romans lived in England for 350 years and they brought their culture here. They built Roman Baths, an ancient thermal spa complex that was used by the Romans for rest or relaxation. There were public and private baths.
After Romans left Britain, Anglo-Saxon from North-West of Europe started attacks on Britain. From 400 AD till 9th century it were all Anglo-Saxon in Britain. Archaeologically it is said that contemporary British are Anglo Saxon. English originated from their language.
The religion of Anglo Saxon was Pagan (interesting book Da Vinci Code) and later they converted to Christianity with initiative from Pope of Rome. In 9th century AD, Anglo Saxon community was attacked by brutal Viking warriors (Scandinavia region- Denmark, Finland, Norway). So in some parts Anglo Saxon lived and in some parts Vikings. Last Anglo Saxon king Edward I The Confessor died in Battle of Hastings in 1066. From here starts the middle age of England.
England in Middle age
King Louis IV (King of West Francia) sent Count Rollo (a Viking) to occupy England which was then ruled by Anglo Saxon and Vikings. In fact, Rollo is related to many of today’s European Royal families. All Counts were under direct control of King of France of House of Normandy. But legally England king was still Edward-I the Confessor.
Robert I became influential and was designated Duke by Normandy ruler of W. France region. So Robert I was the first Duke (powerful like king) of Normandy in England. His son William I the Conqueror was first Norman king of England after Norman Conquest on England. In 1066 he defeated heir less Edward I the confessor (Last Anglo-Saxon king) in Battle of Hastings (Battle field Abbey 95 KM from London) to claim his stake as king as he was Duke. From here the middle age (1066 AD) of England starts. William I the Conqueror influenced England by bringing French culture and customs, French language, increased the power of monarchs and thus reduced the power of English noble men. From this time the Feudal system started in Britain in which lands were
gifted to native England and in turn they supplied warriors. Under Feudalism the monarchs were answerable to Pope. This system flourished till 16th century. So with all discussions above we can say the root of Monarchy in England was established by France.
Norman and Plantagenet houses were from France and Louis VII sent Henry II as Duke of Normandy in 1150. And thus House of Plantagenet continued in England.
The Plantagenets were originally from Anjou – a French county. But their 331-year rule over England, from 1154 to 1485, lay the foundations of modern England and had a profound effect on the rest of what we now call the United Kingdom. Plantagenets gave the basis for the English legal system. Henry II made sweeping legal reforms, effectively creating Magna Carta, by his grandson John in 1215 which is a charter to bring all including king to bring under one law. This was needed to curtail the exploitation of barons and kings for unjustified land levies, imprisonment and tortures.
Windsor castle was founded by William the conqueror as a bailey and motte. Henry III spent a lot on Windsor castle, Tower of London and Lincoln for internal defense. Windsor castle overhaul by Henry III inspired many subsequent designs in England and Wales. The Tower of London was extended to form a concentric fortress with extensive living quarters, although Henry primarily used the castle as a secure retreat in the event of war or civil strife. He also kept a collection of wild animals at the Tower, a tradition begun by his father, and his exotic specimens included an elephant, a leopard and a camel. Henry III also rebuilt Dover Castle, spending vast sums on it. It is the most expensive castle project of its time. You can visit place called Dover Castle 120 KM from London.
Edward I is credited with many accomplishments during his reign, including restoring royal authority after the reign of Henry III, establishing Parliament as a permanent institution and thereby also a functional system for raising taxes, and reforming the law through statutes. Edward I is criticized for brutality against Welsh and Scots. He forcibly settled English migrants there and banned Welsh entering there colony. An extensive project of castle-building was also initiated, introduction of the concentric castle, and four of the eight castles Edward founded in Wales followed this design. This shows his intention of ruling Welsh permanently.
It was in Edward III time when Hundred years (1337-1453) war broke out because in 1328, Charles IV of France died without male heir a new principle disallowed female succession. Charles’s closest male relative was his nephew Edward III of England but the French nobility rejected it. An assembly of French barons decided that a native Frenchman should receive the crown, rather than Edward. Another reason was in House of Plantagenet many kings owned a lot of property in France which sent a feeling in England that England kings are vassals of France. And hence there was development of “own nation” in France and England. The result of war was France and England monarchies remained separate. The biggest impact of this war was feeling of “nationalism” in France and England and gave birth to House of Lancaster. Though England was already almost united in Norman Conquest still the elite people of England had affinity to France.
House of Lancaster descended from John of Gaunt and started afresh with Henry IV dethroning Richard II due to his unpopularity among English nobles. Henry IV claim was through John Of Guant. Henry IV changed the physical landscape of Britain, building huge fortresses such as the Tower of London, rebuild of Dover Castle and the massive fortresses of North Wales. Cathedrals soared in Lincoln, Salisbury, Winchester, York and Hereford. London boomed and new towns including Liverpool and Portsmouth were founded.
The war of Roses (1455-87) started as Henry VI was mentally unfit and Nobility of England (From York) vied to take control. The Yorks were descended from the female relatives of Edward’s second and fourth sons, while the Lancasters were related to Edward’s third son, John of Gaunt. So Yorkists’ claim was undoubtedly stronger. It was called war of Roses as red rose was badge of Richard III and white rose of Henry VI. Richard III was the last English king to have been killed in a battle. Nearly 40,000 people lost lives. A film “Game of Thrones” was made on this war. Impact of this war was change of dynasty to House of Tudor and the feudal system in England declined with rise of merchant classes. Wales united with England. From here the medieval history of Britain ends and renaissance starts. House of Tudor is so as Henry VII name was Henry Tudor.
Wales United
Henry Tudor (Henry VII), with Welsh ethnic support, took the throne of England from Richard III in 1485, uniting England and Wales under one royal house. The governments of the United Kingdom and of Wales almost invariably define Wales as a country. The Wales Government says: “Wales is not a Principality. Although we are joined with England by land, and we are part of Great Britain, Wales is a country in its own right.” The title Prince of Wales is still conferred on the heir apparent to the British throne, currently Prince Charles, but he has no constitutional role in modern Wales.
Scotland United
Elizabeth I never married and so after her there was no one to claim English throne. Here comes Mary the queen of Scots became a claimant. James V (father of Mary Queen of Scots) of Scotland was the son of Margaret Tudor, eldest sister of Henry VIII of England. Therefore, James was Henry’s maternal nephew. It was because of that relationship that Mary and James V’s grandson James VI inherited the crowns of both England (as James I of England) and Scotland (as James VI of England). If not for that, England and Scotland might not have unified into one country in 1707 and it is even possible that England and Scotland would be separate countries today and there would not be a United Kingdom. Though the crown of England and Scotland was same but Scotland remained separate officially until 1707.
William and Mary of Orange ascended the throne as joint monarchs and defenders of Protestantism, followed by Queen Anne, the second of James II’s daughters. Anne defended Catholics. But Anne was issueless and after her death it became a rule that only Protestants can be king of England. From the end of the 17th century, monarchs lost executive power and they increasingly became subject to Parliament. In period of last Stuart monarch Anne in 1707 Scotland became part of England by Parliament voting due to economic crisis. Also England started colonization around globe in late 16th century.
Monarch Anne was issue-less and the right of throne went to Sophia (Close relative of Anne) of Hanover (Germany) who had the right to compete for Emperor post in Hanover. Thus House of Hanover started by enthroning of Sophia’s son George I. By this time England-Ireland-Scotland-Wales was one. Current queen Elizabeth II belongs to this house. It was in George II time when UK’s National Anthem was written.
Ireland united
During George III time union of Ireland and England took place in 1800. He was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 1760 until the union of the two countries in 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death in 1820.
William IV time the voting power to poor, child labor and slavery acts passed. Victoria I saw the entire period of the Industrial Revolution, from 1837 to 1901. She married her handsome cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a small principality in what is now Germany.
The current royal family descends directly from these people, and their family name was deliberately changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to House of Windsor during the First World War. That is why the royals are sometimes referred to as “German”. The name was changed to House of Windsor in 1917 because of anti-German sentiments in WW-I.
This ends the history of lineage of England which will help you understand the portraits, palaces, buildings and museums in England.
Epilogue
The history of England or United Kingdom is complicated but simple if we understand the genealogy of monarchy in this region and the relation of France (mother) and England (son). France’s Viking region of Normandy established the monarchy first time in England and ruled England from 1066 for next about 350 years till 1399.
War of 100 years sowed the root of “own nation” between France and England. France developed feudal system in England and also brought famous Magna Carta to include king also under judiciary.
Henry IV in 1399 was first king who spoke English. He initiated lot of infrastructure in England as Castle of Dover, Tower of England and large number of cathedrals.
Famous war of Roses started between House of Lancaster and Henry VI of Wales for throne of England. In this was England and Wales fought against House of Lancaster and won the battle. From here House of Tudor founded. Feudal system declined and class of merchants rose. Wales united with England. Wales is a country in its own terms. House of Tudor united Scotland also with England as Elizabeth I married James I of House of Stuart (Scotland). This changed the dynasty to House of Stuart. In this period “global colonization” started in late 16th century. Catholic-Protestant cold war developed in this time.
Monarch Anne was issueless and the throne of England went to Sophia who was close relative of Anne. Sophia was married to House of Hannover of Germany and thus House of Hannover started in England. Ireland also united with House of Hannover in 1800 AD.
The current queen of England Elizabeth II (1952- ) is actually from House of Hannover. This house name was changed to House of Windsor just before World war I in 1917 as Hannover origin is Germany.
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