King Edwards - Not the potato variety!!

[Sonyme]

Before the Norman conquest (1066) when England was ruled by the Danes and Saxons there were three kings of England named Edward:-
Edward the Elder
Edward the Martyr
Edward the Confessor

A little over 200 years later another Edward (Longshanks) is King of England and in time becomes Edward the first.

Why was he not Edward the fourth?

[Buenchico]

Regnal numbers were not used in England prior to their introduction by the House of Normandy in 1066.

Prior to the adoption of the French system of differentiating between monarchs, the custom in England was to use adjectival names, 'e.g. 'the Elder' or 'the Magnificent').

Chris

[Sonyme]

Thankyou for that, It was a question one of my grandsons asked me so perhaps I can restore his faith in me,

But wasn't Harold (1066) Harold 11?

[Buenchico]

Harold Godwinson (who suffered the arrow in his eye) was indeed the second Harold (after Harold Harefoot) but it's unlikely that he was ever referred to as 'Harold II' until after the arrival of the Normans.

If you REALLY want to impress your grandson, start brushing up on your history here ;-)
http://en.wikipedia.o...t_of_English_monarchs

Chris

[Sonyme]

Many thanks I will have to go back to school !
My grandson comes up with many queries and I am usually able to answer but from time to time I have to pass.