William the Bastard

The thing I learned today is that William I, the Conqueror's, other nickname was William the Bastard, because he was the son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and a woman whom the Duke did not marry.

Mary I of England, the daughter of Catharine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, was known as 'Bloody Mary' Tudor for her persecution of Protestants.

The Constitutions of Clarendon were a set of legislative procedures passed by Henry II of England in 1164, meant to restrict ecclesiastical privileges and curb the power of the Church in England. Archbishop Thomas Becket's repudiation of them led to the rift between him and king and ultimately his murder.

Asoka was an Indian emperor of the 3rd century BC, often called one of India's greatest rulers. He embraced Buddhism after witnessing slaughter in wars in Kalinga.

Napoleon II, son of Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie Louise of Austria, was designated King of Rome. He died of tuberculosis in 1832, at the age of 21.

Edward VI of England was only nine years old when he was crowned in 1547, and died at the age of 15. The only son of Henry VIII (by third wife Jane Seymour), he probably died of tuberculosis, but may have been poisoned.

Stanislaw II Augustus Poniatowski was the last king of Poland. He ruled 1764-95, when Poland was partitioned among Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

Lola Montez

Lola Montez was the stage name of dancer and actress Elizabeth (Marie? Dolores?) Gilbert who became the influential courtesan and mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria in 1846.

King Tiridates III of Armenia proclaimed Christianity to be his nation's sole religion in 301 (after repenting of his previous persecution), making Armenia the first officially Christian nation on Earth.

Catherine of Aragon was Henry VIII's first wife. Their annulment after 24 years of marriage set off the English Reformation. She died while under "castle arrest."

Anne Boleyn was Henry VIII's second wife. She was beheaded for adultery and treason after three years.

In 1936, Great Britain was ruled by three kings in succession: George V, who died on January 20; his son Edward VIII, who abdicated on December 10 to marry Wallis Simpson; and Edward's brother George VI, who would reign until 1952.

Uzziah, also called Azariah, was a King of Judah whose story is found in 2 Chronicles. Because he dared to enter the temple and burn incense to the Lord (which only priests could do), he was struck with leprosy.

Anne of Cleves was the wife of Henry VIII (his fourth) whom he chose based on a portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger. She was his wife for only six months, and she outlived him by ten years.

George I of Britain was the first monarch of the House of Hanover. He reigned 1714-1727 and spoke only German, or at least his English was probably poor.