List of heirs to the English throne

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This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of England, should the incumbent monarch die. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold. Stillborn children and infants surviving less than a month are not included.

It may be noted that the succession was highly uncertain, and was not governed by a fixed convention, for much of the century after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Significant breaks in the succession, where the designated heir did not in fact succeed (due to usurpation, conquest, revolution, or lack of heirs) are shown as breaks in the table below.

Contents

[edit] 1087 to 1100

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
William Rufus Heir Son 1087 Royal will 9 September 1087 became king  ? William I
Robert Curthose Heir presumptive Elder brother 1087 By agreement 2 August 1100 Henry Beauclerc, his youngest brother, seized throne  ? William II

[edit] 1100 to 1135

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
Succession unclear 1100-1103 Henry I
William Adelin Heir apparent Only son 1103 born 25 November 1120 died  ?
Empress Matilda Heiress presumptive Only child 25 November 1120
proclaimed 1127		 brother died 1 December 1135 became claimant to throne  ?
Henry Curtmantle 1133-1135, son

[edit] 1135 to 1199

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
Eustace IV of Boulogne Heir apparent Eldest son 22 December 1135 father became king 17 August 1153 died William of Blois Stephen
 ? (William of Blois?)  ? (Heir apparent?)  ? (Son?) 17 August 1153 brother died November 1153  ? (treaty?)  ? (Marie of Boulogne?)
Henry Curtmantle, Count of Anjou Heir apparent First cousin once removed November 1153 treaty 25 October 1154 became king William IX, Count of Poitiers
William IX, Count of Poitiers Heir apparent Eldest son 25 October 1154 father became king April 1156 died Geoffrey, Count of Nantes 1154-1155, uncle Henry II
Henry 1155-1156, younger brother
Henry the Young King Heir apparent Son April 1156 brother died 11 June 1183 died Geoffrey, Count of Nantes 1156-1157, uncle
Richard, Duke of Aquitaine 1157-1183, younger brother
Richard, Duke of Aquitaine Heir apparent Son 11 June 1183 brother died 6 July 1189 became king Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany 1183-1186, younger brother
Eleanor of Brittany 1186-1187, niece
Arthur I, Duke of Brittany 1187-1189, nephew
Arthur I, Duke of Brittany Heir presumptive Nephew 6 July 1189 uncle became king 6 April 1199 throne usurped by John Lackland Eleanor of Brittany 1189-1199, younger sister Richard I

[edit] 1199 to 1399

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine Heir presumptive Nephew 6 April 1199 uncle became king 1 October 1207 son born to king Henry 1199-1207, son John
Henry Heir apparent Eldest son 1 October 1207 born 19 October 1216 became king Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine 1207-1209, cousin
Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall 1209-1216, younger brother
Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall Heir presumptive Younger brother 19 October 1216 brother became king 17 June 1239 son born to king Joan of England 1216-1238, younger sister Henry III
Isabella Plantagenet 1238-1239, younger sister
Edward Longshanks Heir apparent Eldest son 17 June 1239 born 20 November 1272 became king Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall 1239-1240, uncle
Margaret of England 1240-1245, younger sister
Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster 1245-1264, younger brother
Katherine 1264, daughter
Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster 1264-1265, younger brother
Joan 1265, daughter
Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster 1265-1266, younger brother
John 1266-1271, son
Henry of England 1271-1272, son
Henry of England Heir apparent Eldest son 20 November 1272 father became king 16 October 1274 died Eleanor of England 1272-1274, younger sister Edward I
Alphonso, Earl of Chester 1273-1274, younger brother
Alphonso, Earl of Chester Heir apparent Son 16 October 1274 brother died 19 August 1284 died Eleanor of England 1274-1284, elder sister
Edward of Caernarfon 1284, younger brother
Edward of Caernarfon, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 19 August 1284 brother died 7 July 1307 became king Eleanor of England 1284-1298, elder sister
Joan of Acre 1298-1300, elder sister
Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk 1300-1307, younger brother
Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk Heir presumptive Younger brother 7 July 1307 brother became king 13 November 1312 son born to king Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent 1307-1312, younger brother Edward II
Edward, Earl of Chester Heir apparent Eldest son 13 November 1312 born 25 January 1327 became king Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk 1312-1316, uncle
John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall 1316-1327, younger brother
John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall Heir presumptive Younger brother 25 January 1327 brother became king 15 June 1330 son born to king Eleanor of Woodstock 1327-1330, younger sister Edward III
Edward "the Black Prince", Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 15 June 1330 born 8 June 1376 died John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall 1330-1332, uncle
Isabella de Coucy 1332-1337, younger sister
William of Hatfield Feb-July 1337, younger brother
Isabella de Coucy 1337-1338, younger sister
Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence 1338-1365, younger brother
Edward 1365-1372, eldest son
Richard 1372-1376, son
Richard, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Grandson 8 June 1376 father died 22 June 1377 became king Philippa Plantagenet, 5th Countess of Ulster 1376-1377, cousin
Philippa Plantagenet, 5th Countess of Ulster Heir presumptive Cousin 22 June 1377 cousin became king 5 January 1382 died Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March 1377-1382, son Richard II
Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March Heir presumptive First cousin once removed 5 January 1382
acknowledged 1385		 mother died 20 July 1398 died Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March 1382-1398, son
Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March Heir presumptive First cousin twice removed 20 July 1398 father died 30 September 1399 king deposed Anne de Mortimer 1398-1399, elder sister

[edit] 1399 to 1461 and 1470 to 1471

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
Henry, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 30 September 1399 father became king 20 March 1413 became king Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence 1399-1413, younger brother Henry IV
Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence Heir presumptive Younger brother 20 March 1413 brother became king 22 March 1421 died John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford 1413-1421, younger brother Henry V
John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford Heir presumptive Younger brother 22 March 1421 brother died 6 December 1421 son born to king Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester 1413-1421, younger brother
Henry, Duke of Cornwall Heir apparent Eldest son 6 December 1421 born 31 August 1422 became king John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford 1421-1422, uncle
John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford Heir presumptive Uncle 31 August 1422 nephew became king 14 September 1435 died Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester 1422-1435, younger brother Henry VI
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Heir presumptive Uncle 14 September 1435 elder brother died 23 February 1447 died uncertain[1]
uncertain[1] uncertain[1]
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 13 October 1453 born 4 March 1461
(25 October 1460)[2]		 king deposed uncertain[1]
Richard, Duke of York Heir apparent 3rd cousin+1 25 October 1460 Act of Accord[2] 30 December 1460 died Edward, Earl of March 1460, son
Edward, Duke of York Heir apparent 3rd cousin+2 30 December 1460 father died 4 March 1461 became king George 1460-1, brother
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 31 October 1470 father restored as king 4 May 1471 died uncertain[1]

[edit] 1461 to 1483

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
George, Duke of Clarence Heir presumptive Younger brother 3 March 1461 brother became king 11 February 1466 daughter born to king Richard, Duke of Gloucester 1461-1466, younger brother Edward IV
Elizabeth of York Heiress presumptive Eldest daughter 11 February 1466 born 4 November 1470 younger brother born George, Duke of Clarence 1466-1467, uncle
Mary of York 1467-1470, younger sister
Edward, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 4 November 1470 born 9 April 1483 became king Elizabeth of York 1470-1473, elder sister
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York 1473-1483, younger brother
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York Heir presumptive Younger brother 9 April 1483 brother became king 22 June 1483 brother deposed Elizabeth of York 1483, elder sister Edward V

[edit] 1483 to 1485

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 22 June 1483 father became king 9 April 1484 died  ? Richard III
Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick Heir presumptive Nephew 9 April 1484 king's son died March 1485 removed from succession  ?
John de la Pole, 1st Earl of Lincoln Heir presumptive Nephew March 1485 royal edict 22 August 1485 king deposed and killed  ?

[edit] 1485 to 1553

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
No recognised heir 1485-1486 Henry VII
Arthur, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 20 September 1486 born 2 April 1502 died none 1486-1489
Margaret Tudor 1489-1491, younger sister
Henry, Duke of York 1491-1502, younger brother
Henry, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 2 April 1502 brother died 22 April 1509 became king Margaret, Queen of Scots 1502-1509, sister
Margaret, Queen of Scots Heiress presumptive Elder sister 22 April 1509 brother became king 1 January 1511 son born to king Mary Tudor 1509-1511, younger sister Henry VIII
Henry, Duke of Cornwall Heir apparent Eldest son 1 January 1511 born 11 February 1511 died Margaret, Queen of Scots 1511, aunt
Margaret, Queen of Scots Heiress presumptive Elder sister 11 February 1511 nephew died December 1514 son born to king Mary Tudor 1511-1516, younger sister
Henry, Duke of Cornwall Heir apparent Eldest son December 1514 born December 1514/January 1515 died Margaret, Queen of Scots 1514/15, aunt
Margaret, Queen of Scots Heiress presumptive Elder sister December 1514/January 1515 nephew died 18 February 1516 daughter born to king Mary Tudor 1514/15-1516, younger sister
Lady Mary Heiress presumptive Eldest daughter 18 February 1516 born March 1534 Deprived by Act of Parliament Margaret, Queen of Scots 1516-1533, aunt
Lady Elizabeth, 1533-1534, younger sister
Lady Elizabeth Heiress apparent Second Daughter March 1534 Act of Parliament 1536 Deprived by Act of Parliament Margaret, Queen of Scots 1534-1536, aunt
No recognised heir 1536-1537 (presumably Margaret, Queen of Scots, the King's sister)
Edward, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 12 October 1537 born 28 January 1547 became king Lady Mary, older sister, 1543-1547
Lady Mary Heiress presumptive Older sister 28 January 1547 brother became king 21 June 1553 excluded by letters patent Lady Elizabeth 1547-1553, younger sister Edward VI
Lady Jane Grey Heiress presumptive Cousin 21 June 1553 Named in letters patent 6 July 1553 proclaimed queen Catherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff 1553, younger sister
Catherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff Heiress presumptive Younger sister 6 July 1553 sister proclaimed queen 19 July 1553 sister deposed Lady Mary Grey 1553, younger sister Jane

[edit] 1553 to 1603

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
Lady Elizabeth Heiress presumptive Younger sister 19 July 1553 Sister became queen 17 November 1558 became queen None Mary I
Reign of Elizabeth I of England 1558-1603. Having never designated an heir, her succession was disputed among heirs of Henry VII by cognatic primogeniture and the heirs established under the Third Succession Act and the will of Henry VIII. The last two documents placed the English descendants of his younger sister Mary ahead of the Scottish descendants of his elder sister Margaret. The following are the leaders of both lines.
Mary I of Scotland Potential heir by cognatic primogeniture first cousin once-removed 17 November 1558 Cousin became queen 8 February 1587 Executed None Elizabeth I
James VI of Scotland Potential heir by cognatic primogeniture first cousin twice-removed 8 February 1587 Mother executed 24 March 1603 became King None
Lady Frances Stokes Potential heir by the will of Henry VIII first cousin 17 November 1558 Cousin became queen 20 November 1559 Died None
Lady Catherine Grey Potential heir by the will of Henry VIII first cousin once-removed 20 November 1559 Mother died 26 January 1568 Died None
Lady Mary Grey Potential heir by the will of Henry VIII first cousin once-removed 26 January 1568 Sister died 20 April 1578 Died None
Margaret, Countess of Derby Potential heir by the will of Henry VIII first cousin once-removed 20 April 1578 first cousin died 28 September 1596 Died None
Lady Anne Stanley Potential heir by the will of Henry VIII first cousin thrice-removed 28 September 1596 Paternal grandmother died 24 March 1603 succession of new king None

[edit] 1603 to 1689

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 24 March 1603 father became king 6 November 1612 died Charles, Duke of York 1603-1612, younger brother James I
Charles, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 6 November 1612 brother died 27 March 1625 became king Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 1612-1625, elder sister
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine Heiress presumptive Elder sister 27 March 1625 brother became king 29 May 1630 son born to king Frederick Henry 1625-1629, son Charles I
Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine 1629-1630, son
Charles, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 29 May 1630 born 30 January 1649 became king Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 1630-1631, aunt
Mary, Princess Royal 1631-1633, sister
James, Duke of York 1633-1649, brother
Interregnum 1649-1660. On May 8, 1660, Charles II was retroactively declared to have been king from the moment of his father's death on 30 January 1649.
James, Duke of York Heir presumptive Younger brother 30 January 1649 father executed 6 February 1685 became king Henry, Duke of Gloucester 1649- Sept 1660, younger brother Charles II
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange Sept-Oct 1660, elder sister
Charles, Duke of Cambridge Oct 1660-May 1661, son
Prince William of Orange May 1661-Apr 1662, nephew
Princess Mary Apr 1662-July 1663, daughter
James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge July 1663-June 1667, son
Princess Mary June-Sept 1667, daughter
Edgar Stuart, Duke of Cambridge Sept 1667-Nov 1669, son
Princess Mary 1669-1677, daughter
Charles, Duke of Cambridge Nov-Dec 1677, son
Mary, Princess of Orange 1677-1685, daughter
Mary, Princess of Orange Heiress presumptive Eldest daughter 6 February 1685 father became king 10 June 1688 younger brother born Princess Anne 1685-1688, younger sister James II
James, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 10 June 1688 born 13 February 1689 father deposed Mary, Princess of Orange, elder sister 1688-1689

[edit] Jacobite Heirs, 1688-1807

The following are the heirs of the Jacobite pretenders to the throne to the death of the last Stuart pretender. For other persons in this lineage, see Jacobite succession.

Heir Status Relationship to Pretender Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Pretender
James, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 28 December 1688 father deposed 16 September 1701 became pretender Mary, Princess of Orange 1685-1694, elder sister James II
Anne, Duchess of Cumberland 1694-1701, elder sister
Anne, Duchess of Cumberland Heiress presumptive Elder sister 16 September 1701 father died, brother became pretender 1 August 1714 died Louisa Maria 1701-1712, younger sister James III
"The Old Pretender"
Anne Marie of Orléans 1712-1714, cousin
Anne Marie of Orléans Heiress presumptive Cousin 1 August 1714 cousin died 31 December 1720 son born to pretender Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont 1714-1715, son
Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1715-1720, son
Charles, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 31 December 1720 born 1 January 1766 became pretender Anne Marie of Orléans 1720-1725, first cousin, once removed
Henry, Duke of York 1725-1766, younger brother
Henry, Duke of York Heir presumptive Younger brother 1 January 1766 brother became pretender 31 January 1788 became pretender Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia 1766-1773, second cousin Charles III
"The Young Pretender"
Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia 1773-1788, second cousin, once removed
Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia Heir presumptive Second cousin, once removed 31 January 1788 cousin became pretender 14 October 1796 died Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1788-1796, son Henry IX
"Cardinal York"
Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia Heir presumptive Second cousin, twice removed 14 October 1796 father died 13 July 1807 Death of last Stuart pretender Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia 1796-1807, younger brother

[edit] 1689 to 1707

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in succession Monarch
William III Mutual heirs Husband 13 February 1689 Act of parliament 28 December 1694 became sole monarch Anne, Duchess of Cumberland, sister(-in-law), 1689-1702 Mary II
Mary II Wife died William III
Anne, Duchess of Cumberland Heiress apparent Sister-in-Law 28 December 1694 sister's death 8 March 1702 became queen William, Duke of Gloucester 1694-1700, son
Uncertain 1700-1701
Sophia, Electress of Hanover, 1701-1702, first cousin, once removed
Sophia, Electress of Hanover Heiress presumptive First cousin, once removed 8 March 1702 death of William III 1 May 1707 became heiress-presumptive to Great Britain George Louis of Hanover 1702-1707, son Anne

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e No clear heir to the throne existed following the deaths of Henry VI's uncles, which left him the last of Henry IV's legitimate descendants to survive. The nearest legitimate heirs by blood were the descendants of Henry IV's older sister, Philippa of Lancaster; however, as these were Kings and Princes of Portugal (the senior heir of this line was King Afonso V), it was very unlikely that they would be offered the throne of England. The next most senior line were the descendants of Elizabeth Plantagenet, Duchess of Exeter, of whom the senior heirs were John Holland, Duke of Exeter (d. 1447) and his son Henry. Another potential line were the descendants of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, half-brother of Henry IV, whose senior heir was Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of the future Henry VII of England. However, the legitimacy of the Beaufort line was suspect. None of these potential heirs was given any legal standing in England.
  2. ^ a b The Parliamentary Act of Accord established Richard of York as the heir of Henry VI. The Act was rejected by Lancastrian partisans who continued to recognise Edward of Westminster as his father's heir.
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