Although in the past the style of British Emperor has been (retroactively) applied to a few mythical and historical rulers of Britain or Great Britain, it is sometimes used as a colloquialism to designate either Plantagenet and Tudor caesaropapism or, more frequently, the British sovereign during the period of the British Raj. Great Britain lies between Ireland and mainland Europe Satellite Image of Great Britain Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles. ... Angevin is the name applied to two distinct medieval dynasties which originated as counts (from 1360, dukes) of the western French province of Anjou (of which angevin is the adjectival form), but later came to rule far greater areas including England, Hungary and Poland (see Angevin Empire). ... Tudor usually relates to the Tudor period in English history, which refers to the period of time between 1485 and 1558/1603 when the Tudor dynasty held the English throne. ... Caesaropapism is the concept of combining the power of secular government with, or making it supreme to, the spiritual authority of the Christian Church; most especially, the inter-penetration of the theological authority of the Christian Church with the legal/juridical authority of the government; in its extreme form, it... The flag of British India British India, circa 1860 The British Raj (Raj in Hindi meaning Rule; from Sanskrit Rajya) was the British rule between 1858 and 1947 of the Indian Subcontinent, which included the present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Burma (Myanmar), whereby these lands were under the colonial...

Mythical British Kings

Mythical British ruler, King Arthur, is referred to in medieval Welsh texts as ameraudur (meaning 'Emperor'). The replacement of this title with the prefix 'King' could be considered as a "pr-stunt", so that the British population could easily identify him as a leader of their nation. A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15th century) by Peter Vischer, typical of later anachronistic depictions of Arthur. ...

Roman Caesars and Emperors ruling in Britain

See also: Roman Britain

Before the Imperial form of rule came into existence in Rome, Julius Caesar conquered (a part of) Britain, in 55 BC, and again in 54 BC. Soon thereafter Romans were chased from the British isles. Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ... Gaius Julius Caesar [1] (Latin pronunciation ; English pronunciation ; July 12 or July 13, 100 BC or 102 BC – March 15, 44 BC), was a Roman military and political leader and one of the most influential men in classical antiquity. ...

Roman imperial rule started with Emperor Claudius' conquest in 43 AD and ended around 410. By 425 at the latest all Roman influence had withered on the British isles.^[1] Motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent, c. ... For other persons named Claudius, see Claudius (disambiguation). ... Events Aulus Plautius, with 4 legions, landed on Britain. ... Events Alaric I deposes Priscus Attalus as Roman Emperor. ...

Claudius

See also Claudius#Expansion of the empire and Britannicus

Claudius became the first emperor ruling over Britain, as he re-conquered parts of Britain for the Romans in 43. As a result the Roman senate wanted to bestow him the cognomen Britannicus. The emperor refused, and gave this cognomen to his two year old son by Messalina. This son, hence known by the name Britannicus, did however not live to adulthood (he died in 55), and never became Emperor. For other persons named Claudius, see Claudius (disambiguation). ... Britannicus (41 - 55 A.D.) was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. ... For other persons named Claudius, see Claudius (disambiguation). ... Valeria Messalina (PIR1 V 161) , sometimes spelled Messallina ( 20-48) was a Roman Empress and third wife to Roman Emperor Claudius. ... Britannicus (41 - 55 A.D.) was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. ...

Hadrian

See also Hadrian#Britannia

Emperor Hadrian is especially remembered on the British isles for Hadrian's Wall, built in the 120s and 130s.^[1] Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus (January 24, 76 – July 10, 138), known as Hadrian in English, was apart of Stoicism and Epicureanism. ... Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus (January 24, 76 – July 10, 138), known as Hadrian in English, was apart of Stoicism and Epicureanism. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Emperors using Britannicus as an honorific

Several Roman Emperors used Britannicus (Maximus) as an honorific:

• Severan Dynasty: Septimius Severus, Caracalla.
• Dominate: Diocletian, Maximian.

The Severan dynasty is a lineage of Roman Emperors, reigning several decades from the late 2nd century to the early 3rd century. ... Lucius Septimius Severus (b. ... Caracalla (April 4, 186 – April 8, 217) was Roman Emperor from 211 – 217. ... The Dominate was the despotic last of the two phases of government in the ancient Roman Empire between its establishment in 27 BC and the formal date of the collapse of the Western Empire in AD 476. ... Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( 245– 312), born Diocles (Greek Διοκλής) and known in English as Diocletian,[1] was Roman Emperor from November 20, 284 to May 1, 305. ... Maximian Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius (c. ...

Britannic Empire (late 3rd century)

See also: List of Roman Emperors#Britannic Empire 286 to 297 and List of legendary kings of Britain

In the late 3rd century, by the end of the epoch of the barracks emperors in Rome, there were two Britannic Emperors, reigning for about a decade: This is a list of the Roman Emperors with the dates they ruled the Roman Empire. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and to make a clear distinction between fact and fiction, this article may require cleanup. ... // Overview Events 212: Constitutio Antoniniana grants citizenship to all free Roman men 212-216: Baths of Caracalla 230-232: Sassanid dynasty of Persia launches a war to reconquer lost lands in the Roman east 235-284: Crisis of the Third Century shakes Roman Empire 250-538: Kofun era, the first... Barraks Emperor is the way Roman Emperors who ruled during 235–268 are collectively known. ... This is a list of the Roman Emperors with the dates they ruled the Roman Empire. ...

• Carausius (reigned 286 to 293)
• Allectus (reigned 293 to 296 or 297)

Carausius coin from Londinium mint. ... This article is about the year 286. ... Events March 1 - Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. ... Allectus (died 296) was a Roman emperor in Britain (293–296). ... Events March 1 - Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. ... Events Galerius conquers Ctesiphon on the Persians; in the following peace settlement he returns it in exchange of Armenia Pope Marcellinus I succeeds Pope Caius Allectus, sucessor by assassination to Britain, is defeated by Constantius Chlorus and Britain is returned to the Roman Empire Births Deaths Pope Caius Categories: 296... Events Narseh of Persia and Diocletian conclude a peace treaty between Persia and Rome. ...

Constantine dynasty

Constantius Chlorus, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire (reigned 305-306) was the father of Constantine I (reigned 306-337). Despite claims in Geoffrey of Monmouth's late medieval pseudo-historical Historia Regum Britanniae there seems to be no evidence that Constantine's mother descended from native British rulers. On the reverse of this argenteus struck in Antioch under Constantius Chlorus, the tetrarcs are sacrificing to celebrate a victory against the Sarmatians. ... The Western Roman Empire is the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 286. ... Head of Constantines colossal statue at Musei Capitolini Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus[1] (February 27, 272–May 22, 337), commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or (among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic[2] Christians) Saint Constantine, was a Roman Emperor, proclaimed Augustus by his troops on... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Geoffrey of Monmouth Geoffrey of Monmouth (c. ... Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniæ (English: The History of the Kings of Britain) was written around 1136. ...

Imperial ambitions 930 - 1066

Kings of England displayed imperial ambition in the period from 930 to 1066:^[2][3]

• Athelstan (c.895 – 939) was a collector of imperial relics had himself proclaimed "imperator" in 930, six years after the death of the last Carolingian emperor. His successors adopted increasingly grander imperial titles until the Norman conquest in 1066. Because there was no set title, the monarchs styled themselves as they please which peaked with Ethelred the Unready. The most common imperial appendage was basileus but imperator, princeps, augustus, and caesar were all used sporadically.

• Canute the Great (994/995 – 1035): according to his biographer Canute ruled as an emperor over the five kingdoms he acquired (Denmark, Anglia, Brittany, Scotland and Norway).

Athelstan (c. ... Also see: France in the Middle Ages. ... Bayeux Tapestry depicting events leading to the Battle of Hastings The Norman Conquest of England was the conquest of the Kingdom of England by William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy), in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman control of England. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned September 20 - Battle of Fulford September 25 - Battle of Stamford Bridge September 29 - William of Normandy lands in England at Pevensey. ... Ethelred II (c. ... A silver coin of the Seleucid king Antiochus I Soter. ... The Latin word imperator was a title originally roughly equivalent to commander during the period of the Roman Republic. ... The Latin word Princeps (plural: principes) means the first. This article is devoted to a number of specific historical meanings the word took, by far the most important of which follows first. ... Augustus (plural augusti) is Latin for majestic, the increaser, or venerable. The feminine form is Augusta. ... Caesar (plural Caesars), Latin: Cæsar (plural Cæsares), is a title of imperial character. ... Canute (or Cnut) I, or Canute the Great (Old Norse: Knútr inn ríki, Danish: Knud den Store, Norwegian: Knut den mektige, Swedish: Knut den store) (ca. ... Look up Anglia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Brittany has an expansive coastline Historical province of Brittany Flag of Brittany (Gwenn-ha-du) région of Bretagne, see Bretagne. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots3 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  -  First Minister Jack McConnell...

Norman Era: Empress Maud (Matilda)

In this case the epithet "Empress" was rather used to distinguish this person from other royals called Matilda or Maud. Matilda was not Empress of Britain - she took her title from her previous marriage to Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. Empress Matilda (February, 1101 — September 10, 1167; Saxon form Maud or Maude) — was the daughter and dispossessed heir of King Henry I of England. ... The Holy Roman Emperor was, with some variation, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, the predecessor of modern Germany, during its existence from the 10th century until its collapse in 1806. ... Henry IV (left) and son Henry V (right). ...

The "Imperium Maius" issue

Although several English monarchs flirted with the idea of "imperial" power, this never led to an official change of the title of "King/Queen" to that of "Emperor/Empress".

Imperium maius

In Christian Europe the use of the title emperor was more than an affectation. A king recognises that the church is an equal or superior in the religious sphere, emperors do not. This was illustrated by Henry VIII of England who started to use the word imperium in his dispute with Pope Clement VII over the annulment of his first marriage. The distinction began to blur when kings began to claim divine rights. Caesaropapism is the concept of combining the power of secular government with, or making it supreme to, the spiritual authority of the Christian Church; most especially, the inter-penetration of the theological authority of the Christian Church with the legal/juridical authority of the government; in its extreme form, it... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... St. ... Silver groat of Henry VIII, minted c. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... Imperium can, in a broad sense, be translated as power. ... For the antipope (1378-1394) see Antipope Clement VII. Pope Clement VII Clement VII, né Giulio di Giuliano de Medici (1478 – September 25, 1534) was pope from 1523 to 1534. ... Annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void. ... The Divine Right of Kings is a European political and religious doctrine of political absolutism. ...

English kings and the imperium maius

King William I of England thought it important enough to request and get a Papal blessing for his conquest of England. After Henry I agreed to the Concordat of London in 1107 the English kings recognised the supremacy of the Pope in matters spiritual. For example, when Thomas Becket was murdered, King Henry II of England was forced to recognise that, although he ruled temporal matters, spiritual matters came under the authority of the Church in Rome. William I of England (c. ... Bayeux Tapestry depicting events leading to the Battle of Hastings The Norman conquest of England was the invasion of the Kingdom of England by William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy), in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman control of England. ... Henry I (circa 1068 – 1 December 1135) was the fourth son of William the Conqueror and the first born in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. ... The Investiture Controversy, also known as the lay investiture controversy, was the most significant conflict between secular and religious powers in medieval Europe. ... (St. ... Henry II of England (5 March 1133-6 July 1189) ruled as Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, and as King of England (1154–1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland[], eastern Ireland, and western France. ...

This changed with the dispute between Henry VIII of England and Pope Clement VII over Henry's wish to have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. The Act in Restraint of Appeals (1533) explicitly stated that Silver groat of Henry VIII, minted c. ... For the antipope (1378–1394) see antipope Clement VII and other Popes named Clement see Pope Clement. ... Catherine of Aragon, born Infanta Catherine of Aragon (Castilian: Catalina de Aragón y Castilla; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was the first wife of Henry VIII of England. ... The Statute in Restraint of Appeals (citation ) was an English parliamentary Act of 1533, considered by many historians to be the key legal foundation of the English Reformation. ...

Where by divers sundry old authentic histories and chronicles it is manifestly declared and expressed that this realm of England is an empire, and so hath been accepted in the world, governed by one supreme head and king, having the dignity and royal estate of the imperial crown of the same.^[4]

The next year the First Act of Supremacy (1534) explicitly tied the head of church to the imperial crown: Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Imperial State Crown An Imperial Crown is usually, through not always, a crown used by a monarch on state occasions other than at the moment of actual coronation, when a special coronation crown is used. ... First Act of Supremacy 1534 The Act of Supremacy 1534 (26 Hen. ...

The only supreme head in earth of the Church of England called Anglicana Ecclesia, and shall have and enjoy annexed and united to the imperial crown of this realm.^[5]

The Crown of Ireland Act, passed by the Irish Parliament in 1541, (effective 1542) changed the traditional title used by the Monarchs of England for the reign over Ireland, from Lord of Ireland to King of Ireland and naming Henry head of the Church of Ireland, for similar reasons. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[1] in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... The Crown of Ireland Act 1542 was an act of the Parliament of Ireland (33 Hen 8 c. ... Ireland in the century prior to the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169 is probably best described as a national kingdom lacking a settled monarchy, the kingship being disputed by three regional dynasties. ... The designation King of Ireland has been used during three periods of Irish history. ... Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland (Irish: Eaglais na hÉireann) is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating seamlessly across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. ...

During the reign of Mary Tudor the First Act of Supremacy was annuled, but during the reign of Elizabeth I the Second Act of Supremacy, with simiar wording to the First Act, was passed in 1559. During the English Interregnum the laws were annulled, but the acts which caused the laws to be in abeyance were themselves, deemed to be null and void by the Parliaments of the English Restoration, so by act of Parliament The Crown of England and (later the British and UK crowns) are imperial crowns. Queen Mary I of England (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 6 July 1553 (de facto) or 19 July 1553 (de jure) until her death. ... Elizabeth I redirects here. ... The New Act of Supremacy, also known as the Second Act of Supremacy, was the reinstatement of the original Act of Supremacy (1534). ... The English Interregnum was the period of parliamentary and military rule in the land occupied by modern-day England and Wales after the English Civil War. ... King Charles II, the first monarch to rule after the English Restoration. ... Throughout the Commonwealth Realms The Crown is an abstract concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government. ...

George III rejects the idea of being called Emperor

In 1801 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created after the merging of the British and Irish parliaments. It was suggested that George III be declared Emperor of this new union, and therefore become Emperor of the growing British Empire. The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... Motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Capital London Language(s) English Gaelic Welsh (Wales) Scottish Gaelic (parts of Scotland) Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1801–1820 George III  - 1920–1922... George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ... An emperor is a (male) monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

Both the title of Emperor of the British and Irish and of Emperor of the British and Hanoverian Dominions were proposed as a replacement for the title of King. Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

George III rejected the idea of being called "Emperor", believing that tradition should be upheld.

British monarchs with the title Emperor/Empress of India (1877-1947)

When a royal marriage made it obvious to the British in 1877 that their Queen Victoria would be outranked by her own daughter who would someday become German Empress, the British government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, conferred the additional title Empress of India by an Act of Parliament; it was also formally justified as the expression of Britain succeeding as paramount ruler of the subcontinent the former Mughal 'Padishah of Hind', using indirect rule through hundreds of princely states formally under protection, not colonies, but accepting the British Sovereign as their 'feudal' suzerain. That title was relinquished by George VI with effect from August 15, 1947, when India was granted independence. New Crowns for Old depicts Disraeli as Abanazer from the pantomime version of Aladdin offering Victoria an Imperial crown in exchange for a Royal one. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India from 1 May 1876, until her death on 22 January 1901. ... Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise (21 November 1840 – 5 August 1901) was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and her consort Albert. ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is, in practice, the political leader of the the United Kingdom. ... Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS (December 21, 1804 – April 19, 1881), born Benjamin DIsraeli was a British Conservative statesman and literary figure. ... Signature of King Edward VIII The R and I after his name indicate king and emperor in Latin (Rex and Imperator, respectively). ... The term Paramount Ruler, or sometimes Paramount King, is a generic description, rarely an actual title, for a number of rulers position in relative terms, as the summit of a feudal-type pyramid of rulers of lesser polities (such as vassal princes) in a given historical and geographical context, often... History of Islamic monarchies Padishah, Badishah, or Badshah is a very prestigious title derived from the Persian word Pādishāh, which is based on the better-known title Shāh King, assumed by several Islamic monarchs, notably these rulers, the first three commanding major Muslim empires: The Shahanshah of... A princely state is any state under the reign of a prince and is thus a principality taken in the broad sense. ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George) (14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and of the British Dominions from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 in which it was agreed that the United Kingdom and the dominions were "equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations". This in effect along with the Statute of Westminster, 1931 marked the beginning of the end of the British Empire and set the basis for the continuing relationship between the Commonwealth Realms and the structure of the Crown. Passed on April 12, 1927, the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 () was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that formed a significant landmark in the constitutional history of the UK and British Empire as a whole. ... The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as The Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states all of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom, except for Mozambique and the United Kingdom itself. ... ... A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states that recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ...

See also

• Style of the British Sovereign

The precise style of British Sovereigns has varied over the years. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Overview: Roman Britain, 43 - 410 AD by Neil Faulkner, BBC website, 2006-09-06.
2. ^ Stubbs, William. Constitutional History of England. Oxford, 1903. Vol.1,Ch.7,Pg.195
3. ^ Le Goff, Jacques. La civilisation de l'Occident médieval. Paris. 1964; English translation (1988): Medieval Civilization, ISBN 0-631-17566-0 – these three medieval monarchs are discussed in Part II, Chapter VIII.
4. ^ The opening words of the Act in restraint of Appeals, 1533
5. ^ Excerpt from The Act of Supremacy (1534)