Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-05-03
THE KINGS OF ENGLAND
Since william the Conquerer and a Few
Interesting Facts Ahont Them

play many different phases oil char-
acter. Often, as in the case of the
Stuarts, the members of the same
house had some characteristics in
common, and we can best understand
them by study of the different
houses as we'll a. of each monarch
Individually. The history of EuE-
land has been many times greatly IN
hueuced by the relationship of the
king to some foreign sovereign. Thus
we see that it is important that I'VE
should become acquainted with these
relationships.
William the CoRqueror, the.hr,' Of
the Norman kings, ruled from. 1905
until 1857. He was a stern. harsh
man and was often very cruel, yet he
possessed great ability aud was
doubtless the possible ruler for thc
times. I'll, most important foreign
relation wa, Baldwin, Count of Elan.
ders. hi, father-in law. William Wa
succeeded on hi, death by hi second
son, William Rufus. he was co,ct-
Gus. selfish aud false Of heart. % d
proved to be worse than hi father
had been. Hi, eldest brother Robert
was ruler of Normandy at the same
time. In hoo William the III. wa,
mysteriously killed while hunting in
the New Forest. His younger broth
Henry followed him upon the throne.
He was noted for his learning and
was called "Beauclere. of hne
scholar He had many traits OF char
acter, however, which were far from
admirable. He was avaricious, re-
yengeful, aud so false that that his
word could never be depended upon.
He was married first to Msude, a
daughter of the king of Scotland
and when she died he took Alice, the
Pope's niece, for his wife. IieI
daughter Matilda was married first
to Henry of Germany aud afterEhl'
death to Geoffrey Plantagenet. Hen
ry ruled until his death in 1888.
He left the kingdom to Matilda
who enjoyed the honor only few
months when Stephen Count of Bloii
grandson Of William the Conqueror
usurped the throne. He ruled for
twenty-nine years and was a yer,
good king, considering the times il
, which he lived. la 1854. with hi,
death the Norman line of kings ended
and the Plantagenets became the ru.
ling house.
Henry Plantagenet, son Of Gooff
cry and Matilda, quietly succeede,
stephen. Although he had man
faults he was in most respects a goo,
ruler and beloved by his subjects
His wife was Elenor, Of Aquitaine.
He married his eldest son Henry t
the Princess Margaret OF France.
Henry died in lls9, having rule,
:. thirty-fve years. His eldest Twin
= son, Richard Cour de Leon. now b,
:: came king. He was strong an,
e restless man and liked nothing bet
!, tel than fighting. He married
French lady, Berengaria. He wa
always a fearless soldier and was xii
e ed in a battle at Limoges in ll9!
The next ruler was his brother John
:; He possessed great genius ia war an
had all the cleyerness, good humor
II and social charm which distinguishe
his house. But he was cruel, meat
unjust and cowardly, which last fauI
the English people could never for
t give. He died in 1916.
He wa, succeeded by his son job
E. Ill. who ruled for ffty-six year,
He was feeble minded aud unin
& portant monarch. Hi, brother Ricl
ard wa, king of the Roman, at tn
e. time. In 1872 Henry died and h
son Edward l. was pronounced kin.
, His sister Margaret was the wife
Alexander Ill. of Scotland and /
himself was married to Eleanore.
II CASTLE. He wa strong and eneI
getic, and had skill both in militar
affairs and civil government Ii
died in 1907, after a reign of thirt,