Chapter XV: From the Founding of the German Empire to the Close of the European (4)

In 1874 Gladstone resigned, and the Conservatives were returned to power, having for the first time since 1841 a real majority in the House of Commons. The ministry formed by Disraeli was a brilliant one, and the Opposition was for a time weakened by the withdrawal into private life of Gladstone. The great question of Home Rule was gradually forcing itself to the front, and the Irish tactics in the House became obstructive. It was at this time that Disraeli put forward his imperial policy, and the ministry is chiefly noticeable for its attitude on foreign and imperial affairs.

From 1879 to the present time Irish agitation has been for Great Britain a source of serious disquiet. In 1882 Mr. Gladstone adopted a policy of conciliation, but the murder of Lord Frederick Cavendish and of Mr. Burke caused its abandonment and the immediate passing of a coercion law which virtually placed Ireland under martial law. In 1882 the Egyptian army, under the leadership of Arabi Bey, having revolted from the khedive’s authority, Great Britain sent a large naval expedition to Egypt, bombarded Alexandria, and defeated the rebellious forces. Since that date the Egyptian government has been under British suzerainty, and in 1896, a British expedition was sent up the Nile with the purpose of regaining the provinces of Egypt held by the mahdist forces.

Within the past quarter of a century Great Britain has largely extended its territory in Africa, bringing great areas in the south and east of the continent under its protection. During the same interval several subjects of dispute have arisen with the United States, which have all been peacefully settled. An imposing festival took place in London in June, 1897, on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession, in which all sections of the empire took part.

=Boer War.=--October 11, 1899, war was declared by the Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State, the aim being the destruction of the British paramountcy in South Africa. This led to the annexation of those states by the British, after a fierce contest, in 1900. In 1900, a new parliament was elected, which again supported the Conservative ministry, with a slightly increased majority.

=House of Saxe-Coburg.=--Victoria died January 22, 1901, and was succeeded by her eldest son, Edward VII., who proved himself to be an active promoter of peaceful relations with other countries.

The Boer war was concluded in the middle of 1902 by the treaty of Vereeniging, and almost immediately afterward Lord Salisbury retired from office, being succeeded in the premiership by his nephew, Mr. A. J. Balfour. The education act of 1902 did away with school boards where they existed, bringing the voluntary and former board schools alike under education committees in England and Wales, and the same change was made in London in 1903. The Irish land act of 1903 was a measure of the first importance, its object, being to transfer practically all the agricultural land of Ireland to farmers or peasant proprietors. In the autumn of 1903 Mr. Chamberlain resigned office in order to be free to advocate a change in the country’s fiscal policy, intended to unite the colonies more closely with the mother country--a change which many have regarded as meaning a return to protection.

In 1905 the Liberal party returned to power under the leadership of Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, who was succeeded after his death in 1908 by H. H. Asquith.

On May 5, 1910, the illness of King Edward was announced, followed by that of his death the next day. His son, George V., succeeded to the throne May 6, 1910.

A lengthy battle had begun to be waged against the hereditary prerogatives of the House of Lords, to which the death of the king caused a temporary cessation, but, in August, 1911, the Upper House was finally shorn of its permanent veto. In September, 1910, the fisheries dispute with the United States, which had remained unsettled for more than a hundred years, was decided at the Hague.

Early in 1913 the Irish home rule question became the dominant issue and a bill favoring it was passed by the House of Commons by a large majority, only to be overwhelmingly rejected in the House of Lords. In February, 1914, King George urged mutual concessions in the controversy, and in the same year the Home Rule bill became a law without the approval of the Lords, but practically non-operative. Today (1917) home rule for Ireland is still the great unsolved problem of British domestic policy.

The year 1914 also marked the entrance of Great Britain into the great European war that has since engulfed practically the whole of Europe and one-third of the civilized world. England’s history since has been almost wholly bound up with the diplomatic, economic, and military aspects of that titanic struggle, the real facts of which it will require more than a generation of dispassionate minds to verify, sift and assess at their true values. An attempt is made to give the leading features of this war, and the parts played in it by the various nations involved, under a separate heading.

IMPORTANT FACTS CONCERNING THE BRITISH EMPIRE

This title is usually given to the total territory governed or
administered in the name of the British government centralized in
London. It includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the self-governing Dominions, Dependencies, Crown colonies and
Protectorates whose inhabitants look to the king as their ultimate
head. Of the whole area of the lands of the globe, the British
Empire occupies nearly one-quarter, extending to every continent.

=THE UNITED KINGDOM=
+--------------+----------+-----------+----------------+----------------+
|COUNTRIES | AREA IN | POPU- | HOW AND WHEN | CHARACTER OF |
| | SQUARE | LATION, | ACQUIRED | GOVERNMENT |
| | MILES | 1911 | BY ENGLAND | |
+--------------+----------+-----------+----------------+----------------+
|=EUROPE:= | | | | |
| England | 50,839| 34,043,076|... |}Constitutional |
| Wales | 7,470| 2,032,183|Conquest, 1282 |}Monarchy. Con- |
| Scotland | 29,785| 4,759,445|Union, 1603 |}stitute the |
| Ireland | 32,583| 4,381,951|Conquest, 1172 |}United Kingdom |
| Islands | 302| 148,934|... |}of Great |
| | | | |}Britain and |
| | | | |}Ireland. |
| =DEPENDENCIES AND COLONIES= |
|=EUROPE:= | | | | |
| Gibraltar | 2| 23,553|Conquest, 1704 |Military Gover- |
| | | | |nor. |
| Malta, etc. | 122| 215,879|Treaty cession, |Governor; Coun- |
| | | |1814 |cils. |
| | | | | |
|=ASIA:= | | | | |
| India (in- | 1,800,258|314,955,000|{Conquest, begun|{Viceroy; Coun- |
| cluding | | |{1757 |{cil; Depart- |
| Burma) | | |{Transfer from |{ments. Native |
| | | |{East India Co.,|{rulers under |
| | | |{1858 |{Political |
| | | | |{Supervision. |
| | | | | |
| Ceylon | 25,365| 4,038,456|Treaty cession, |} |
| | | |1801 |} |
| | | | |} |
| | | | |} |
| Cyprus | 3,584| 261,587|Convention with |} |
| | | |Turkey, 1878 |}Governor; |
| Aden and | 3,070| 53,222|(Aden) Conquest,|}Executive |
| Socotra | | |1839 |}and |
| Straits | 1,500| 620,127|Treaty cession, |}Legislative |
| Settlements | | |1785-1824 |}Councils. |
| Hongkong | 30.5| 428,888|Treaty cession, |} |
| | | |1841 |} |
| Labuan | 31| 8,411|Treaty cession, |} |
| | | |1846 |} |
| | | | | |
| British | 31,000| 204,000|Cession to com- |{Governor (Brit-|
| North Borneo| | |pany, 1877 |{ish North Bor- |
| | | | |{neo Company). |
| | | | | |
|=AFRICA:= |} | |{ |{The Union of |
| Union of |} | |{ |{South Africa-- |
| South Africa|} | |{ |{Governor- |
| (including |} | |{Treaty, con- |{General; |
| Cape of Good|} | |{quest, and |{Executive |
| Hope, Natal,|} 473,184| 5,938,499|{cession, |{Council; |
| The Trans- |} | |{1588-1900 |{Senate; |
| vaal, and |} | |{ |{House |
| Orange River|} | |{ |{of |
| Colony) |} | |{ |{Assembly. |
| | | | | |
| St. Helena | 47| 3,553|Conquest, 1673 |}Governor and |
| | | | |}Executive |
| | | | |}Council. |
| | | | | |
| Ascension | 38| 266|Annexation, 1815|Under the |
| | | | |Admiralty. |
| | | | | |
| Mauritius, | 1,063| 373,336|{Conquest and |{Governor; Exec-|
| etc. | | |{cession, 1810, |{utive and Leg- |
| | | |{1814 |{islative Coun- |
| | | | |{cils. |
| | | | | |
| British East|} | |{ |} |
| Africa (in- |} | |{ |} |
| cluding the |} | |{ |} |
| Protectorate|} | |{ |}Governor, Exec-|
| of Nyasa- |} | |{Conquest and |}utive and Leg- |
| land, East |} 420,466| 8,728,276|{cession, |}islative Coun- |
| Africa, |} | |{1870-1890 |}cils. |
| Uganda, |} | |{ |} |
| Zanzibar and|} | |{ |} |
| Somaliland) |} | |{ |} |
| | | | | |
| British West|{ | |} |{ |
| Africa (in- |{ | |} |{ |
| cluding |{ | |} |{ |
| Gambia, Gold|{ | |} |{ |
| Coast Colo- |{ | |}{Conquest, |{Governor; Exec-|
| ny, Northern|{ 495,490| 17,442,772|}annexation, |{utive and Leg- |
| Nigeria, |{ | |}cession, |{islative Coun- |
| Southern |{ | |}1673-1872 |{cils. |
| Nigeria, and|{ | |} |{ |
| Sierra |{ | |} |{ |
| Leone) |{ | |} |{ |
| | | | | |
|=AMERICA:= | | | | |
|Dominion of | 3,745,574| ...|{Conquest and |} |
|Canada | | |{settlement, |} |
| | | |{1670-1858 |} |
| Ontario | 260,862| 2,519,902|Conquest, 1759- |} |
| | | |1760 |} |
| Quebec | 347,350| 2,000,697|Conquest, 1759- |} |
| | | |1760 |} |
| New Bruns- | 27,985| 351,815|Treaty cession, |} |
| wick | | |1763 |} |
| Nova Scotia | 21,428| 461,847|Conquest, 1627 |} |
| Manitoba | 73,732| 454,691|Settlement, 1813|} |
| British | 312,363| 362,768|Transfer to |}Governor |
| Columbia | | |crown, 1858 |}General; |
| Alberta | 253,540| 372,919|Settlement |}Parliament. |
| Saskatchewan|} | | |} |
| (including |} | | |} |
| Mackenzie, |} 250,650| 453,508|Settlement |} |
| Ungava, and |} | | |} |
| Franklin) |} | | |} |
| Northwest |{1,418,000| 19,330|Charter, 1670 |} |
| Territories |{ | | |} |
| Yukon |} 196,976| 7,000|Charter, 1670 |} |
| Territory |} | | |} |
| Prince Ed- |} 2,184| 93,722|Conquest, 1745 |} |
| ward Island |} | | |} |
| | | | | |
| Newfoundland|{ 42,734|} |Treaty cession, |{Governor; |
| (and Labra- |{ 120,000|} 230,000|1713 |{Parliament. |
| dor) |{ |} | |{ |
| | | | | |
|British Guiana| 104,000| 305,090|{Conquest and |} |
| | | |cession, 1803- |} |
| | | |1814 |} |
|British | 8,598| 44,000|Conquest, 1798 |} |
|Honduras | | | |}Governor; Exec-|
|Jamaica | 4,207| 831,123|Conquest, 1655 |}utive and Leg- |
|Trinidad and | 1,868| 358,641|... |}islative Coun- |
|Tobago | | | |}cils. |
|Barbadoes | 166| 196,287|Settlement, 1605|} |
|Bahamas | 5,794| 55,872|Settlement, 1629|} |
|Bermuda | 19| 19,289|Settlement, 1612|} |
|Other Islands | 8,742| 255,000|... |} |
| | | | | |
|=AUSTRALASIA:=| | | | |
| | | | |{Separate State |
| | | | |{Legislatures |
|Commonwealth | | | |{and Governments|
|of Australia | | | |{(Governors); |
|(including | | | |{Federal Parlia-|
|Australia, | 3,091,496| 5,140,393|Settlement |{ment and |
|Tasmania, and | | | |{Government; |
|Papua) | | | |{Governor- |
| | | | |{General and |
| | | | |{Executive |
| | | | |{Council. |
| | | | | |
|Dominion of | 104,471| 982,926|Purchase, 1845 |}Governor and |
|New Zealand | | | |}Houses of |
| | | | |}Parliament. |
| | | | | |
|Fiji | 7,435| 128,404|Cession from the|{Governor and |
| | | |natives, 1874 |{Legislative |
| | | | |Council. |
+--------------+----------+-----------+----------------+----------------+

TABLE OF THE SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND

+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| NAMES AND LINEAGE |Began|Years|L’gth| DEATH | CHARACTER |
| OF SOVEREIGNS | to | of | of | | |
| |Reign| Age |Reign| | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| ANGLO-SAXON KINGS |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EGBERT (775?-837)-- | 801| ...| 37|Natural |Possessed all the|
|Son of Alcmund, de- | | | |causes. |qualities re- |
|scended from Inigi- | | | | |quired in a |
|sil, brother to Ina, | | | | |warrior. |
|king of West Saxons. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|ETHELWOLF (---- -358)| 838| ...| 20|Natural |Pious, wise, val-|
|--Son of Egbert. | | | |causes. |iant and clement.|
| | | | | |A lover of peace,|
| | | | | |and zealous for |
| | | | | |religion. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|ETHELBALD--Son of | 858| ...| 2|Natural |Neither pious nor|
|Ethelwolf. | | | |causes. |valiant. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|ETHELBERT--Son of | 860| ...| 6|Natural |Sweet-tempered, |
|Ethelwolf. | | | |causes. |wise, pious and |
| | | | | |valiant. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|ETHELRED I. (871).-- | 866| ...| 6|Killed in the|Pious, valiant, |
|Brother to Ethelbert.| | | |battle of |prudent, and |
| | | | |Wittingham. |just. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|ALFRED THE GREAT | 872| 22| 28|By a contrac-|A great sover- |
|(849-901).--Brother | | | |tion of the |eign, warrior, |
|to Ethelred, and son | | | |nerves. |legislator, poli-|
|of Ethelwolf. | | | | |tician and |
| | | | | |scholar. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD THE ELDER | 900| 17| 25|Natural |Equal to his |
|(870?-924).--Second | | | |causes. |father--his love |
|son of Alfred the | | | | |for learning and |
|Great. | | | | |lenity excepted. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|ATHELSTAN (895?-941).| 925| 20| 16|Natural |Possessed uncom- |
|--Natural son of | | | |causes. |mon virtues; |
|Edward the Elder. | | | | |wise, valiant, |
| | | | | |and just. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDMUND THE PIOUS | 941| 25| 7|Assassinated |Pious, valiant |
|(923-946).--Eldest | | | |by Leolf, |and just, and |
|legitimate son of | | | |while feast- |much respected by|
|Edward the Elder. | | | |ing at |his people. |
| | | | |Puckle-kirk. | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDRED (---- -955?).--| 948| 29| 7|Natural |Pious and val- |
|Second legitimate son| | | |causes. |iant, but too ob-|
|of Edward the Elder. | | | | |sequious to his |
| | | | | |council. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWY (939?-959).-- | 955| 17| 4|Died of grief|Hated the monks, |
|Eldest son of Edmund | | | |on brother |and persecuted |
|the Pious. | | | |being set up |them, which |
| | | | |in his stead.|caused a rebel- |
| | | | | |lion. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDGAR (943?-975).-- | 959| 13| 16|Natural |Pacific, active, |
|Brother to Edwy. | | | |causes. |wise, and indus- |
| | | | | |trious. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD THE MARTYR | 975| 15| 3|Assassinated |Amiable and |
|(961?-978).--Eldest | | | |by order of |sweet-tempered. |
|son of Edgar. | | | |his step- | |
| | | | |mother | |
| | | | |Elfrida. | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|ETHELRED II. | 979| 12| 37|Natural |Cowardly, indo- |
|(_Sweyn_) (---- | | | |causes. |lent, and avari- |
|-1016).--Brother to | | | | |cious. |
|Edward the Martyr, | | | | | |
|and son of the beau- | | | | | |
|tiful Elfrida. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDMUND, IRONSIDE | 1016| 26| 1|Assassinated |Valiant and |
|(989-1017).--Eldest | | | |by order of |prudent. |
|son of Ethelred II. | | | |Edric. | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| DANISH KINGS |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|CANUTE I. (995-1035).| 1017| ...| 19|Natural |A great king; |
|--Son of Sweyn, King | | | |causes. |humble, just, and|
|of Denmark. | | | | |truly religious. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HAROLD I. (1040- | 1036| 30| 3|Occasioned by|Impious, unjust, |
|----)--Second son of | | | |intemperance.|dissolute and |
|Canute I., by Queen | | | | |mean. |
|Alfwen. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|CANUTE II. (1019- | 1039| 29| 2|By excessive |To the vices of |
|1042).--Third son of | | | |eating. |Harold I., he |
|Canute I., by Emma of| | | | |added that of |
|Normandy. | | | | |cruelty. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| SAXON KINGS |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD THE CONFESSOR | 1041| 40| 24|Natural |Honored as a |
|(1004-1066).--Son of | | | |causes. |great saint; of a|
|Edmund Ironside. | | | | |mild and peaceful|
| | | | | |temper; was |
| | | | | |charitable, but |
| | | | | |had no great |
| | | | | |genius. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HAROLD II. (1022- | 1065| ...| 1|Killed in the|A valiant |
|1066).--Son of Earl | | | |battle of |warrior. |
|Godwin, by the eldest| | | |Hastings. | |
|daughter of Canute I.| | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| NORMAN KINGS |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR| 1066| 40| 21|Death occa- |Possessed great |
|(1027-1087).--Son of | | | |sioned by |bodily strength, |
|Robert, Duke of Nor- | | | |heat at the |a great soul and |
|mandy, by his mis- | | | |burning of |an elevated mind,|
|tress Harlotte. | | | |Mantes. |and a prodigious |
| | | | | |genius; and |
| | | | | |governed the En- |
| | | | | |glish with a |
| | | | | |heavy hand. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|WILLIAM RUFUS (1056- | 1087| 31| 13|Accidentally |Courageous and |
|1100).--Second son of| | | |shot by Sir |vicious to a high|
|William the Con- | | | |Walter |degree. |
|queror. | | | |Tyrrell, in | |
| | | | |New Forest. | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HENRY I. (1068-1135).| 1100| 32| 35|Death occa- |Handsome, brave, |
|--Brother of William | | | |sioned by |sober, cruel, |
|Rufus. | | | |eating too |avaricious, and |
| | | | |many |unclean. |
| | | | |lampreys. | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|STEPHEN (1105-1154). | 1135| 31| 19|Natural |In person majes- |
|--Son of Stephen, | | | |causes. |tic; his air |
|Earl of Blois, and | | | | |placid and in- |
|Adela, daughter of | | | | |sinuating. Pos- |
|William the Con- | | | | |sessed great |
|queror. | | | | |courage, an ele- |
| | | | | |vated genius, and|
| | | | | |sound judgment. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| PLANTAGENETS |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HENRY II. (1133- | 1154| 21| 35| Natural, be-|Brave, generous, |
|1189).--Eldest son of| | | |fore the High|magnificent, |
|Geoffrey, Earl of | | | |Altar at |clement, just, |
|Anjou, and of the Em-| | | |Chinon. |prudent, ambi- |
|press Maud. Heir to | | | | |tious, lustful, |
|Henry I. | | | | |and violent in |
| | | | | |anger. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|RICHARD I. (1157- | 1189| 33| 10|Killed by a |Brave to a high |
|1199).--Second son of| | | |cross-bowman,|degree; but pos- |
|Henry II. | | | |at the siege |sessed no other |
| | | | |of Chalus. |virtue. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|KING JOHN (1166- | 1199| 33| 17|Died of grief|Witty, hot-headed|
|1216).--Brother to | | | |for having |and hasty. After |
|Richard I. | | | |lost his rich|his first trans- |
| | | | |baggage. |ports, soft, in- |
| | | | | |dolent, fearful |
| | | | | |and wavering. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HENRY III. (1207- | 1216| 9| 56|Natural |Inconstant, ca- |
|1272).--King John’s | | | |causes. |pricious and pro-|
|eldest son. | | | | |digal of his |
| | | | | |money; continent |
| | | | | |and averse to |
| | | | | |cruelty. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD I. (1239- | 1272| 33| 35|Natural |A good king and |
|1307).--Eldest son of| | | |causes. |father, a formi- |
|Henry III. | | | | |dable enemy, and |
| | | | | |a great captain; |
| | | | | |chaste, just, |
| | | | | |prudent and mode-|
| | | | | |rate. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD II. (1284- | 1307| 23| 20|Murdered by |Handsome shaped, |
|1327).--Eldest son of| | | |Gourney and |but had neither |
|Edward I. | | | |Maltravers at|the capacity of |
| | | | |Berkley |warrior, states- |
| | | | |Castle. |man, or man of |
| | | | | |genius. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD III. (1312- | 1327| 14| 50|Died of the |An excellent |
|1377).--Son of Edward| | | |St. Anthony’s|prince; gentle, |
|II. | | | |fire at |beneficent, and |
| | | | |Sheen. |valiant. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|RICHARD II. (1366- | 1377| 11| 22|Murdered by |Handsomest mon- |
|1400).--Son of Edward| | | |Exton, at |arch in the |
|the Black Prince, and| | | |Pontefract |world. Kind, mag-|
|grandson of Edward | | | |Castle, by |nificent, soft, |
|III. | | | |order of |timid, of little |
| | | | |Henry IV. |genius, and a |
| | | | | |slave to his |
| | | | | |favorites. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| HOUSE OF LANCASTER |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HENRY IV. (1366?- | 1399| 32| 14|Died of a |Courageous, pru- |
|1413).--Son of John | | | |dropsy. |dent, vigilant, |
|of Gaunt, and grand- | | | | |and extremely |
|son of Edward III. | | | | |jealous of his |
| | | | | |throne, which he |
| | | | | |obtained by un- |
| | | | | |warrantable |
| | | | | |means. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HENRY V. (1388-1422).| 1413| 24| 9|Natural |A good soldier |
|--Eldest son of Henry| | | |causes. |and politician; |
|IV. | | | | |had an elevated |
| | | | | |genius; was ex- |
| | | | | |tremely ambi- |
| | | | | |tious, and in- |
| | | | | |clined to cruel- |
| | | | | |ty. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HENRY VI. (1421- | 1422| 9 m.| 39|Dethroned. |Just, chaste, |
|1471).--Son of Henry | | | |Afterwards |temperate, pious |
|V. | | | |killed, by |and patient; but |
| | | | |order of Ed- |had a weak mind. |
| | | | |ward IV. | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| HOUSE OF YORK |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD IV. (1441- | 1461| 19| 22|Death occa- |One of the hand- |
|1483).--Son of | | | |sioned by ex-|somest men in |
|Richard, Duke of | | | |cessive |England, but |
|York; descendant of | | | |eating. |after crowned was|
|Edward III. | | | | |a voluptuary. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD V. (1470- | 1483| 12| 2 m.|Smothered by |... |
|1483).--Eldest son of| | | |order of | |
|Edward IV. | | | |Richard, Duke| |
| | | | |of Glouces- | |
| | | | |ter. | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|RICHARD III. (1452- | 1483| 30| 2|Killed in the|Small, ugly and |
|1485).--Brother to | | | |battle of |crooked backed; |
|Edward IV. | | | |Bosworth |dissembling and |
| | | | |Field. |cruel, yet saga- |
| | | | | |cious and brave. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| HOUSE OF TUDOR |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HENRY VII. (1457- | 1485| 28| 24|By consump- |A wise and able |
|1509).--Son of | | | |tion. |prince; pious, |
|Margaret, Countess of| | | | |chaste, temperate|
|Richmond; descendant | | | | |and just; but in-|
|of John of Gaunt. | | | | |satiably covet- |
| | | | | |ous. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|HENRY VIII. (1491- | 1509| 18| 38|Natural |Comely, but very |
|1547).--Second son of| | | |causes. |corpulent; brave,|
|Henry VII. | | | | |candid and liber-|
| | | | | |al; versed in |
| | | | | |music, philoso- |
| | | | | |phy, and divini- |
| | | | | |ty; yet was cruel|
| | | | | |and presumptuous.|
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD VI. (1537- | 1547| 9| 6|Of a consump-|Sweet tempered, |
|1553).--Son of Henry | | | |tion. |and had a great |
|VIII., by Jane | | | | |genius. |
|Seymour. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|QUEEN MARY (1516- | 1553| 38| 5|Of a dropsy. |Small capacity, |
|1558).--Daughter of | | | | |bigoted, revenge-|
|Henry VIII., by | | | | |ful and cruel. |
|Catharine of Aragon. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|QUEEN ELIZABETH | 1558| 25| 45|Natural |Tolerably hand- |
|(1533-1603).-- | | | |causes. |some; had a noble|
|Daughter of Henry | | | | |air, and great |
|VIII., by Anne | | | | |affability; cele-|
|Boleyn. | | | | |brated for her |
| | | | | |wit, judgment, |
| | | | | |economy, policy, |
| | | | | |sincerity, jus- |
| | | | | |tice, liberality,|
| | | | | |and magnificence.|
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| HOUSE OF STUART |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|JAMES I. (1566-1625).| 1603| 37| 22|Of an ague. |Learned and pa- |
|--Son of Mary, Queen | | | | |cific, but |
|of Scots, and Henry | | | | |wavering and un- |
|Stuart, Lord Darnley;| | | | |determined. |
|and great-grandson of| | | | | |
|Margaret, daughter of| | | | | |
|Henry VII. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|CHARLES I. (1600- | 1625| 25| 24|Beheaded near|Religious, sober,|
|1649).--Third son of | | | |the windows |chaste, affable |
|James I. | | | |of the |and courageous; |
| | | | |banqueting |had great pene- |
| | | | |house, White-|tration and judg-|
| | | | |hall. |ment, but too |
| | | | | |fond of preroga- |
| | | | | |tive. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|COMMONWEALTH declared| 1649| ...| 11|... |... |
|May 19. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| HOUSE OF STUART |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|CHARLES II. (1630- | 1660| 29| 25|Supposed to |Extremely liberal|
|1685).--Eldest son of| | | |have been |and affable; had |
|Charles I. | | | |poisoned. |a sprightly and |
| | | | | |witty genius, and|
| | | | | |a wonderful con- |
| | | | | |ception. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|JAMES II. (1633- | 1685| 52| 3|Natural, |A kind father, |
|1701).--Brother to | | | |having abdi- |husband and |
|Charles II. | | | |cated the |master; more |
| | | | |throne. |pious than reso- |
| | | | | |lute, and too |
| | | | | |submissive to his|
| | | | | |ministers. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|WILLIAM (1650-1702) | 1688|W. 37|W. 14|Mary died of |Mary, pious and |
|and MARY (1662-1694).| |M. 26|M. 6|the smallpox;|amiable; had an |
|--William, Prince of | | | |William, by a|air of grandeur, |
|Orange, (Holland). | | | |fall from his|without pride or |
|Mary, eldest daughter| | | |horse. |affectation. |
|of James II., by Anne| | | | |William, not |
|Hyde. | | | | |comely in person,|
| | | | | |had a great |
| | | | | |genius, was a |
| | | | | |good statesman |
| | | | | |and warrior. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|QUEEN ANNE (1685- | 1702| 37| 12|Natural |In private life, |
|1714).--Second | | | |causes. |virtuous, chari- |
|daughter of King | | | | |table and pious; |
|James II., and con- | | | | |as a sovereign, |
|sort of George, | | | | |easy, kind and |
|Prince of Denmark. | | | | |generous. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| HOUSE OF HANOVER |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|GEORGE I. (1660- | 1714| 54| 13|Died of a |Unostentatious |
|1727).--Eldest son of| | | |lethargic |and familiar; a |
|Ernest Augustus, Duke| | | |disorder, at |circumspect gen- |
|of Brunswick, and | | | |Osnaburg. |eral; a wise and |
|Princess Sophia, | | | | |virtuous prince. |
|daughter of Frederick| | | | | |
|V., of Bohemia. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|GEORGE II. (1683- | 1727| 44| 34|Died instant-|Well-shaped, fair|
|1760).--Only son of | | | |ly, by a sud-|complexion; |
|George I., by | | | |den rupture |hasty, of moder- |
|Dorothy, daughter and| | | |of the heart,|ate abilities, |
|heiress of the Duke | | | |while in good|humane, liberal, |
|of Zell. | | | |health. |temperate, and a |
| | | | | |scientific |
| | | | | |warrior. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|GEORGE III. (1738- | 1760| 22| 59|By the gradu-|His figure |
|1820).--Eldest son of| | | |al exhaustion|uniting strength |
|Frederick and | | | |of nature, |and comeliness; |
|Augusta, Prince and | | | |having been |his manners un- |
|Princess of Wales, | | | |in state of |assuming and |
|and grandson of | | | |continual |liberal; hair |
|George II. | | | |mental de- |light flaxen, |
| | | | |rangement for|eyes grey, eye- |
| | | | |nine years. |brows white, of |
| | | | | |moderate genius, |
| | | | | |and very pious. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|GEORGE IV. (1762- | 1820| 58| 9|... |... |
|1830).--Eldest son of| | | | | |
|George III., by his | | | | | |
|consort, Charlotte of| | | | | |
|Mecklenburg. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|WILLIAM IV. (1765- | 1830| 65| 7|Natural |A man of homely |
|1837).--Third son of | | | |causes. |talents, immoral,|
|George III. | | | | |tactless, but |
| | | | | |good hearted. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|QUEEN VICTORIA (1819-| 1837| 18| 64|Natural |A sagacious |
|1901).--Daughter of | | | |causes. |ruler, jealous of|
|Edward, fourth son of| | | | |her royal pre- |
|George III., and | | | | |rogative, persis-|
|Victoria Maria | | | | |tent, self- |
|Louisa, daughter of | | | | |devoted, but |
|Francis, duke of | | | | |greatly beloved. |
|Saxe-Coburg. | | | | | |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
| HOUSE OF SAXE-COBURG |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|EDWARD VII. (1841- | 1901| 60| 9|Natural |Lacked political |
|1910).--Son of | | | |causes. |training, but |
|Victoria and Prince | | | | |cultivated the |
|Albert of Saxe-Coburg| | | | |arts of peace. |
|and Gotha. | | | | |Popular, but |
| | | | | |lacking in moral |
| | | | | |force. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+
|GEORGE V. (1865- | 1910| 45| ...|... |Without political|
|----).--Son of Edward| | | | |training; like |
|VII. and Queen | | | | |his father, his |
|Alexandra, daughter | | | | |foreign policy |
|of Christian IX. of | | | | |almost wholly in |
|Denmark. | | | | |the hands of a |
| | | | | |powerful minis- |
| | | | | |try. Personally a|
| | | | | |notable sportsman|
| | | | | |and popular. |
+---------------------+-----+-----+-----+-------------+-----------------+

+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| NAMES AND LINEAGE | PRINCIPAL | CHIEF | EVENTS OF |
| OF SOVEREIGNS | STATESMEN | WARRIORS | REIGN |
| | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| ANGLO-SAXON KINGS |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EGBERT (775?-837)-- |... |The king.-- |The kingdoms of |
|Son of Alcmund, de- | |Ethelwolf.-- |the Heptarchy |
|scended from Inigi- | |Kenneth. |united, and take |
|sil, brother to Ina, | | |the name of En- |
|king of West Saxons. | | |gland. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|ETHELWOLF (---- -358)|Athelstan. |Wolfhere.-- |Tithes instituted;|
|--Son of Egbert. | |Ethelhelm.-- |London plundered |
| | |Ceorle. |by the Danes; En- |
| | | |gland becomes |
| | | |tributary to the |
| | | |Holy See. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|ETHELBALD--Son of |Swithun, Bishop |Osric. |Scots defeated by |
|Ethelwolf. |of Winchester. | |the Britons. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|ETHELBERT--Son of |... |The king. |Winchester burnt |
|Ethelwolf. | | |by the Danes. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|ETHELRED I. (871).-- |... |Young Alfred. |Battles of Aston |
|Brother to Ethelbert.| | |and Basing--York |
| | | |taken. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|ALFRED THE GREAT |... |The king.-- |University of Ox- |
|(849-901).--Brother | |Oddune, earl of|ford founded. |
|to Ethelred, and son | |Devonshire. |Juries instituted.|
|of Ethelwolf. | | |England divided |
| | | |into shires, |
| | | |tithings and |
| | | |and hundreds. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD THE ELDER |... |The king. |Northumberland and|
|(870?-924).--Second | | |East Anglia united|
|son of Alfred the | | |to the crown. Uni-|
|Great. | | |versity of Cam- |
| | | |bridge founded. |
| | | |Battles of Tems- |
| | | |ford and Malden. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|ATHELSTAN (895?-941).|Turketul, Chan- |Guy of Warwick.|Constantine III. |
|--Natural son of |cellor. | |of Scotland and |
|Edward the Elder. | | |six Irish and |
| | | |Welsh kings killed|
| | | |at battle of |
| | | |Brunanburh. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDMUND THE PIOUS |... |The king. |Cumberland and |
|(923-946).--Eldest | | |Westmoreland given|
|legitimate son of | | |up to Malcolm, |
|Edward the Elder. | | |king of Scotland. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDRED (---- -955?).--|Aldheim, Arch- |The king. |Northumbrian Danes|
|Second legitimate son|bishop of | |reduced. |
|of Edward the Elder. |Canterbury. | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWY (939?-959).-- |Odo, Archbishop |Prince Edgar. |Rebellion of the |
|Eldest son of Edmund |of Canterbury. | |Mercians. |
|the Pious. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDGAR (943?-975).-- |Ethelwold. |... |King of Wales, |
|Brother to Edwy. | | |Ireland and the |
| | | |Isle of Man, |
| | | |recognize Edgar |
| | | |for their sover- |
| | | |eign. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD THE MARTYR |Dustan. |... |... |
|(961?-978).--Eldest | | | |
|son of Edgar. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|ETHELRED II. |Siricius, Arch- |Prince Edmund. |Arabic figures in-|
|(_Sweyn_) (---- |bishop of |Alfric. |troduced. Sweyn, |
|-1016).--Brother to |Canterbury. | |king of Denmark, |
|Edward the Martyr, | | |conquers England. |
|and son of the beau- | | | |
|tiful Elfrida. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDMUND, IRONSIDE |Edric, Earl of |... |Massacre of the |
|(989-1017).--Eldest |Wilts. | |Danes. England di-|
|son of Ethelred II. | | |vided between |
| | | |dward and Canute |
| | | |I. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| DANISH KINGS |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|CANUTE I. (995-1035).|Thurkell, Duke |Godwin, Earl of|Parents prohibited|
|--Son of Sweyn, King |of East Anglia. |Kent. |selling their |
|of Denmark. |--Urick, Duke of| |children. End of |
| |Northumberland. | |the Danish war of |
| | | |two hundred years.|
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HAROLD I. (1040- |Earl Godwin. |Godwin, Earl of|Paper first used |
|----)--Second son of | |Kent. |in England. |
|Canute I., by Queen | | | |
|Alfwen. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|CANUTE II. (1019- |Earl Godwin. |Leofric, Duke |... |
|1042).--Third son of | |of Mercia. | |
|Canute I., by Emma of| | | |
|Normandy. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| SAXON KINGS |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD THE CONFESSOR |Robert, Arch- |Siward, Duke of|Common law of En- |
|(1004-1066).--Son of |bishop of |Northumberland.|gland established.|
|Edmund Ironside. |Canterbury-- | |Westminster Abbey |
| |Harold. | |founded. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HAROLD II. (1022- |Morcar, Earl of |Gurth and |Battle of |
|1066).--Son of Earl |Northumberland. |Leofwin, the |Hastings, Norman |
|Godwin, by the eldest| |king’s |conquest. |
|daughter of Canute I.| |brothers. | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| NORMAN KINGS |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR|Odo, Bishop of |Malcolm, King |Tower of London |
|(1027-1087).--Son of |Bayeaux. |of Scotland. |built. Doomsday |
|Robert, Duke of Nor- |Fitzosborne, | |book. Bishoprics |
|mandy, by his mis- |Earl of | |created. |
|tress Harlotte. |Hereford. | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|WILLIAM RUFUS (1056- |Herbert-- |Earl of |First Holy War. |
|1100).--Second son of|Lozinga. |Northumberland |Westminster Hall |
|William the Con- | |--Duke of |built. Reduction |
|queror. | |Normandy. |of the Welsh. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HENRY I. (1068-1135).|Archbishop |Earl of |Normandy con- |
|--Brother of William |Anselm. Bishop |Flanders. |quered. First |
|Rufus. |of Salisbury. | |Parliament. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|STEPHEN (1105-1154). |William of |Earl of |Canon law intro- |
|--Son of Stephen, |Ypres. |Gloucester. |duced. |
|Earl of Blois, and | | | |
|Adela, daughter of | | | |
|William the Con- | | | |
|queror. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| PLANTAGENETS |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HENRY II. (1133- |Thomas à Becket,|Strongbow, Earl|King takes posses-|
|1189).--Eldest son of|Lord Chancellor.|of Pembroke. |sion of Ireland. |
|Geoffrey, Earl of | | |Judicial circuits |
|Anjou, and of the Em-| | |established. |
|press Maud. Heir to | | | |
|Henry I. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|RICHARD I. (1157- |Bishop of Durham|The king, sur- |London divided in-|
|1199).--Second son of|--Longchamp, |named Cœur de |to companies. King|
|Henry II. |Bishop of Ely. |Lion. |joins the Crusade.|
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|KING JOHN (1166- |Archbishop of |Prince Arthur. |Phillip II. of |
|1216).--Brother to |Hubert, Chancel-| |France takes pos- |
|Richard I. |lor. | |session of |
| | | |Normandy. War with|
| | | |the barons. Magna |
| | | |Charta signed. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HENRY III. (1207- |William, Earl of|Simon, Earl of |Intestine wars. |
|1272).--King John’s |Pembroke, Hugh |Leicester. |Westminster Abbey |
|eldest son. |de Burgh, Bishop|Prince Edward. |rebuilt. |
| |of Winchester. | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD I. (1239- |Giffard, Arch- |Llewellyn, |Wales united to |
|1307).--Eldest son of|bishop of York. |Prince of |England. Mariner’s|
|Henry III. | |Wales. |compass invented. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD II. (1284- |Pierce Gaveston |Guy, Earl of |King abdicates the|
|1327).--Eldest son of|--Hugh de |Warwick. |throne. Courts of |
|Edward I. |Spencer. | |Nisi Prius es- |
| | | |tablished. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD III. (1312- |Mortimer, Earl |Edward, the |Battles of Cressy |
|1377).--Son of Edward|of March. |Black Prince-- |and Poictiers. |
|II. | |Sir Richard |Order of the |
| | |Knowles. |Garter instituted.|
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|RICHARD II. (1366- |Richard de Vere,|H. Percy, sur- |Wat Tyler’s insur-|
|1400).--Son of Edward|Duke of Ireland.|named Hotspur--|rection. King de- |
|the Black Prince, and|A. Neville, |John of Gaunt. |posed. |
|grandson of Edward |Archbishop of | | |
|III. |York. | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| HOUSE OF LANCASTER |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HENRY IV. (1366?- |R. Neville, Earl|Sir John |Battle of |
|1413).--Son of John |of Westmoreland.|Oldcastle. |Shrewsbury. |
|of Gaunt, and grand- | | | |
|son of Edward III. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HENRY V. (1388-1422).|Beaufort, Duke |Duke of |Battle of |
|--Eldest son of Henry|of Exeter. |Gloucester, |Agincourt. Siege |
|IV. | |Wodehouse Gam. |of Rouen. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HENRY VI. (1421- |Humphrey, Duke |Joan of Arc, |Battles of |
|1471).--Son of Henry |of Gloucester, |Duke of |Crevant, Verneuil,|
|V. |Duke of Suffolk,|Bedford, Lord |St. Albans, and |
| |Duke of |Talbot, R. |Towton. Siege of |
| |Somerset. |Neville, Earl |Orleans. |
| | |of Warwick. | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| HOUSE OF YORK |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD IV. (1441- |Earl Rivers. |Admiral Coulon.|Printing first in |
|1483).--Son of | | |use. |
|Richard, Duke of | | | |
|York; descendant of | | | |
|Edward III. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD V. (1470- |Richard, Duke of|Lord Hastings. |Richard’s usurpa- |
|1483).--Eldest son of|Gloucester. | |tion. |
|Edward IV. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|RICHARD III. (1452- |Lord Stanley. |Henry, Earl of |Battle of Bosworth|
|1485).--Brother to | |Richmond. Duke |Field. |
|Edward IV. | |of Buckingham. | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| HOUSE OF TUDOR |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HENRY VII. (1457- |Cardinal Morton,|Lord Lovell. |Discovery of |
|1509).--Son of |Sir Edward | |America. |
|Margaret, Countess of|Poynings. | | |
|Richmond; descendant | | | |
|of John of Gaunt. | | | |
| | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|HENRY VIII. (1491- |Cardinal Wolsey,|Duke of Norfolk|The Reformation. |
|1547).--Second son of|Sir Thomas More,|--Earl of |Monasteries dis- |
|Henry VII. |Fox, Cromwell. |Surrey. |solved. |
| | |Lord Maxwell. | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD VI. (1537- |Seymour, Duke of|Lord Russell. |Religious insur- |
|1553).--Son of Henry |Somerset-- | |rection. |
|VIII., by Jane |Dudley, Earl of | | |
|Seymour. |Warwick. | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|QUEEN MARY (1516- |Gardiner, Chan- |Duke of Savoy. |Catholic religion |
|1558).--Daughter of |cellor. | |restored. |
|Henry VIII., by | | | |
|Catharine of Aragon. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|QUEEN ELIZABETH |Robert Dudley, |Admiral Howard |Mary Queen of |
|(1533-1603).-- |Sir Nicholas |--Sir Francis |Scots executed. |
|Daughter of Henry |Bacon, Lord |Drake. Sir F. |Spanish Armada |
|VIII., by Anne |Burleigh. |Vere. Sir P. |destroyed. Protes-|
|Boleyn. | |Sidney. |tant religion re- |
| | | |stored. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| HOUSE OF STUART |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|JAMES I. (1566-1625).|Robert Car, Earl|Sir Horace |Union of the |
|--Son of Mary, Queen |of Somerset. |Vere. |crowns of England |
|of Scots, and Henry |George Villiers,| |and Scotland. Gun-|
|Stuart, Lord Darnley;|Duke of Bucking-| |powder plot. |
|and great-grandson of|ham. Earl of | | |
|Margaret, daughter of|Salisbury. | | |
|Henry VII. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|CHARLES I. (1600- |Earls of Port- |Earl of Essex. |Battles of Edge |
|1649).--Third son of |land and Straf- |Sir T. Fairfax,|Hill, Tadcaster |
|James I. |ford--Laud, |Earl of |and Gisborough. |
| |Archbishop of |Manchester. | |
| |Canterbury. | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|COMMONWEALTH declared|Oliver Cromwell.|Admiral Blake, |Charles I. be- |
|May 19. | |General Monk. |headed. Royal |
| | | |power usurped. |
| | | |Battle of Dunbar. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| HOUSE OF STUART |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|CHARLES II. (1630- |Earl of Claren- |Duke of York. |Restoration of |
|1685).--Eldest son of|don. |Earl of |monarchy. Plague |
|Charles I. | |Sandwich. |and fire in |
| | | |London. Royal So- |
| | | |ciety founded. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|JAMES II. (1633- |Chancellor |Duke of |King abdicates the|
|1701).--Brother to |Jeffries. |Monmouth. |throne. Revolu- |
|Charles II. | | |tion. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|WILLIAM (1650-1702) |Earl of Sunder- |Russell, |Bank of England |
|and MARY (1662-1694).|land. Earl of |Shovel, Ginkle.|established. Siege|
|--William, Prince of |Tankerville. | |of Namur. Battles |
|Orange, (Holland). | | |of Boyne and La |
|Mary, eldest daughter| | |Hogue. Treaty of |
|of James II., by Anne| | |Ryswick. |
|Hyde. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|QUEEN ANNE (1685- |Lords Godolphin |Duke of |Battles of Blen- |
|1714).--Second |and Cowper--Earl|Marlboro’--Sir |heim and Ramilles.|
|daughter of King |of Oxford. |G. Rook, Ormund|Scotch union. |
|James II., and con- |Harcourt. |--Benbow. | |
|sort of George, |Bollingbroke. | | |
|Prince of Denmark. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| HOUSE OF HANOVER |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|GEORGE I. (1660- |Dukes of New- |Earl of Mar. |Insurrection in |
|1727).--Eldest son of|castle and |Duke of Argyle.|favor of the Pre- |
|Ernest Augustus, Duke|Devonshire. |Lord Cobham. |tender. Septennial|
|of Brunswick, and |Lords Townsend | |parliament. |
|Princess Sophia, |and Carteret. | | |
|daughter of Frederick| | | |
|V., of Bohemia. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|GEORGE II. (1683- |Sir R. Walpole. |Duke of Cumber-|New style intro- |
|1760).--Only son of |Mr. Sandys. Earl|land. Lord |duced. Battles of |
|George I., by |of Huntington. |Anson. Earl of |Dettingen, |
|Dorothy, daughter and|Duke of Bedford.|Stair. Gen. |Culloden, and |
|heiress of the Duke | |Wolfe. |Minden. Peace of |
|of Zell. | | |Aix La Chapelle. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|GEORGE III. (1738- |Chatham. North, |Rodney, Howe, |French and Ameri- |
|1820).--Eldest son of|Pitt, Fox. |Abercrombie-- |can Revolutions. |
|Frederick and | |Nelson, |Union with Ire- |
|Augusta, Prince and | |Wellington. |land. Battles of |
|Princess of Wales, | | |Leipsic and |
|and grandson of | | |Waterloo. |
|George II. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|GEORGE IV. (1762- |... |... |... |
|1830).--Eldest son of| | | |
|George III., by his | | | |
|consort, Charlotte of| | | |
|Mecklenburg. | | | |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|WILLIAM IV. (1765- |Lord John |... |Reform Bill passed|
|1837).--Third son of |Russell, Robert | |by Parliament. Mu-|
|George III. |Peel, Lord | |nicipal Corpora- |
| |Melbourne. | |tions Act. Estab- |
| | | |lishment of the |
| | | |University of |
| | | |London. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|QUEEN VICTORIA (1819-|Lord Palmerston,|Generals |Crimean war, |
|1901).--Daughter of |Lord Derby, |Gordon, |Indian Mutiny, |
|Edward, fourth son of|Disraeli, |Roberts, |Zulu war, Boer |
|George III., and |Gladstone, |Kitchener. |war, Home Rule |
|Victoria Maria |Rosebury, | |agitation. Austra-|
|Louisa, daughter of |Salisbury. | |lian Commonwealth |
|Francis, duke of | | |bill. Imperialism |
|Saxe-Coburg. | | |strengthened. |
| | | |Marked literary |
| | | |achievements. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
| HOUSE OF SAXE-COBURG |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|EDWARD VII. (1841- |... |Lord Roberts, |King Edward and |
|1910).--Son of | |General |his Ministers were|
|Victoria and Prince | |Kitchener. |influential in es-|
|Albert of Saxe-Coburg| | |tablishing the |
|and Gotha. | | |Triple Entente, |
| | | |including England,|
| | | |France and Russia.|
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+
|GEORGE V. (1865- |Asquith, Lloyd- |Kitchener, |England the lead- |
|----).--Son of Edward|George, Cecil. |French, Haig. |ing and directing |
|VII. and Queen | | |power of the |
|Alexandra, daughter | | |Entente in the |
|of Christian IX. of | | |Great European war|
|Denmark. | | |against the |
| | | |Germanic Allies. |
+---------------------+----------------+---------------+------------------+

FRANCE

=Location and Extent.=--France occupies the narrowest part of the great western peninsula of the European continent between the Mediterranean on the one side, and the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel on the other. As both coasts have many harbors, the situation between two seas is a very advantageous one. In extent it is fully three and a half times larger than England, measuring about six hundred miles each way across it.

Most of its frontiers are natural. On the south the high barrier of the Pyrenees rises between it and Spain; on the east the Alps and Jura separate it from Italy and Switzerland and part of the Vosges mountains forms the boundary towards Germany. On the northeast alone the political limit towards Germany and Belgium is artificially drawn, and has to be guarded by a line of fortresses.

Since 1768, France had held the Mediterranean island of _Corsica_, a rugged pyramid of forest-covered mountains.

=Divisions of the Country.=--Previous to the French Revolution, France was divided into _provinces_, which bore the names of the separate territories out of which the state had been gradually built up. These are accordingly of much greater historical interest than the present division into eighty-seven _departments_, which are almost universally named after the river basins in which they lie. The provincial names are also those which are still most in use in ordinary life in France.

The following are the provinces, with the dates of their incorporation as parts of France, and the departments they include:

ILE DE FRANCE, the original kernel of the state round Paris (_Departments_--Seine, Seine et Oise, Seine et Marne, Oise, Aisne).

CHAMPAGNE (part of France since 1285) to the east of the former (Ardennes, Marne, Haute-Marne, Aube).

LORRAINE (since 1766), east of Champagne (Meuse, Meurthe et Moselle, Vosges, and territory of Belfort).

FLANDERS (since 1677), on the border of Belgium (Nord).

ARTOIS (since 1640), on the Channel (Pas de Calais).

PICARDY (original), adjoining Ile de France on N. (Somme).

NORMANDY (since 1203), along the Channel (Seine-inferieure, Eure, Calvados, La Manche, Orne).

BRITTANY (since 1532), the western peninsula (Finistere, Morbihan, Cotes-du-Nord, Ille et Vilaine, Loire-inferieure).

POITOU (since 1375), southeast of Brittany (Vendee, Deux-Sevres, Vienne).

ANJOU (since 1202) north of Poitou, across the Loire (Maine et Loire).

MAINE (since 1202), between Anjou and Normandy (Mayenne, Sarthe).

ANGOUMOIS, AUNIS and SAINTONGE (since 1242), south of Poitou, along the Bay of Biscay (Charente and Charente-inferieure).

TOURAINE (since 1256), across the Loire, east of Anjou (Indre et Loire).

ORLEANS (original), south of Ile de France (Loire et Cher, Eure et Loire, Loiret).

NIVERNAIS (since 1707), southeast of Orleans (Nievre).

BOURBONNAIS (since 1559), south of Nivernais (Allier).

MARCHE (since 1531), southwest of Bourbonnais (Creuse).

BERRI (since 1100), between Marche and Orleans (Cher, Indre).

LIMOUSIN (since 1369), southwest of Marche (Haute-Vienne and Correze).

AUVERGNE (since 1531), west of Limousin (Cantal, Puy-de-Dome).

LYONNAIS (since 1307), northeast of Auvergne (Loire, Rhone).

BURGUNDY (since 1476), south of Champagne (Ain, Saone et Loire, Cote d’or, Yonne).

FRANCHE COMTE (since 1674), nearest Switzerland (Haute-Saone, Jura, Doubs).

DAUPHINE (since 1349), between the Alps and the Rhone Channel (Isere, Drome, Hautes, Alpes).

SAVOIE (since 1860), south of Lake of Geneva (Savoie, Haute-Savoie).

LANGUEDOC (since 1271), along the Mediterranean, west of the Rhone (Ardeche, Haute-Loire, Lozere, Gard, Herault, Tarn, Haute-Garonne, Aude).

GUYENNE (since 1453), in the basin of the Garonne, southwest (Aveyron, Lot, Dordogne, Tarn et Garonne, Lot et Garonne, Gironde).

GASCOGNE (since 1453), in the southwest, old _Aquitaine_ (Landes, Gers, Hautes-Pyrenees).

BEARN and NAVARRE (since 1607) (Basses Pyrenees).

FOIX (since 1607) next Spain, in the south (Ariege).

ROUSSILLON (since 1642), in the southeast (Pyrenees-Orientales).

AVIGNON, VENNAISSIN, and ORANGE (since 1791), near the Rhone delta (Vaucluse).

PROVENCE, Roman Provincia (since 1245), in the southeast along the Mediterranean (Bouches-Du-Rhone, Basses-Alpes, Var, Alpes-Maritimes).

CORSICA (since 1768), in the Mediterranean (Corse).

=Surface and Mountains.=--Within France the long curve of the _Cevennes Mountains_ in the southeast, prolonged northward by the _Cote d’or_, the _Plateau of Langres_, and the _Vosges_, determines the slope of the country. Between them and the _Alps_ lies the deep valley of the Rhone, with a southward fall to the Mediterranean. But these high lands, ramifying outward with gentler descent to north and west, give direction to the drainage of the longer slope to the Atlantic coast, the Bay of Biscay, the Channel, and the North Sea.

_Mont Blanc_, the highest point in Europe, rises within France, near the point of union of its boundary with that of Italy and Switzerland; the _Pic de Nethou_, the highest point of the Pyrenean barrier, stands just outside the boundary on the Spanish side; centrally in the country, the highest point is _Mont Dore_, in the volcanic group of the mountains of Auvergne, embraced by the curve of the Cevennes. The lowlands of France are not level plains like those of Belgium and Holland, but for the most part undulating districts; they lie along the Atlantic border (excepting where the heights of Normandy and Brittany run out into the ocean) and in the Mediterranean valley of the Rhone.

=Chief Rivers.=--The main direction of the drainage of France is from southeast to northwest over the long slope of land. The _Garonne_, receiving the numerous _gaves_, as the streams from the Pyrenees are called, and its tributary the _Dordogne_, from the mountains of Auvergne, forming the estuary of the _Gironde_ in the south; the _Loire_, curving through the center of the country from the Cevennes to the Atlantic,--the longest river of France; the _Seine_, from the Cote d’or, flowing northwest to the English Channel; and the _Meuse_, from the Vosges, passing out to join the Rhine in the Netherlands. All are navigable, forming with their tributaries the natural waterways of France, which possesses a river navigation of about five thousand five hundred miles. The great southern river, the _Rhone_, from the mountains of Switzerland, receiving its chief tributary, the _Saone_, from the southern Vosges, is comparatively valueless to navigation from the rapidity of its current.

=Climate and Soil.=--Occupying a middle position between northern and southern Europe, France enjoys one of the finest climates of the continent. Toward the northeast it becomes more continental, toward the northwest more maritime and like that of southern England; in the warm south the hot winds from the African deserts may occasionally be felt, and in contrast to these, in the Rhone valley, the chilly northeast wind known as the _Mistral_ at times descends from the Alpine Heights with great violence; but the greater part of the country is within the area of the westerly winds.

=Products of Soil.=--Very few parts of the country are unadapted for cultivation; only some parts of the Pyrenees, the Landes, and of the Vosges, can be thus characterized.

The destruction of natural timber in France within the past two centuries has been enormous. About a sixth part of the surface is wooded, the most extensive remaining forests being those of _Orleans_ and _Fontainebleau_, between the northern curve of the Loire and Paris; of the hills of Var in the extreme southeast; and of the Jura and the Vosges. Much of the department of Vaucluse, in the lower valley of the Rhone, is covered with _Truffle oaks_, from about the roots of which enormous quantities of this fungus are obtained. The western promontory of Brittany is now barest of all, but here, as in the mountains of Auvergne, the Cevennes, the Pyrenees, and the Alps, replanting has begun.