Year of the Three Kings

The Year of the Three Kings may refer to the following years in the history of England and the United Kingdom:

• 1066 in England: Harold Godwinson (Earl of Wessex), William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy), and Harold Hardrada (King of Norway) all claimed the title of King of England in this year. Godwinson was crowned king in January 1066 as the heir of Edward the Confessor, Hardrada invaded England but was killed by the forces of Godwinson along with his army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, and William the Conqueror launched his own invasion at the Battle of Hastings where Godwinson was defeated and killed, leaving William to be crowned as King of England in December 1066.
• 1483 in England: Edward IV was succeeded by his son Edward V who was in turn displaced by his uncle Richard III.
• 1553 in England: King Edward VI died and was succeed by his cousin Jane Grey and reigned for 9 days until she was deposed by the legal claimant to the throne Mary
• 1936 in the United Kingdom: The abdication crisis occurs. After George V's death, he was succeeded by his son, Edward VIII. Edward abdicated the throne in order to marry an American divorcee; he was succeeded by his brother George VI

It may also refer to the year 2001 in the history of Nepal: King Birendra was killed in the Nepalese royal massacre on 1 June, and was succeeded by his son, Dipendra, who was in coma. Dipendra was declared braindead three days later on 4 June, and the Nepalese throne passed on to Dipendra's uncle, Gyanendra.

See also

• Year of the Three Emperors (German History)
• Year of the Four Emperors / Year of the Five Emperors / Year of the Six Emperors (Roman History)
• List of shortest-reigning monarchs, other kings who reigned for only part of a calendar year