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British Kings And Queens: From Anglo Saxons To The House Of WindsorStock informationGeneral Fields
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DescriptionEngland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been part of a United Kingdom since the start of the 19th century but their monarchs and leaders have vied for power ever since the Romans left the colony of Britannia at the start of the fifth century A.D. As they left, Celtic Britain was already seeing the influx of numbers of European visitors: Angles, Jutes, and Saxons whose kingdoms would shortly form the basis of English culture. By the ninth century the monarchs of Anglo-Saxon England - such as Alfred the Great - were facing attack from Scandinavia from the Vikings. Danish King Canute ruled England and Denmark in the 11th century. No sooner had the Anglo-Saxon monarchy been restored than Britain was invaded again, this time by the Normans. William the Bastard conquered England and his successors such as Edward I would take Wales and Ireland. For the next five hundred years Britain and the continent were joined by land, by fealty, and by the desire for power. English kings claimed the throne of France and fought the 100 Years War to gain it. By the time that Queen Mary came to the throne only Calais remained in English hands and in 1558 even Calais was lost. Author descriptionAfter a career in magazine journalism author, Sandra Forty has written and contributed tomany books on art, architecture, and history. |