Edward IV 1461-1470 Edward IV was the son of Richard, Duke of York. Edward was born at Rouen in the year 1441. When Edward came of age, a fierce struggle between the Houses of York and Lancaster was underway, which would embroil England in a bitter civil war. During this period of turmoil, Edward proved […]

Henry I 1100-1135 Henry I., King of England, surnamed, on account of his superior education, Beauclerc, was the youngest son ofWilliam the Conqueror, and was born at Selby, in Yorkshire, in 1068. Jealousies and dissensions early broke out between him and his elder brothers, Robert and William (Rufus), and on the sudden mysterious death of William […]

William I The Conquerer 1066-1087 William the Conquerer was the son of Robert, Duke of Normandy. William was born at Falaise in the year 1027. He was raised at the court of the King of France, and succeeded to the duchy at the age of only eight. William, while Duke of Normandy, was married to […]

Monetary History of England Henry II Silver Penny Part III 1154-1470 by Martin A. Armstrong PLANTAGENET KINGS c1154-1399 With the treaty in which Matilda’s son Henery II (1154-1189) came to the throne, the coinage of England did not immediately reflect the political change. The coinage Stephen continued to be minted until 1158 before a new […]

Monetary History of England Part I 2nd century BC – 599 AD by Martin A. Armstrong The Birth of the British Monetary System The earliest forms of money in Britain have taken several mediums based upon commodity values. However, Celtic bronze rings are quite common in Britain and served as a medium of exchange. Money […]

Constantine I The Great 307 – 337AD Flavius Valerius Constantinus was the son of Constantius I Chlorus by his first marriage with Helena, known to Christians as St Helena. Constantine was born at Naissus in Upper Moesia on February 27th. The year is not quite certain, however, it was either 280 – 282 or 272 – 273 AD. As […]

Galerius 305 – 311 AD Gains Galerius Valerius Maximianus, commonly known as Galerius by historians, served as co-emperor from 293 to 311 AD in both the first and second Tetrarchy and was one of the most ardent opponents of Christianity. As a youth he had been a herdsman but entered the army of Aurelian and made his way […]

Constantius I Chlorus 305 – 306 AD As Caesar, 293 – 305 AD Flavius Valerius Constantius I Chlorus was most likely born in the Danube region. Constantius fell in love with an innkeeper’s daughter named Helena in Naissus, located in Upper Dacia. This is the location of the birth of their first son, who would later become known […]

GETA 209-212 AD Son of Septimus Severus Co-emperor & Brother Caracalla Publius Lucius Septimius Geta was the younger son of Emperor Septimius Severus and Julia Domna and the brother of Caracalla. Geta was younger than his brother by only one year. He traveled with his family during the Parthian War in 197 AD and was […]

Caracalla 198-217 AD Son of Septimus Severus Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, originally named Julius Bassianus, was born at Lugdunum, Gaul, on April 6th, 188 AD. He was the elder son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. His original name, Bassianus, came from the Syrian side of his family. Following the Civil War in the aftermath of […]