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Regnal Years in England: Difference between revisions

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Ancient cultures often calculated their dating systems by the rule of a monarch. These were often known as "Regnal Years" (from the Latin, regnum or rule/kingdom). Regnal years were common in Asian cultures.&nbsp; In England, Acts of Parliament used Regnal Years.&nbsp; Genealogists may also find Regnal Years in older English records.&nbsp; Below are the first date for the regnal years of each of the kings and queens of England:<br>
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[[Image:Edwards Crown.png|thumb|right|121x163px]]Most calendar systems are based on the phases of the moon and the rotation of the Earth.&nbsp; However, significant events were often factors in dating systems.&nbsp; For example, the birth of Christ divides our own calendar into B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini) (sometimes restated as B.C.E. (Before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era).&nbsp; Some ancient cultures calculated their dating systems by the rule of a monarch ("In the tenth year of the reign of King ___"). This calendering system is known as "Regnal Years" (from the Latin, regnum or rule/kingdom).&nbsp;Regnal years&nbsp;began&nbsp;the date of the monarch's accession to the throne until the same date in the next calendar year. Thus an event occurring on 15 Dec 1703, would be the&nbsp;second regnal year of Queen Anne who acceded to the throne on March 8, 1702.&nbsp;Regnal years were common in Asian cultures.&nbsp;  


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In England, Regnal years were not the prominent feature of the calendar system.&nbsp; The United Kingdom, like other European cultures, utilized the [[England Calendar Changes|Julian Calendar]] until 1752 and the [[England Calendar Changes|Gregorian Calendar]] until present times.&nbsp; However, the reigns of the British monarchs were occasionally noted and used as additional time markers.&nbsp; For example, Acts of Parliament used Regnal Years.&nbsp; Genealogists may also find Regnal Years in older English records.&nbsp; Below are the beginning dates for the regnal years of each of the kings and queens of England<ref>Collins, Lydia, and Mabel Morton. Monumental Inscriptions in the Library of the Society of Genealogists. Part 2: Northern England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Overseas. London, England: Society of Genealogists, 1987. (FS Library book 942 V33s, part 2.)</ref>:<br>
 
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• William I ..................25 Dec 1066<br> • William II .................26 Sep 1087<br> • Henry I .....................5 Aug 1100<br> • Stephan ....................26 Dec 1135<br> • Henry II ...................19 Dec 1154<br> • Richard I ...................3 Sep 1189<br> • John .......................27 May 1199<br> • Henry III ..................28 Oct 1216<br> • Edward I ...................20 Nov 1272<br> • Edward III .................25 Juan 1327<br> • Richard II .................22 June 1377<br> • Henry IV ...................30 Sept 1399<br> • Henry V ....................21 Mar 1413<br> • Henry VI ....................1 Sep 1422<br> • Edward IV ...................4 Mar 1461<br> • Edward V ....................9 Apr 1483<br> • Richard III ................26 June 1483<br> • Henry VII ..................22 Aug 1485<br> • Henry VIII .................22 Apr 1509<br> • Edward VI ..................28 Jan 1547<br>  
• William I .....................................25 Dec 1066<br>• William II .....................................26 Sep 1087<br>• Henry I .........................................5 Aug 1100<br>• Stephan ......................................26 Dec 1135<br>• Henry II ................................. .....19 Dec 1154<br>• Richard I ......................................3 Sep 1189<br>• John ..........................................27 May 1199<br>• Henry III ......................................28 Oct 1216<br>• Edward I .....................................20 Nov 1272<br>• Edward III ..................................25 Juan 1327<br>• Richard II ...................................22 June 1377<br>• Henry IV ....................................30 Sept 1399<br>• Henry V ......................................21 Mar 1413<br>• Henry VI .......................................1 Sep 1422<br>• Edward IV .....................................4 Mar 1461<br>• Edward V ......................................9 Apr 1483<br>• Richard III ..................................26 June 1483<br>• Henry VII ....................................22 Aug 1485<br>• Henry VIII ....................................22 Apr 1509<br>• Edward VI ....................................28 Jan 1547<br>  


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• “Bloody” Mary ..............6 July 1553<br> • Philip &amp; Mary .........25 July 1554<br> • Elizabeth I ...............17 Nov 1558<br> • James I (James VI of Scotland) ....24 Mar 1603<br> • Charles I .................27 Mar 1625<br> • Commonwealth Period<br> • Charles II ................30 Jan 1649<br> • James II ...................6 Feb 1685<br> • (Interregnum .12 Dec 1688-12 Feb 1689)<br> • William III &amp; Mary ....13 Feb 1689<br> • William III ...............28 Dec 1694<br> • Anne .......................8 Mar 1702<br> • George I ...................1 Aug 1714<br> • George II .................11 June 1727<br> • George III ................25 Oct 1760<br> • George IV .................29 Jan 1820<br> • William IV ................26 June 1830<br> • Victoria ..................20 June 1837<br> • Discontinuation of Regnal Year System In England<br>  
• “Bloody” Mary ...................................6 July 1553<br>• Philip &amp; Mary ..................................25 July 1554<br>• Elizabeth I .......................................17 Nov 1558<br>• James I (James VI of Scotland) .........24 Mar 1603<br>• Charles I .........................................27 Mar 1625<br>• Commonwealth Period<br>• Charles II ........................................30 Jan 1649<br>• James II ...........................................6 Feb 1685<br>• (Interregnum ................12 Dec 1688-12 Feb 1689)<br>• William III &amp; Mary ............................13 Feb 1689<br>• William III .......................................28 Dec 1694<br>• Anne ................................................8 Mar 1702<br>• George I ...........................................1 Aug 1714<br>• George II ........................................11 June 1727<br>• George III .........................................25 Oct 1760<br>• George IV ........................................29 Jan 1820<br>• William IV ......................................26 June 1830<br>• Victoria ..........................................20 June 1837<br><br>• Discontinuation of Regnal Year System In England<br> .......................1962


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Go to&nbsp;[[England Calendar Changes]] for a brief discussion of Julian and Gregorian Calendars.
=== See also:  ===
*[[Julian and Gregorian Calendars]]
*[[Dates and Calendars]]
=== References  ===
<references />
2.&nbsp; This list is slightly adapted from Baxter, Angus. In Search of Your British &amp; Irish Roots: A complete guide to tracing your English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish Ancestors. Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, 1986, p. 19. (FS Library book:&nbsp; <u><span style="text-decoration: underline">[[Www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp|942 D27ba 1999]]).</span></u><br>
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