Kings of England

[richardgreen]

Who in the opinion of posters is the most unpopular King of England?

[Chillum]

Depends who you ask, I don't think Edward I would have too many fans North of the Border.

[Octavius]

Henry VIII was pretty un-popular with his wives

[jno]

John seems to get the worst press overall, and Charles I just behind him. (Charles and George IV get some brownie points for being art lovers.) Richard III probably causes the biggest divisions.

[Octavius]

David Starkey in his book Monarchy provides the following insight:

In this edited extract, David Starkey sets out his thesis for his history of the English monarchy, and then describes the two moments when England truly became a nation-state � first, under the politically sophisticated Edgar, and then under the man who would later be considered one of the worst English kings: Aethelraed.

Aethelraed, still known today as 'the Unready'. His real nickname, though, was 'the Unraed' � that is, 'badly advised or counselled'. It's a pun on his own name of Aethelraed, meaning 'noble counsel', and is a product of hindsight, first appearing almost a century later.

[KebabMeister]

Has to be Edward VIII for me.

[LordyGeordie]

King Arthur - overrated!

[JohnPPotts]

James II was turfed out by his (protestant) subjects after only 3 years of reigning to be replaced by his 3rd(?) cousin, William of Orange (William III). William in turn scarcely endeared himself to his subjects in Ireland (the Battle of the Boyne and all that jazz).

[beale]

William I must have been a major contender for most unpopular monarch with contemporary subjects what with the deliberate famine in Yorkshire, massacres of innocent Saxons and the like. He did impose a completely foreign upper class and system of government on England too. They didn't call him William the ******* for nothing. It was because he was illegitimate but you see what I mean.

[richardgreen]

Very interesting answers so far. No consensus as yet.

[marmaduke]

Charles I

[El D]

pfff Starkey. Populist history . . .

 

How about Richard I - the absentee and bankrupting king.

[bernardo]

According to the tabloid newspapers at the moment it seems to be Henry IX.

[Merlin]

I was going to say "The next one" - I just didn't know he was going to be a Henry (he's not really, is he?).

[jno]

next one should be Charles, but it's widely thought he'll use a different name because the first Charles was a failure and the second one a bit of a scamp. (This obviously didn't bother his parents when they named him.) Interesting to see which he chooses. Arhtur perhaps - or even Merlin

[heatherglen]

Do you mean Britain or England?

[hessian]

Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary)