english kings

[SEELRETEP]

has there ever been a welsh man as king of england?

[BabsG]

Henry VII was born in Wales and had a Welsh father Edmund Tudor who was the founder of the Tudor dynasty.

[jake-the-peg]

Henry Tudor (Henry VII)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_Engl and

Born in Wales, Grandson of Owen Tudor who was Welsh.

Does that count?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_Engl and

[heathfield]

Richard Burton. ;-)

[jno]

the Tudors were originally Welsh; the Stuarts were originally Scots. The current lot were German.

[garybfsl]

Lets not forget Henry V, born in Monmouth.

[kempie]

...but at that time (1387) was Monmouth (-shire) in England or Wales - or neither?

Immediately following the Norman Conquest of England castles were built along the Anglo-Welsh border to fend of the 'barbarian' Celts. For several centuries this region of Marches - 'Welsh' land manned by English soldiers - was ruled by Marcher Lords who had nearly all of the rights that belonged to the King in other parts of the Kingdom.

Although technically in the control of England from 1067, it was not until Henry VIII's Acts Of Union, in the 16th century, that the Marches were declared separate counties and part of England.

To all intents and purposes, Monmouthshire only became Welsh when it came under the remit of The Welsh Office upon its creation in 1964.

[Stu in USA]

Actually Richard Burton has played a King twice, firstly when he played the title role in Alexander the Great and then another king in 'Lovespell". So heathfield knows his Richard Burton, who of course was also heathfield!!!

[Stu in USA]

But then neither were King of England, that'll teach me - read the question more carefully!!!

[Cheeris]

We should also put foward for consideration Edward II, who was born in Caernarfon.

He was also the first Prince of Wales, in it's modern sense. According to the legend, his father Edward I quelled a Welsh rebellion by promising the Welsh barons that he would appoint a new Prince of Wales as their overlord, 'a prince born in Wales, who did not speak a word of English'.

The Welsh were a bit miffed when they realised he was talking about his own infant son....

It's probably not true, as Edward of Caernarfon was 17 when he was made PoW, but sounds like a nice story IMO.

[Cheeris]

btw Kempie, didn't Henry VIII's Laws in Wales Acts (or 'Act of Union') formally establish Monmouthshire as one of the 13 counties of Wales (Monmouthshire then roughly corresponding to modern Gwent)? Wales then becoming part of the Kingdom of England?

[kempie]

Cheeris - the Laws in Wales Act 1537 treated the new county of Monmouthshire in a different manner to the other four creations - Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and Denbighshire were each required to elect one Knight to Parliament in common with all other Shires "within the said Country of Dominion of Wales" whereas Monmouthshire required two Knights, as required by "all other Shires of this Realm of England".

http://owain.vaughan.com/1535c26/#section28

Also the Laws in Wales Act 1542 specifically enumerates the Welsh counties as twelve in number, excluding Monmouthshire from the count.

http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?acti veTextDocId=1518015&versionNumber=1

[Cheeris]

Egad! What a comprehensive answer! I have to give it you Kempie, you know your onions. Very informative, thanks!