Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The 20th century was not kind to Britain. After decades of rebellion, Ireland finally
gained its independence—except for the more Protestant north. Two world wars dev-
astated Britain's population. The Nazi Blitz of World War II reduced much of London
to rubble, although the freedom-loving world was inspired by Britain's determination to
stand up to Hitler. Britain was rallied through difficult times by two leaders: Prime Minis-
ter Winston Churchill, a remarkable orator, and King George VI, who overcame a persist-
ent stutter. After the war, the colonial empire dwindled to almost nothing, and Britain lost
its superpower economic status.
One post-Empire hot spot—Northern Ireland, plagued by the “Troubles” between
Catholics and Protestants—heated up, and then finally started cooling off. In the spring of
2007, the unthinkable happened when leaders of the ultra-nationalist party sat down with
those of the ultra-unionist party. London returned control of Northern Ireland to the pop-
ularly elected Northern Ireland Assembly. Perhaps most important of all, after almost 40
years, the British Army withdrew from Northern Ireland that summer.
Royal Families: Past and Present
Royal Lineage
802-1066 Saxon and Danish kings
1066-1154 Norman invasion (William the Conqueror), Norman kings
1154-1399 Plantagenet (kings with French roots)
1399-1461 Lancaster
1462-1485 York
1485-1603 Tudor (Henry VIII, Elizabeth I)
1603-1649 Stuart (civil war and beheading of Charles I)
1649-1653 Commonwealth, no royal head of state
1653-1659 Protectorate, with Cromwell as Lord Protector
1660-1714 Restoration of Stuart dynasty
1714-1901 Hanover (four Georges, William IV, Victoria)
1901-1910 Saxe-Coburg (Edward VII)
1910-present Windsor (George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II)
