History of the House of Windsor
20 June 1837: William IV has died of cardiac failure and the 18 year old Alexandrina Victoria ascends to the throne as Victoria. Victoria married Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha in 1840. The marriage founded the The new Royal House of Saxe-Coburg Gotha which already ruled Belgium. This was the origin of the House of Windsor which originated in modern day Germany.
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22 January 1901: Albert Edward succeeds to the throne as Edward VII after the 63 year and 216 day reign of Queen Victoria. As the first monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, Edward VII was known as the "Uncle of Europe" and was the bridge between many of his relatives in other powers. This era displayed the vulnerability of the House of Lords which was weakened shortly after the Edwardian era.
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6 May 1910: George V succeeds to the Throne after the death of his father Edward VII. George V reigned over the British Empire during its largest period. George V's reign witnessed World War One, the initiation of the Irish Home Rule and the change of the Royal House and Family's name. George V's VIctorian values helped stablize the monarchy whilst Europe's Royal Families were being abolished.
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28 July 1914 - 11 November 1918: The Great War (World War One) occurred across a Western Front in France and Belgium and an Eastern Front stretching to the Balkans. The Allied Powers defeated the Central Powers with the German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and Russian Empires ceasing to exist. It is estimated that around 60,000,000-65,000,000 casualties occurred due to the war. The Great War created financial unrest in Central Europe whilst seeing the French and British Empires expand. It also gave an opportunity for socialism to rise whilst threatening the institution of monarchy.
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17 July 1917: Due to the war against Germany, the Royal Family removed all links to their German ancestory and heritage through the changing of the Royal House and Family to Windsor, based on Windsor Castle which was built during the reign of William the Conqueror.
All German relatives who held British titles had to either abandon their German titles for new British peerages or had to risk the loss of their British titles. This rule included the Prince of Hanover and the Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha who lost all their British titles through the Title Deprivation Act 1917. |
11 December 1936: At Fort Belvedere Edward VIII abdicated in favour of his brother The Duke of York (George VI) in order to marry twice divorced American Wallis Warfield (Simpson). After all the Dominions were notified and agreed, the Instrument of Abdication officially documented the King's intent to succeed the throne to his brother. Edward VIII weakened the monarchy as it displayed the vulnerability of the King in such normal circumstances.
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11 December 1936: After the abdication of his brother Edward VIII, Prince Albert succeeds to the throne as George VI. As the last Emperor of India, George VI witnessed the Second World War, break-up of the Indian Empire and the establishment of the Commonwealth of Nations, uniting past and present British territories, dominions and colonies. Due to financial strains and the loss of Britain's position on the world stage, George's influence globally was overshadowed by the USA and the USSR.
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1 September 1939 - 2 September 1945: The Second World began with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany. Nazi Germany conquered Poland, Norway, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, France and most of Eastern Europe until the loss of Russian territory. The Second a World War highlighted the instability in Europe, built a communist front in Eastern Europe and also bankrupted Europe. Europe's superpowers lost their status and the USA aided Europe financially.
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6 February 1952: After the death of George VI of lung cancer, the 25 year old Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne as Elizabeth II. During her reign, the British Empire came to an end with the ceding of Hong Kong to China in 1997 and Britain recovered financially after near bankruptcy due to the Second World War. The Commonwealth of Nations became a major Union of Former British colonies allowing old diplomatic relationships to continue. The Cold War saw Britain as a nuclear power threatened by Communism.
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