Regnal year facts for kids
A regnal year is a way to count years based on how long a monarch has been ruling. It comes from the Latin word regnum, which means "kingdom" or "rule." This system is one of the oldest ways people have kept track of time.
A regnal year usually starts on the day a monarch officially becomes king or queen. For example, the first year of a king's rule (Year 1) begins on their first day as monarch and lasts for one full year. After that, their second year of rule (Year 2) begins, and so on. There is no "Year Zero" in this system. Regnal years are shown using ordinal numbers, like "1st," "2nd," or "3rd," instead of cardinal numbers like "1," "2," or "3."
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Understanding Regnal Year Dates
Sometimes, figuring out the exact calendar year for a regnal year can be a bit tricky. This is because a monarch's reign often starts in the middle of a regular calendar year. This means one regnal year can stretch across two different calendar years.
How Dates Caused Confusion
For example, if a king starts ruling in July, his first regnal year will include parts of two calendar years. This can sometimes lead to a one-year mistake when people try to change a regnal year into a regular calendar year.
In England, from the 10th century to the late 13th century, a king's regnal year often started on the day of their coronation. This was usually a bit later than when they were first announced as king or queen.
When Accession Dates Changed
Things changed in the late 13th century. From then on, a monarch's regnal year started on the day they officially took the throne, called their accession date. This change happened partly because the new ruler might not even be in the country when the previous one died.
For instance, Henry III of England died on November 16, 1272. Some records might suggest that Edward I of England's rule began then. However, Edward I was actually proclaimed king at the New Temple on November 20, 1272. So, his reign officially began on November 20. In this case, the difference in dates is only four days.
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