Fun fact: Æthelred's nickname has nothing to do with him being not ready, it's a pun on his name, which means "well-advised" So Æthelred the Unready literally means "Well-advised the Poorly-advised". Lol.

I like that you included the Anglo-Saxon monarchs too, not just the Normans.

"Oh, King John, what disaster. Rule restrained by Magna Carta."

Agree with your sentiments on George VI - dude is very underrated.

Henry VII is way too low, by far the best Tudor in terms of sheer canny ability and turned the kingdom from a basketcase to a relatively modern kingdom (certainly better than his disastrous son).

"It was Walpole" I cannot express how happy that reference makes me.

I'd put Alfred much higher, definitely in the top 5. Without him, England would have been a Danish colony or a disjointed heptarchy . The idea of a united English kingdom begins with him. It wasn't realized until his grandson Athelstan, but he's the source. Without him, there is no list.

hmm, Holy "Roman" Emperors could be pretty interesting to look at next

Great video as always, but I strongly disagree with the positioning of Henry VII. The man ended a 30-year fratricidal war despite having the weakest claim to the throne, imposed law and order on a heavily atomized feudal kingdom, conducted far-sighted diplomacy, sanitized the economy and trade, strengthened the royal coffers. Nah dude u did him dirty he's top 5 material imo 😂

I am so unbelievably grateful that you included the kings prior to 1066. Lol, much like Americans tend to skip the chapters of their history from the mayflower straight to the revolution the English seem to think their history doesn't start before William came ashore.

Well lads you know what time it is. I'm William the Conqueror My enemies stood no chance They call me the first English king Although I come from France 1066, the Doomsday book I gave to history So fat on death my body burst But enough about me To help remember all your kings I've come up with this song A simple rhyming ditty For you all to sing along Oh, William (Bit short init? We need more kings. Who came next?) William second, cheeks were red Killed out hunting, so it's said I took over, Henry one That's my next eldest son Then King Stephen, it's true check it! Hi, Henry two, killed Thomas Beckett Richard Lionheart? That's right! Always spoiling for a fight Oh King John, what a disaster Rule restrained by Magna Carta William, William, Henry, Stephen Henry, Richard, John, oi! Time for my mate, King Henry eight To take up this song Henry three built the abbey Ed one hated Scots A red hot poker killed Ed two That must have hurt him lots Edward third was a chivalry nerd Began the hundred years war Then Richard two was king aged ten Then Henry, yes one more King Henry four, plots galore Not least from Henry five, why? Killed ten score at Agincourt Then Henry six arrived Edward four, Edward five Richard the third, he's bad 'Cause he fought wars with Henry seventh First Tudor and my dad So Henry eight, I was great Six wives, two were beheaded Edward the sixth came next, but he died young And so my dreaded Daughter Mary ruled, so scary Then along came... me I'm Liz the first, I had no kids So Tudors RIP William, William, Henry, Stephen Henry, Richard, John, oi! Henry, Ed, Ed, Ed, Rich two Then three more Henrys join our song Edward, Edward, Rich the third Henry, Henry, Ed again Mary one, good Queen Bess That's me, time for more men James six of Scotland next Is English James the first he led Then Stuarts ruled, so Charles the first The one who lost his head No monarchy until came me Charles two, I liked to party King Jimmy two was scary, woooh Then Mary was a smarty She ruled with Bill, their shoes were filled By sourpuss Queen Anne Gloria And so from then, you were ruled by men Till along came me Victoria William, William, Henry, Stephen Henry, Richard, John, oi! Henry, Ed, Ed, Ed, Rich two Then three more Henrys join our song Edward, Edward, Rich the third Henry, Henry, Ed again Mary one, good Queen Bess Jimmy, Charles and Charles and then Jim, Will, Mary, Anna Gloria Still to come, it's Queen Victoria And so began the Hanover gang George one and George two (grim) Then George the third was quite absurd Till I replaced old him King George the fourth and known henceforth As angry, fat and cross (hang on) It's true you beat Napoleon But were mostly a dead loss (bang on) Old William four was a sailor (ahoy) It's nearly the end of the story-a As onto the scene comes the best loved queen Hail to Queen Victoria William, William, Henry, Stephen Henry, Richard, John, oi! Henry, Ed, Ed, Ed, Rich two Then three more Henrys join our song Edward, Edward, Rich the third Henry, Henry, Ed again Mary one, good Queen Bess Jimmy, Charles and Charles and then Jim, Will, Mary, Anna Gloria George, George, George, George Will, Victoria Victoria Victoria Victoria (I ruled for sixty four years, you know.) Ed seven, George five Then Ed, George sixth Liz two then reigned and how And so our famous monarch song Is brought right up to now, oh William, William, Henry, Stephen Henry, Richard, John, oi! Henry, Ed, Ed, Ed, Rich two Then three more Henrys join our song Edward, Edward, Rich the third Henry, Henry, Ed again Mary one, good Queen Bess Jimmy, Charles and Charles and then Jim, Will, Mary, Anna Gloria George, George, George, George Will, Victoria Edward, George, Edward, George six And Queen Liz two completes the mix That's all the English kings and queens Since William first that there have been. Edit: I feel as though Charles II and Henry VII should be rated higher and you missed Lady Jane Grey. However aside from that decent list.

I'm an American, but George III probably should be ranked higher. Not only did he establish the King's Library. It wasn't just the American and French Revolutions that took place during his reign, but also the Industrial Revolution. Britain became both a huge colonial and naval empire. Britain's ships wouldn't have been able to colonize the globe if they didn't know where they were going, and George III not only set up a prize to get somebody to solve the longitude problem, but he personally intervened to make sure John Harrison got the money he deserved for inventing the maritime chronometer. I suspect some of the things that Victoria is praised for actually started in her uncle's reign.

Edward III was so badass, that he ruled those 50 years backwards in time... Seriously though, people don't give him enough credit because the 100 years war became what it became, if not for the Black Death he would have won and regained land lost since Richard's time (he held more of France than actual king of France). The often ommited fact is, England at the time had around 2 million Citizens, France around 17, and he still whooped their asses at every occasion. He got ready, trained his famous longbowmen to be the best foot archers in history by forbidding any sport other than archery (under the pain of death) and rescinding taxes on fletchers (bowmakers) for 5 years before the start of war, they even won a battle with literally their pants down, but the black death forced a ceasefire, and the country never recovered during his reign.

Timestamps: **F Tier** 56. John Lackland 0:40 55. Richard II 1:17 54. Edward II 1:34 53. Henry VI 1:53 52. Stephen of Blois 2:07 51. Richard III 2:27 50. Mary I 2:53 49. Charles I 3:15 48. James II 3:25 47. Edward VIII 3:51 46. William Rufus 4:02 **D Teir** 45. Eadwig 4:10 44. George I 4:20 43. Eadred 4:33 42. Sweyn Forkbeard 4:45 41. Harthacanut 4:56 40. Harold Harefut 5:03 39. Richard I 5:12 38. Edward VI 5:30 37. George IV 5:49 36. Aethelread* 5:59 **? Teir** 35. Edward V 6:20 34. Edward the Martyr 6:35 **C Teir** 33. Charles II 6:40 32. William IV 6:51 31. George II 7:06 30. Edward IV 7:18 29. Edmund I 7:31 28. Edward VII 7:42 27. Henry III 7:52 26. Henry IV 8:06 25. Edmund Ironside 8:22 24. Henry VII 8:38 **B Teir** 23. George III 8:52 22. George V 9:07 21. Anne 9:16 20. Henry I 9:34 19. Henry VIII (bruh) 9:44 18. Edward the COnfessor 10:45 17. Harold Godwinson 11:00 16. James I 11:14 **A Teir** 15. George VI 11:23 14. Mary II 11:45 13. William the Conqueror 12:00 12. William II 12:10 11. Edgar the Peacefulu 12:16 10. Alfred the Great 12:25 9. Henry V 12:45 8. Canute the Great 13:00 7. Athelstan 13:12 6. Henry II 13:24 **S Teir** 5. Victoria 13:55 4. Edward I 14:06 3. Edward the Elder 14:26 2. Edward III 14:41 1. Elizabeth I 15:02

Top 5 personal favourites: 1. Edward iii - reign epitomises the height of the romanticised medieval chivalric England with a Arthurian court (100 years war, Edward Woodstock the Black Prince, Crecy, Sluys, Chaucer, knights of the Garter etc.) If it wasn’t for the last few years of his reign where he most likely suffered with dementia he could definitely be Englands greatest king 2. Henry ii - while perhaps less romantic still extremely competent and powerful leader of what was later coined the Angevin empire, only let down by rebellious sons and his knights mistakenly killing Beckett 3. Henry v - hard not to be impressed even if he was a bit of a religious nut - Agincourt & Shakespeare ofc, fought in the thick of the battle of Shrewsbury at 16 scarring half his face. The dude was 6 weeks off unifying the English and French thrones if he hadn’t died!! Pretty impressive Hal 4. Edward i - the dude conquered Wales and made all future heirs it’s Prince while also building loads of huge castles there. Went on crusade in his youth, battered Scotland making it a vassal of the English (battle of Stirling Bridge etc.) until his son messed it up… Bannockburn 5. Edward iv - personal underdog fav, took the throne at 18 after defeating the Henry vi in battle, married for love (silly but respect), essentially won the war of the roses in his lifetime, brought back the chivalric court of Edward iii, and he was huge 6’4 (can you tell I love the medieval & the name Edward, ps. my boy Athelstan just missed out on this)

I would have put George III definitely higher on this list. His role for Britain is so often underrated.

Brilliant list!! Some comments on it: You obviously know your stuff and don’t just follow the normal trends, I particularly love the often unrecognised credit you give Athelstan and Edward the Elder! While you justly put those such as Henry viii and Richard i fairly low on the list. - Charles ii at 34 a bit harsh: he did very well towing the line between Protestant and Catholics at perhaps the height of religious intolerance + seemed like a chill and hilarious dude. - Edward iv at 30 also seems harsh: effectively won the war of the roses during his lifetime, won the battle of Mortimer’s cross at 18 to become king and the guy was 6’4 (tallest king!) - bigger than longshanks - Unsure why Mary ii is so high at 14: always seemed pretty passive to me and was swept into power in the glorious revolution by others. Still, a very well done list!!

Did you know that Cnut the great was the first king of England to call himself the king of England his predecessors called themselves the king of the English

These monarch videos are good to watch to see your perspective and such, it is also a good intermediate video to put between the episodes of the new Punic Wars episodes.

It’s rare I agree so much with any “list” video. You did a splendid job.

I agree completely with Henry VIII, like I think he also had some good advisors and guys doing the actual infrastructure... that he blew through by executing a lot of them. Can't argue he didn't have an eye for choosing administration which I think is an underrated trait in a king that can get you a lot farther than stuff like military acumen if you can just hire guys for that instead.

I love your videos so much!!! So simple yet they really make my day.

Amazing video! Ranking of Monarchs/Emperors video are always funny and informative!

Edward IV is my personal favorite. A young man who marches to avenge his father and brother, and rules with mercy after

7:00 Massive oversight on William IV. Seeing it was him who personally forced the Tories to accept the Great Reform Act in 1832. Thus placing him much higher.

Spectrum: the queen is alive and hasn’t finished yet Me: …

Would love to see Russian Czars, French Kings, and U.S. Presidents.

I think if Henry V would've lived longer he might've been the best English monarch ever

I actually think this is a very good attempt at ranking the monarchs. Henry 7th is obviously too low. Ethelred the unready is too high. Henry 1st should be higher aswell. I actually think Victoria is too high I appreciate It’s hard to rank a figure head but Victoria spent a considerable time of her reign moping after her husbands death instead of fulfilling her constitutional duty. She was pointlessly vindictive to Peel and Gladstone and she lucky that this didn’t have any lasting effects. Honestly William 4th (who is very underrated ) and George 6th were better figurehead monarchs but Victoria was playing on easy mode.

So umm, guess it's time to update the list

So imma ask the not so obvious. Since he was a oing in all but name, where do you put Cromwell at?

Yoooo I’ve been waiting for this, English history is one if my favorite subjects!

"When the long tally is added, it will be seen that the British nation and the English-speaking world owe far more to the vices of John than to the labours of virtuous sovereigns". - Winston Churchill on King John

Also William the Comqueror did commission the Doomsdaybook, which is basically a giant land survey over England. I feel he would be higher than 13 for that.

Dose Lady Jane Gray not count? I don't remember seeing her in the video and she wasn't mentioned at the same time as Elizabeth II. Was her reign just too short?

Thanks for including the music used in the video!

“It was Walpole”. name a time that it isn’t Walpole. Its literally always Walpole.

Whenever you make these tier lists I make a list in Word for myself too. First I go to the corresponding Wikipedia article, then I copy all the names into it (even the disputed ones) and then I start playing the video and sorting the names in my list at the same time. There are always some names that get left out. So this time the people who were left out were - all the disputed claimants - king Phillip of Spain and - both Cromwells (and I can see why these people were left out)

been waiting for this video for a while!

So which place would you put Elizabeth II in now that her reign has come to an end?

You show the depth of your scholarship by making Edward III no. 2. The guy was amazing! I can’t believe there hasn’t been a movie about his life. And on top of that, he sired, raised and trained the Black Prince.

Richard I was a great warrior king but not a great king of England. Think he deserves to be higher up though. His crusading accomplishments set him apart from any of the other middling monarchs.

A question due to what happened in September 2022: Where will you place Elizabeth II?

When are we gonna get an updated list with lizzy II

I always thought Henry VII was seriously underated. I studied him at school and he honestly made very few mistakes and managed to drag the country out bankruptcy. His diplomacy was masterful and the only monarchs I consider better than him were Alfred and maybe Athelstan.

William II was called Rufus because it's Latin for Red-Haired. It's a Roman cognomen.

New Spectrum video just as I get home from work! Neat!

Is ranking the Sassanid Shahs a possible video in the future?

I gotta call out yet also credit discussing Edward I without mentioning that he conquered Wales. It’s too important not to mention, but also his reign wasn’t just about conquering Wales so it’s nice to see him spoken of without that

Would have had Henry VII in the top 3. I cannot express enough how good of a monarch this bloke was.

Great work my friend i really like these videos

Nicely done!

How the hell is Victoria ranked higher than Henry II? She was a figurehead that did basically nothing, Henry II was the man who built the mighty Angevin Empire and established English common law

Note on Anne, she actually reigned from 1702 to 1714. She was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland until the Acts of Union in 1707 wherein she reigned as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland until 1714.

i think that after you make a few more of these, maybe at some sort of channel milestone you could throw together every single emperor/ruler from all of your ranking videos (or at least some from each vid) and put together a general ranking for all of them.

Thank you for this list. I have a request. Kind of an addendum to your list. Now that Queen Elizabeth II has passed on. Where would she be on your updated list?

Personally I would rank Richard The Lionheart and Charles II higher a bit higher because Richard was pretty much everything people at the time wanted a King to be, a great general who fought wars and went crusading while leaving the barons and earls along to manage their own fiefs without intervention, and Charles II because he's the king who brought back partying!

I like the inclusion of the AngloSaxon kings who are so often forgotten. Richard III deserves a better rank, certainly better than Edwig, Eardred, Edward V ( who never ruled) and Sven Forkbeard, and even Richard I who was a miserable king. A very enjoyable video!

Thanks for this video!

Bloody fanstastic champ, for next one of you're episodes I recommend doing Polish ones. There were many of them and well, you already touched on western and eastern, so what about central?

I love how the bottom half of the list bounces back and forth between random kings in the 18/19th century and then even more random and obscure medieval kings

RIP queen Elizabeth. Our longest reigning monarch.

looking forward to this writing up my own list soon

Considering how high you place Canute, Godwinson and Edward Confessor, I'd have placed Edmund, Sweyn and Eadred maybe slightly higher? Ed III seemed to be to me undermined too, but you placed him high enough? I am also still arguing with myself on whether or not you placed Edgar Peaceable in the right spot, idk

Do Poland next. Have fun with the many elected dynasties after the main Piast branch died out in 1370). ;)

I'm so thankful to see you put Harold Godwinson on this list. Guy fuckin crushes one of the most formidable people to ever challenge for the English throne in Harold Hardrada (I prob spelled that wrong). Last of the Vikings kings, guy was easily the most experienced militarily of the 3... I just didn't see that one coming... An then still gave William hell after marching his army at across the country at breakneck pace

Can you try Dutch stadtholders and Kings ? Philips II (yeah, that one!), Stadtholders William IV and V and King William III would be up for my personal shit list.

Amazing job! You are one of the only people who has done this list and I have been waiting for one this good. Keep up the good work!

Welp, time to update the list. What ranking does Elizabeth II get?

0:32 So uhhh update pls?

So now that Queen Elizabeth ii is gone, what would be the ranking for her? And where wout she be on the list

where does elizabeth ii go now that she's gone? and what about cromwell? (yeah, I know he's not a king)

Loved your list on the Tsars keep up your great work!

Good list it is ironic that Henry VIII went through so many wives because he wanted to leave England a male heir, but Anne Boleyn bore him Elizabeth who put England on the world map, England has done well under her queens, who ruled in their own right.

Great video as always. What about polish monarchs next ?

Wildly off-the-mark list; excellent commentary. That sums this video up.

Let's not forget that Henry II took some pretty heavy defeats against the Welsh,like the Battle of Ewloe.

Now that Queen Elizabeth II have pass, I figure she's either below or above her father George VI.

Hey, will you do a ranking of the Holy Roman Emperors?

If you had to add the current queen to the list, where would she rank and why?

My friends and I went through and ranked all pre-Act of Union monarchs for fun a while back. We came up with similar rankings, but our top five were: 1) Edward III 2) Edward Longshanks 3) Alfred the Great 4) Henry II and 5) Tie between Athelstan and Henry V

Henry III should be way lower. He bungled multiple invasions of France which didn't achieve the goal of retaking the Angevin lands. He turned most of his own nobles against him. Started a massive feud with Simon De Montfort, leading to the devastation of the second barons war, and his powers being further limited than they were already (thanks magna carta) with the provisions of Oxford. He only got saved in the end by his own son, and the fact that most nobles hated De Montfort more than him. An absolute train wreck from start to finish.

where would you rank Elizabeth II now?

If you include the Anglo-Saxon English kings here, why didn't you include the old kings of Castilla and León in the Spain video? Fernando I de León, for example, or Alfonso X the Wise. It looks strange that the first Alfonso you mention chronologically is Alfonso XII, and the first Ferdinand is the V (of Castilla), II of Aragón.

No mention of the harrying for William?

Henry V should be higher like this is the person who won the 100 years war for England before his son, his son’s advisors and Joan of Arc caused a defeat in the 100 years war.

Good video dude

Yes, but where would you place Elizabeth II?

I feel Charles II is ranked lower than he should be, in my opinion. Unlike his father and brother, Charles II was actually able to dissolve parliament and rule competently as an Absolute Monarch. Aside from that, he also steered the country through three catastrophic events, the Great Fire of London, Great Plague and most of the Popish Plot. In fact, he even personally dispelled the Popish Plot himself. As well as going to London with his brother to assist the Firemen during the Great Fire of London. Personally, a favourite of mine.

Jesuits, who were Catholic, were actually the first to implement educational reform across Europe, making mathematics compulsory. In fact, in the 16th and 17th century mathematics was only truly taught in Jesuit schools. Others only did very basic maths (like primary level).

I suppose it should be asked. Where would you place Elizabeth II now?

Don’t think I’ve really seen too much of English rulers discussed in bulk, looks neat.

That’s not a British accent, it’s really cool that you’ve taken such an interest in our history that you’d make this. You must be great at quizzes! 😝 I’m British and this is educational.

George V should be much higher for his innovations that started the modernisation of the British monarchy and bringing the institution closer to the people: cutting the German ties, changing the dynastic name, founding the OM, CH & OBE decorations, setting the rules for British royal titles and marriages that still endure to this day, as well as WWI and recognising that Edward VIII would be a disastrous king. Also, the Empire was at it's greatest extent during his reign. Queen Anne should be ranked higher than her sister Mary II, who was a fairly passive joint monarch in deference to her husband. Also, i think the first portrait you show as Anne is actually Mary (I may be wrong). Henry VIII deserves a higher rank for his break with Rome - it remains the most nation-defining act in English history, even if he was a monster. Charles II too, for re-establishing the monarchy after the ghastly Cromwell, rebuilding London after the Great Fire, and (inadvertently) fathering so many of the ancestors of today's non-royal dukes. Henry VI and Richard II, while not great rulers, were great patrons of learning and culture, so maybe deserved a higher rank. Ditto, George II and George IV for the same reasons. Loved that you included the Anglo-Saxons and Danes (and wisely left out Matilda). Although where was Lady Jane Grey?

Any chance you could share where you would put Queen Elizabeth II now she has passed to the great throne-room in the sky dear Spectrum?

Great video! One small issue at 12:35, and it's a common misconception to fall under, but Alfred was never deemed "king of England", he definitely laid the foundations for England to emerge later down the line though.

Henry VII ended the war of the roses, united the two houses of Lancaster and York, formed powerful marriage and trade alliances abroad in a time where England's international power had been decimated by the Hundred years war, and turned the deficit he inherited into a surplus that he left behind.

I want to add: 1.Canute the Great died in 1035 not 1025 2. Athelstan was king of the English from 927-939 3. Edward III (date for the reign has an error)

Can you please rank at lest the top 10 roman generals?

When are u gonna do ottoman sultans ?