Editorial

England has a long and interesting history of conquest and conquering from the times before the birth of Christ.  Through these times of turmoil the Romans (43-410); Anglos, Saxons, and Jutes (449-700); and Danes (700-1099); etc. battled and settled this tiny island that had nothing to offer other than isolation and hardship.

The period of interest to the genealogist is the reign of the English kings that formed the attitudes and pride in the ancestors of the Pool family in southern England, the Fellingham family along the English east coast, and the Estabrook, Cook, and Gould families all of early English stock and pioneer spirit and some with Royal links.   England was also responsible for the shaping of attitude, style, language, religion, law, and government in the United States.  The following are the Kings of England, their period of reign, and major events during that time:

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William I - 1066-1087  William I "William the Conquer", a Norman, began his reign of England after defeating and killing Harold in 1066 in what was known as the battle of Hastings.  For five years William put down revolts in his new kingdom.  He seized lands of the Saxons and gave control to the Normans.  It was he who ordered castles built as fortifications to maintain control of the lands and placed in power a lord who pledged loyalty to the King and provided knights for the king's army.  Windsor Castle is but one of those fortifications begun by William.  Farmers were reduced to the class of "serfs" and could not leave the manor in which they were born and was the basis for feudalism which prevailed through all of Europe.  Records of land ownership and taxes were recorded in the "Doomsday Book" which became feared by those who tried trickery and deceit.   William I introduced the Norman style of architecture and the French language into this Anglo-Saxon country.  Stone churches replaced the simple wooden structures and French words and ideas and a whole new form of education was brought by the Norman monks.   But since only churchmen were educated, the church formed the basis of the ruling class.  This French influence was to prevail in England for the next 173 years.

William II - 1087-1100  William II (William Rufus), the "Red King" succeeded as king of England in 1087 while his brother Robert became the ruler of Normandy.  William was a harsh ruler and was bested by an arrow from an unknown hand while hunting in 1100. Few mourned his passing.

Henry I - 1100-1135  William's brother Henry I, the "Lion of Justice", assumed the throne without contest since the rightful heir, Robert, was on the First Crusade to recover the Holy Land from the Turks.  Henry defeated Robert in Normandy and for at time there was peace in England and western France.

Stephen - 1135-1154  Upon the death of Henry I, the new ruler was agreed to be his daughter, Matilda who had married Henry V of the Roman Empire <????, but evil barons put Stephen, a grandson of William I, the Conqueror, in power.   Stephen, although a galliant knight, was a weak ruler.  Normandy was lost to Matildia and Geoffery.  Barons fought with each other for power, built castles, and plundered the land unopposed until Stephen's death in 1154.  England was ready for strength to return to the crown.

Henry II - 1154-1189  Henry II was Henry Plantagenet, the son of Geoffrey of Anjou and Matildia.  Thus, England was ruled by a king that lived in France. The Plantagenet line was to rule England for the next 245 years.  England was once again led by a strong ruler.  Henry II gained more of western France.  He sent judges to English towns to record decisions of the courts.  These records were used as the basis for other court decisions and became known as "common law".   The use of juries also began in this time.  Church authority was challenged by Henry II, but backfired when Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered and became a sainted martyr.  Henry's sons John and Richard both conspired against him for greater power.

Richard I - 1189-1199  Then in 1189 came Richard "the Lion Hearted", the son of Henry II.  A Frenchman by birth and education, Richard I visited England only twice during his rule.  Immediately after becoming king, Richard I left England on his long Third Crusade and left leadership to Hubert Walter who did quite well and probably better than Richard would have, but was hampered by the continuing conspiracy of John, Richard's brother, and King Philip of France to overtake the realm.   Richard was held captive by Henry VI of the Roman Empire from 1193-1194 and set free after paying a huge ransom.  His return to England was only long enough to raise enough money for yet another campaign in France fighting against Philip. Robin Hood (1160-1247) is often linked to Richard I who pronounced him Earl of Huntington, however, questions exist if this myth was ever based on any reality.  Richard I built the "saucy castle", Chateau Gailard, in Normandy, but died in battle there, never to return to land he ruled.

John - 1199-1216  In 1199 John "Lackland", the brother of Richard, began a despicable rule considered to be the worst of all the kings.  He was called "Lackland" sine he owned nothing in his own right but held great wealth given to him by his father, Henry II.  He lost most of France and alienated his barons.  The barons drew up a list of directives and rights that became the Magna Carta "Great Charter" in 1215.  These rights were in common practice under previous kings but now were imposed on the land by force and law.  Thus, the king must now rule according to law of the land.  So even though John was disliked, his reign established one of the most profound documents and leadership principles in English history.

Henry III - 1216-1272  Henry III, the son of John, was crowned at the age of 9 in 1216 and ruled for the next 56 years.  He was pious and well meaning, but incompetent and extravagant.  The barons began to take a stand against him and in 1264 rose and began the Baron's Wars led by Earl Simon de Montfort.  The wars only ended when Simon was killed in battle.

Edward I - 1272-1307  Edward I "Longshanks", the son of Henry III, was crowned in 1272 and accepted the power of parliament and the barons.   Law recorded during his reign still exists today.  Edward I conquered Whales and joined it to England, but failed to subdue Scotland.  This feud with Scotland lasted for the next 331 years.  His effort to form a parliament composed of barons from each county was the first step toward England becoming a great power, but that power had to develop over the next 300 years.

Edward II - 1307-1327  Upon Edward I's death in 1307 during a campaign to Scotland, his incompetent son Edward II continued the effort only to be defeated by Robert Bruce at Bannockburn.  Scotland remained free of English rule. Parliament used its power to depose Edward II in 1327 and put his son Edward III on the throne.

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