List of monarchs of the British Isles by cause of death facts for kids
This article lists the monarchs of the British Isles. They are grouped by how they died and then listed by the date of their death. Some people's status as a monarch is debated, but they are included here to make the list complete.
Contents
Died from Natural Causes
These monarchs are believed to have died because of illness or old age.
| Name | House | Born | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth I | House of Alpin (Scotland) | after 800 | 843–858 | 13 February 858 | Died from an illness. |
| Constantine II | before 879 | 900–943 | 952 | ||
| Eadred | West Saxons (England) | c. 923 | 946–955 | 23 November 955 | |
| Edgar the Peaceable | c. 943 | 959–975 | 8 July 975 | ||
| Ethelred the Unready | c. 968 | 978–1013 1014–1016 |
23 April 1016 | ||
| Edmund Ironside | c. 988/993 | 1016 | 30 November 1016 | Died from injuries after a battle. Some people think he was murdered. | |
| Sweyn Forkbeard | Danish Kings (England) | ??? | 1013–1014 | 3 February 1014 | |
| Malcolm II | House of Alpin (Scotland) | c. 980 | 1005–1034 | 25 November 1034 | |
| Canute | Danish Kings (England) | c. 995 | 1016–1035 | 12 November 1035 | |
| Harold Harefoot | c. 1015 | 1035–1040 | 17 March 1040 | ||
| Harthacanute | 1018 | 1040–1042 | 8 June 1042 | He suddenly collapsed and died while drinking. | |
| St Edward the Confessor | West Saxon Restoration (England) | c. 1004 | 1042–1066 | 4 January 1066 | He was very weak in his last months. |
| Edgar | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | 1074 | 1097–1107 | 8 January 1107 | |
| Alexander I | c. 1078 | 1107–1124 | 23 April 1124 | ||
| Edgar the Atheling | West Saxon Restoration (England) | c. 1051 | 1066 | c. 1126 | He was named king but never crowned. |
| Henry I | The Normans (England) | c. 1068 | 1100–1135 | 1 December 1135 | Died from eating too many lampreys (a type of fish). |
| David I | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | 1084 | 1124–1153 | 24 May 1153 | Died of illness. |
| Stephen | House of Blois (England) | c. 1096 | 1135–1154 | 25 October 1154 | Died from a stomach illness. |
| Malcolm IV | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | 23 April/24 May 1141 | 1153–1165 | 9 December 1165 | Died young due to illness. |
| Matilda (Empress Maud) | Angevins or Plantagenets (England) | February 1102 | 1141 | 10 September 1167 | |
| Henry II | 5 March 1133 | 1154–1189 | 6 July 1189 | He became very ill and died. | |
| William I | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | c. 1143 | 1165–1214 | 4 December 1214 | Died of natural causes. |
| John "Lackland" | Monarchs of England and Ireland (England) | 24 December 1166 | 1199–1216 | 18/19 October 1216 | Died from a severe stomach illness. |
| Alexander II | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | 24 August 1198 | 1214–1249 | 6 July 1249 | Died after getting a fever. |
| Henry III | Monarchs of England and Ireland (England) | 1 October 1207 | 1216–1272 | 16 November 1272 | Died of illness. |
| Margaret | House of Sverre Dunkeld (Scotland) | 9 April 1283 | 1286–1290 | 26 September 1290 | Died from illness during a sea journey. |
| Edward I "Longshanks" | House of Plantagenet (England) | 17/18 June 1239 | 1272–1307 | 7 July 1307 | Died from a stomach illness. |
| John | House of Balliol (Scotland) | c. 1249 | 1292–1296 | c. November 1314 | Died of natural causes. |
| Robert I | House of Bruce (Scotland) | 11 July 1274 | 1306–1329 | 7 June 1329 | Suffered from a long-term illness. |
| Edward Balliol | House of Balliol (Scotland) | c. 1283 | 1332–1336 | c. 1364 | Died of natural causes. |
| David II | House of Bruce (Scotland) | 5 March 1324 | 1329–1371 | 22 February 1371 | Died of natural causes. |
| Edward III | Monarchs of England and Ireland (England) | 13 November 1312 | 1327–1377 | 21 June 1377 | Died from a stroke. |
| Robert II | House of Stuart (Scotland) | 2 March 1316 | 1371–1390 | 19 April 1390 | Died of old age at 74. |
| Robert III | c. 1340 | 1390–1406 | 4 April 1406 | Died from the shock of hearing his son was captured. | |
| Henry IV | House of Lancaster (England) | 15 April 1367 | 1399–1413 | 20 March 1413 | Suffered from poor health for several years. |
| Henry V | 16 September 1386 | 1413–1422 | 31 August 1422 | Died of natural causes, likely a stomach illness. | |
| Edward IV | House of York (England) | 28 April 1442 | 1461–1470 1471–1483 |
9 April 1483 | The cause of death is unclear. |
| Henry VII | House of Tudor (England) | 28 January 1457 | 1485–1509 | 21 April 1509 | Died from tuberculosis. |
| James V | House of Stuart (Scotland) | 10 April 1512 | 1513–1542 | 14 December 1542 | Died from poor health after a battle. |
| Henry VIII | House of Tudor (England) | 28 June 1491 | 1509–1547 | 28 January 1547 | Suffered from gout and was very overweight. |
| Edward VI | 12 October 1537 | 1547–1553 | 6 July 1553 | Died from tuberculosis. | |
| Mary I | 18 February 1516 | 1553–1558 | 17 November 1558 | Possibly died from cancer. | |
| Philip | House of Habsburg (England) | 21 May 1527 | 1554–1558 | 13 September 1598 | Died from cancer. |
| Elizabeth I | House of Tudor (England) | 7 September 1533 | 1558–1603 | 24 March 1603 | Suffered from weakness and trouble sleeping. |
| James VI & I | House of Stuart | 19 June 1566 | 1567–1625 | 27 March 1625 | Died from kidney failure and a stroke. |
| Oliver Cromwell | (Interregnum) | 25 April 1599 | 1653-1658 | 3 September 1658 | Died from a sudden illness. |
| Charles II | House of Stuart | 29 May 1630 | 1660–1685 England 1649–1651 and 1660–1685 Scotland (1649–1685 de jure) |
6 February 1685 | Died suddenly from kidney problems. |
| James II & VII | 14 October 1633 | 1685–1688 | 16 September 1701 | Died from a stroke. | |
| Mary II | 30 April 1662 | 1689–1694 | 28 December 1694 | Died from smallpox. | |
| Richard Cromwell | (Interregnum) | 4 October 1626 | 1658-1659 | 12 July 1712 | He was the longest-lived British head of state until Elizabeth II. |
| Anne | House of Stuart | 6 February 1665 | 1702–1714 | 1 August 1714 | Died from complications of gout and other health issues. |
| George I | House of Hanover | 28 May 1660 | 1714–1727 | 11 June 1727 | Died from a stroke. |
| George II | 10 November 1683 | 1727–1760 | 25 October 1760 | Died from a heart problem. | |
| George III | 4 June 1738 | 1760–1820 | 29 January 1820 | Suffered from mental illness and a genetic disorder. | |
| George IV | 12 August 1762 | 1820–1830 | 26 June 1830 | Died from internal bleeding and other health problems. | |
| William IV | 21 August 1765 | 1830–1837 | 20 June 1837 | Died from heart and lung problems. | |
| Victoria | 24 May 1819 | 1837–1901 | 22 January 1901 | Died of old age and heart failure. | |
| Edward VII | House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha | 9 November 1841 | 1901–1910 | 6 May 1910 | Died from a heart attack after suffering from bronchitis. |
| George VI | House of Windsor | 14 December 1895 | 1936–1952 | 6 February 1952 | Had lung cancer and hardened arteries. Died in his sleep. |
| Edward VIII | 23 June 1894 | 1936 | 28 May 1972 | Died from throat cancer. | |
| Elizabeth II | 21 April 1926 | 1952–2022 | 8 September 2022 | Died of old age at Balmoral Castle. |
Killed in Battle
These monarchs died while fighting in a battle.
| Name | House | Born | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constantine I | House of Alpin (Scotland) | unknown | 862–877 | 877 | Killed fighting the Viking army. |
| Edward the Elder | West Saxons (England) | c. 874–877 | 899–924 | 17 July 924 | Died while leading his army against a rebellion. |
| Malcolm I | House of Alpin (Scotland) | before 900 | 943–954 | 954 | He was killed in 954. |
| Indulf | 954–962 | 962 | Killed fighting Vikings. | ||
| Constantine III | before 971 | 995–997 | 997 | Killed in battle against other Scots. | |
| Kenneth III | before 967 | 997–1005 | 1005 | Killed in battle by Malcolm II. | |
| Duncan I | unknown | 1034–1040 | 15 August 1040 | Killed by his own men, led by Macbeth. | |
| Macbeth | c. 1005 | 1040–1057 | 15 August 1057 | He was badly wounded in battle and died. | |
| Harold Godwinson | West Saxon Restoration (England) | c. 1022 | 1066 | 14 October 1066 | Killed at the Battle of Hastings. |
| William I, the Conqueror | The Normans (England) | c. 1028 | 1066–1087 | 9 September 1087 | Died from injuries after falling off his horse during a siege. |
| Malcolm III | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | c. 1031 | 1058–1093 | 13 November 1093 | He was ambushed and killed. |
| Richard I, the Lionheart | Angevins or Plantagenets (England) | 8 September 1157 | 1189–1199 | 6 April 1199 | Died during a castle siege in France. |
| James II | House of Stuart (Scotland) | 16 October 1430 | 1437–1460 | 3 August 1460 | Killed when a cannon exploded during an attack. |
| Richard III | House of York (England) | 2 October 1452 | 1483–1485 | 22 August 1485 | Killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last English king to die in battle. |
| James III | House of Stuart (Scotland) | 10 July 1451/May 1452 | 1460–1488 | 11 June 1488 | Killed in battle while fighting an army led by his own son. |
| James IV | House of Stuart (Scotland) | 17 March 1473 | 1488–1513 | 9 September 1513 | Killed at the Battle of Flodden while attacking the English. |
Killed Away from Battle
These monarchs were killed or executed, but not during a battle.
| Name | House | Born | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Áed | House of Alpin (Scotland) | unknown | 877–878 | 878 | Killed by his successor, Giric. |
| Edmund I | West Saxons (England) | c. 921 | 939–946 | 26 May 946 | Killed by an exiled thief at a party. |
| Dub | House of Alpin (Scotland) | 962–966 | 967 | Killed during a conflict. | |
| Cuilén | 966–971 | 971 | Killed when the building he was in was burned down. | ||
| Amlaíb | ?–977 | 977 | Killed by Kenneth II. | ||
| St Edward the Martyr | West Saxons (England) | c. 962 | 975–978 | 18 March 978 | Killed at Corfe Castle by his stepmother or her group. |
| Kenneth II | House of Alpin (Scotland) | 971–? 977–995 |
995 | He was killed by someone who wanted him dead. | |
| Lulach | before 1033 | 1057–1058 | 17 March 1058 | Killed by someone who then became king. | |
| Duncan II | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | before 1069 | 1094 | 12 November 1094 | Killed by Máel Petair of Mearns. |
| Edward II | Monarchs of England and Ireland (England) | 25 April 1284 | 1307–1327 | 21 September 1327 | Believed to have been killed in Berkeley Castle. |
| James I | House of Stuart (Scotland) | c. 25 July 1394 | 1406–1437 | 21 February 1437 | Killed by a group of Scots in Perth. |
| Henry VI | House of Lancaster (England) | 6 December 1421 | 1422–1461 1470–1471 |
21 May 1471 | He was imprisoned in the Tower of London and killed there. |
| Jane | House of Tudor (England) | c. October 1537 | 1553 | 12 February 1554 | She was executed. |
| Mary I | House of Stuart (Scotland) | 8 December 1542 | 1542–1567 | 8 February 1587 | Found guilty of treason and executed. |
| Charles I | 19 November 1600 | 1625–1649 | 30 January 1649 | Found guilty of treason and executed. | |
| George V | House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha House of Windsor |
3 June 1865 | 1910–1936 | 20 January 1936 | Died due to medical treatment. |
Other Deaths
These monarchs died in ways that don't fit the other groups.
| Name | House | Born | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard II | Angevins or Plantagenets (England) | 6 January 1367 | 1377–1399 | c. 14 February 1400 | He was imprisoned and likely killed or starved to death. |
| Edward V | House of York (England) | 4 November 1470 | 1483 | c. 1483 | Imprisoned in the Tower of London with his younger brother. How they died is still unknown. |
Accidental Deaths
These monarchs died by accident.
| Name | House | Born | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William II, Rufus | The Normans (England) | c. 1056 | 1087–1100 | 2 August 1100 | Killed by an arrow during a hunting trip. |
| Alexander III | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | 4 September 1241 | 1249–1286 | 19 March 1286 | Fell from his horse in the dark. |
| William III & II | House of Orange | 14 November 1650 | 1689–1702 | 8 March 1702 | Died from pneumonia after breaking his collarbone in a fall from his horse. |
Unknown Causes
The exact cause of death for these monarchs is not known.
| Name | House | Born | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald I | House of Alpin (Scotland) | unknown | 858–862 | 13 April 862 | Likely died of natural causes. |
| Eochaid | 878–889 | He disappears from history after 889. | |||
| Giric | |||||
| Alfred the Great | West Saxons (England) | c. 849 | 871–899 | 26 October 899 | Father of Edward the Elder. |
| Donald II | House of Alpin (Scotland) | 889–900 | Some sources say he was killed in battle against Vikings. | ||
| Ælfweard | West Saxons (England) | 924 | 2 August 924 | Apparently died of natural causes. | |
| Athelstan | c. 895 | 924–939 | 27 October 939 | Apparently died of natural causes. | |
| Edwy the Fair | c. 941 | 955–959 | 1 October 959 | Presumed to be natural causes. | |
| Donald III | House of Dunkeld (Scotland) | before 1040 | 1093–1094 1094–1097 |
1097 or after | Some accounts say he was blinded or killed. |
See also
- List of British monarchs by longevity
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List of monarchs of the British Isles by cause of death Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.