Monarchs – King William I of England on side of city hall - Bradford, UK - Monarchs of the World on Waymarking.com

The statues are the rulers of England from King William I in 1066 up to and including Queen Victoria who was on the throne when the then Town Hall was built in 1873. There is actually a 35th statue, which is of Oliver Cromwell who ruled as the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England from 1653 until 1658 after the English Civil War.

Each statue is 7 feet high and carved from a single piece of local stone by Farmers and Brindley, craftsmen sculptors of London.

William I came from the House of Normandy and was born in 1028. He was the Duke of Normandy from 1035 – 1087, and King of England from 1066 – 1087.

In 1066 Edward the Confessor who was King of the English died without an heir. There was no clear cut successor to the throne but the King’s nephew was crowned King of England on 6th January. Both Harald Hadrada, the King of Norway, and Duke William of Normandy claimed they should be the true King of England.

Harald Hadrada invaded England and was killed in Battle by the English King Harold on 25th September 1066 near York in the North of England. Around about the same time, William led an invasion fleet across the English Channel. Harold then had to march his men over 200 miles to meet with William. After a day long battle Harold died on the battlefield after being shot in the eye with an arrow.

After further battles William was crowned king on Christmas day 1066 in Westminster Abbey, the first recorded instance of this.

Monarch Ranking: King / Queen Proper Title and Name of Monarch: King of England, Duke of Normandy Country or Empire of Influence: England and Normandy in France Website for additonal information: [Web Link]

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