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Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and one of the few female sovereigns in England and Scotland over the past thousand years.
Some were among the nations’ greatest figures. Others were little-known, controversial or disputed.
Matilda (1141-1148) King Henry I’s daughter and declared heir was a disputed monarch during the reign of her cousin, king Stephen.
Empress Matilda invaded from Normandy, controlled southwest England and captured Stephen but was never crowned.
The clergy switched sides from Stephen and declared her “Lady of the English”.
Londoners revolted shortly before her planned coronation and it never took place. Her eldest son succeeded Stephen as king Henry II.
Jane (1553) Lady Jane Grey was England’s de facto monarch for nine days in July 1553. Again, she was never crowned and her reign was disputed.
She was a Protestant and cousin of the late king Edward VI. He named her his successor.
She was proclaimed queen but, sensing growing support for Edward’s Catholic half-sister Mary, the monarch’s privy council changed sides. Jane was executed on February 12, 1554, aged 16.
Mary I (1553-1558) Nicknamed “Bloody Mary” by her Protestant opponents, Mary sought vigorously to reverse the anti-Catholic Reformation of her father, king Henry VIII, who had broken with the Vatican.
England’s first undisputed queen regnant married king Philip II of Spain.
She had more than 280 religious dissenters burned at the stake. Many rich Protestants sought exile.
The childless Mary was forced to accept her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth as her successor.
Elizabeth I (1558-1603) One of England’s greatest monarchs.
