State
United Kingdom
island country in north-west Europe
- This boundary
- 1801–1945
- Founded
- 1801
- Capital
- London
- Government
- parliamentary monarchy, constitutional monarchy, unitary state
- Languages
- English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Cornish, Irish
- Religion
- Christianity
- Preceded by
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Overview
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a population of over 69 million in 2024. The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and most of the smaller islands within the British Isles, covering 94,354 square miles (244,376 km2). It shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea, while maintaining sovereignty over the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. The capital and largest city of England and the UK is London; Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are the national capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.
All rulers (30)
- James Pilkington1561–1576
- Richard Barnes1577–1587
- Matthew Hutton1589–1595
- Tobias Matthew1595–1606
- William James1606–1617
- Richard Neile1617–1628
- George Montaigne1627–1628
- John Howson1628–1632
- Thomas Morton1632–1646
- John Cosin1660–1672
- Nathaniel Crew, 3rd Baron Crew1674–1721
- William Talbot1722–1730
- Edward Chandler1730–1750
- Joseph Butler1750–1752
- Richard Trevor1752–1771
- John Egerton1771–1787
- Thomas Thurlow1787–1791
- Shute Barrington1791–1826
- William Van Mildert1826–1836
- Edward Maltby1836–1856
- Charles Longley1856–1860
- Henry Montagu Villiers1860–1861
- Charles Baring1861–1879
- Henry Croft1870–1930
- J. B. Lightfoot1879–1889
- Brooke Westcott1890–1901
- Handley Moule1901–1920
- Montague Edward Hughes-Hughes1911
- Hensley Henson1920–1939
- Alwyn Williams1939–1952
Records (924)
- 2198 BCE — Massacre at Charterhouse WarrenMassacre
- 56 BCE — Caesar's invasions of BritainCampaign
- 43 CE — Battle of the MedwayBattle
- 43 CE — Battle of the ThamesBattle
- 43 CE — Siege of CamulodunumSiege
- 47 CE — Battle of the FensBattle
- 50 CE — Battle of Caer CaradocBattle
- 51 CE — Battle of Cefn CarneddBattle
- 60 CE — Battle of LondiniumBattle
- 83 CE — Battle of Mons GraupiusBattle
- 140 CE — Siege of BurnswarkSiege
- 296 CE — Battle of LondiniumBattle
- 429 CE — Battle of VerulamiumBattle
- 430 CE — Alleluia Victory of GermanusBattle
- 437 CE — Battle of GuolophBattle
- 455 CE — Battle of AylesfordBattle
- 457 CE — Battle of CrayfordBattle
- 466 CE — Battle of WippedesfleotBattle
- 485 CE — Battle of MercredesburneBattle
- 500 CE — Battle of BadonBattle
- 508 CE — Battle of NetleyBattle
- 556 CE — Battle of Beran ByrigBattle
- 573 CE — Battle of ArfderyddBattle
- 577 CE — Battle of DeorhamBattle
- 580 CE — Battle of Alclud FordBattle
- 592 CE — Battle of Woden's BurgBattle
- 596 CE — Battle of RaithBattle
- 600 CE — Battle of CatraethBattle
- 600 CE — Battle of Argoed LlwyfainBattle
- 600–1051 CE — Anglo-Saxon invasion of WalesWar
- 615 CE — Battle of ChesterBattle
- 616 CE — Battle of the River IdleBattle
- 628 CE — Battle of CirencesterBattle
- 630 CE — Battle of Cefn DigollBattle
- 630 CE — Siege of ExeterBattle
- 633 CE — Battle of Hatfield ChaseBattle
- 634 CE — Battle of HeavenfieldBattle
- 637 CE — Battle of MoiraBattle
- 642 CE — Battle of MaserfieldBattle
- 654 CE — Battle of StrathyreBattle
- 655 CE — Battle of the WinwaedBattle
- 660 CE — Battle of PeonnumBattle
- 679 CE — Battle of the TrentBattle
- 685 CE — Battle of Dun NechtainBattle
- 715 CE — Battle of Woden's BurgBattle
- 720 CE — Battle of PenconBattle
- 760 CE — Battle of HerefordBattle
- 776 CE — Battle of OtfordBattle
- 779 CE — Battle of BensingtonBattle
- 780 CE — First Viking attack on EnglandBattle
- 825 CE — Battle of EllandunBattle
- 838 CE — Battle of Hingston DownBattle
- 851 CE — Battle of Sandwich (851)Battle
- 856 CE — Battle of LlandudnoBattle
- 867 CE — Battle of YorkBattle
- 870 CE — Siege of DumbartonSiege
- 870 CE — Battle of LlangollenBattle
- 871 CE — Battle of ReadingBattle
- 871 CE — Battle of AshdownBattle
- 871 CE — Battle of EnglefieldBattle
- 871 CE — Battle of MartonBattle
- 871 CE — Battle of BasingBattle
- 873 CE — Rhiw Saeson BattleBattle
- 875 CE — Battle of DollarBattle
- 878 CE — Battle of EdingtonBattle
- 878 CE — Battle of CynwitBattle
- 878 CE — Battle of ChippenhamBattle
- 881 CE — Battle of the ConwyBattle
- 893 CE — Battle of ButtingtonBattle
- 894 CE — Battle of BenfleetBattle
- 894 CE — Battle of Stamford (894)Battle
- 899–902 CE — Æthelwold's RevoltWar
- 902 CE — Battle of the HolmeBattle
- 910 CE — Battle of TettenhallBattle
- 916 CE — Battle of BrecenanmereBattle
- 917 CE — Battle of TempsfordBattle
- 917 CE — Battle of DerbyBattle
- 918 CE — Battle of CorbridgeBattle
- 918 CE — Battle of StamfordBattle
- 937 CE — Battle of BrunanburhBattle
- 954 CE — Battle of StainmoreBattle
- 962 CE — Battle of BaudsBattle
- 982 CE — Battle of Pant Câd-EinionBattle
- 991 CE — Battle of MaldonBattle
- 1001 — First Battle of AltonBattle
- 1001 — Battle of PinhoeBattle
- 1002 — St. Brice's Day massacreMassacre
- 1006 — Siege of DurhamSiege
- 1010 — Battle of CarhamBattle
- 1010 — Battle of RingmereBattle
- 1010 — Battle of BarryBattle
- 1011 — Siege of CanterburySiege
- 1016 — Battle of AssandunBattle
- 1016 — Cnut the Great's invasion of EnglandInvasion
- 1016 — Battle of BrentfordBattle
- 1016 — Battle of SherstonBattle
- 1022 — Battle of AbergwiliBattle
- 1027 — Battle of YstradowainBattle
- 1042 — Battle of PwlldyfarchBattle
- 1044 — Battle of Aber TowiBattle
- 1051–1204 — Norman Invasion of WalesInvasion
- 1052 — Battle of LlanllieniBattle
- 1054 — Battle of DunsinaneBattle
- 1057 — Battle of LumphananBattle
- 1065 — Battle of PorthskewedBattle
- 1066 — Battle of HastingsBattle
- 1066 — Battle of Stamford BridgeBattle
- 1066 — Battle of FulfordBattle
- 1068 — Siege of ExeterBattle
- 1068 — Battle of NorthamBattle
- 1068 — Battle of BleadonBattle
- 1069 — Battle of MechainBattle
- 1069 — Battle of DurhamBattle
- 1069–1071 — Ely RebellionRebellion
- 1071 — Battle of RhymneyBattle
- 1075 — Battle of Bron yr ErwBattle
- 1075 — Battle of Glyn CyningBattle
- 1075 — Battle of Rhuddlan CastleBattle
- 1081 — Battle of Mynydd CarnBattle
- 1086 — Battle of AberllechBattle
- 1087 — Battle of the Slate BridgeBattle
- 1088 — Rebellion of 1088Rebellion
- 1091 — Battle of LlandudochBattle
- 1093 — Battle of AlnwickBattle
- 1093 — Battle of BreconBattle
- 1095 — Battle of Old DomenBattle
- 1095 — Battle of ClastbirigBattle
- 1096 — Battle of Gelli CarnantBattle
- 1098 — Battle of Anglesey SoundBattle
- 1118 — Battle of Maes Maen CymroBattle
- 1130 — Battle of StracathroBattle
- 1136 — Battle of Crug MawrBattle
- 1136 — Battle of LlwchwrBattle
- 1136 — Treaty of DurhamTreaty
- 1138 — Battle of the StandardBattle
- 1138 — Battle of ClitheroeBattle
- 1138 — Siege of WarkSiege
- 1139 — Treaty of DurhamTreaty
- 1141 — Battle of LincolnBattle
- 1141 — Rout of WinchesterBattle
- 1142 — Siege of OxfordSiege
- 1143 — Battle of WiltonBattle
- 1150 — Battle of ColeshillBattle
- 1154 — treaty of WallingfordTreaty
- 1156 — Battle of EpiphanyBattle
- 1157 — Battle of EwloeBattle
- 1157 — Battle of Tal MoelfreBattle
- 1164 — Battle of RenfrewBattle
- 1165 — Battle of CrogenBattle
- 1167 — Battle of TaflowernBattle
- 1167 — Battle of Caereinion CastleBattle
- 1167 — Battle of Prestatyn CastleBattle
- 1170 — Battle of PentraethBattle
- 1173 — Battle of FornhamBattle
- 1174 — Battle of AlnwickBattle
- 1175 — Battle of Seisyll's CourtBattle
- 1182 — Battle of Dingestow CastleBattle
- 1187 — Battle of Mam GarviaBattle
- 1189 — Battle of CarnwyllionBattle
- 1194 — Battle of AberconwyBattle
- 1195 — Battle of MaesyfedBattle
- 1196 — Battle of Domen GastellBattle
- 1196 — Battle of Painscastle CastleBattle
- 1199 — Battle of Mold CastleBattle
- 1213 — Battle of Mathrafal CastleBattle
- 1213 — Battle of Holywell CastleBattle
- 1213 — Battle of CarreghofaBattle
- 1215 — Battle of the White CastleBattle
- 1215 — Battle of Loughor CastleBattle
- 1216 — Capture of BerwickSiege
- 1216 — Battle of Colwyn CastleBattle
- 1216 — Battle of Hay on WyeBattle
- 1216 — Siege of Dover CastleSiege
- 1217 — Battle of LincolnBattle
- 1217 — Battle of Sandwich (1217)Naval battle
- 1217 — Battle of DoverNaval battle
- 1217 — Battle of Caerleon CastleBattle
- 1223 — Battle of CydweliBattle
- 1228 — Battle of CeriBattle
- 1231 — Battle of Neath CastleBattle
- 1233 — Battle of MonmouthBattle
- 1233 — Battle of Abergavenny CastleBattle
- 1233 — Battle of Cardiff CastleBattle
- 1233 — Battle of Bwlch y Dinas CastleBattle
- 1233 — Battle of TretowerBattle
- 1233 — Battle of Blaenllyfni CastleBattle
- 1233 — Battle of Pengelli CastleBattle
- 1233 — Battle of BreconBattle
- 1237 — Treaty of YorkTreaty
- 1243 — Battle of KenfigBattle
- 1245 — Battle of EmboBattle
- 1251 — Battle of Penrhos CastleBattle
- 1255 — Battle of Bryn DerwinBattle
- 1257 — Battle of CadfanBattle
- 1257 — Battle of Laugharne CastleBattle
- 1257 — Battle of Bodyddon CastleBattle
- 1257 — Battle of GwernesgofBattle
- 1258 — Battle of CilgerranBattle
- 1260 — Battle of Druim DeargBattle
- 1260 — Battle of Builth CastleBattle
- 1262 — Battle of Castell LlandandrasBattle
- 1262 — Battle of Bleddfa CastleBattle
- 1263 — Battle of LargsBattle
- 1263 — Battle of Diserth CastleBattle
- 1263 — Battle of NantcribaBattle
- 1264 — Battle of LewesBattle
- 1264 — Battle of NorthamptonBattle
- 1264 — Battle of RadnorBattle
- 1265 — Battle of EveshamBattle
- 1266 — Siege of KenilworthSiege
- 1266 — Battle of ChesterfieldBattle
- 1270 — Battle of Caerphilly CastleBattle
- 1274 — Battle of Powis CastleBattle
- 1277 — Battle of Dolfrowyn CastleBattle
- 1282 — Battle of Orewin BridgeBattle
- 1282 — Battle of Moel-y-donBattle
- 1282 — Battle of Llandeilo FawrBattle
- 1282 — Battle of Hawarden CastleBattle
- 1294 — Battle of Red FordBattle
- 1295 — Battle of Maes MoydogBattle
- 1296 — Battle of DunbarBattle
- 1296 — Capture of BerwickBattle
- 1297 — Battle of Stirling BridgeBattle
- 1297 — Action at LanarkBattle
- 1298 — Battle of FalkirkBattle
- 1299 — Battle of Bealach nam BroigBattle
- 1300 — English invasion of ScotlandInvasion
- 1303 — Battle of RoslinBattle
- 1304 — Siege of Stirling CastleSiege
- 1304 — Action at HapprewBattle
- 1306 — Battle of MethvenBattle
- 1306 — Battle of DalrighBattle
- 1307 — Battle of Loudoun HillBattle
- 1307 — Battle of Glen TroolBattle
- 1307 — Battle of Loch RyanBattle
- 1307 — Battle of SliochBattle
- 1307 — Battle of TurnberryBattle
- 1308 — Battle of the Pass of BranderBattle
- 1308 — Battle of InverurieBattle
- 1309 — First Siege of GibraltarSiege
- 1314 — Battle of BannockburnBattle
- 1314 — Siege of Roxburgh CastleSiege
- 1315 — Second Siege of GibraltarSiege
- 1315 — Battle of ConnorBattle
- 1315 — Battle of Moiry PassBattle
- 1315 — Siege of CarlisleSiege
- 1316 — Battle of SkaithmuirBattle
- 1318 — Capture of BerwickBattle
- 1319 — Battle of MytonBattle
- 1321 — Siege of LeedsSiege
- 1322 — Battle of BoroughbridgeBattle
- 1322 — Battle of Old BylandBattle
- 1322 — Battle of Burton BridgeBattle
- 1326 — Invasion of EnglandInvasion
- 1326 — Siege of BristolSiege
- 1326 — Capture of LondonRebellion
- 1326 — Capture of CambridgeBattle
- 1326 — Capture of OxfordBattle
- 1326 — Siege of CardiffSiege
- 1327 — Battle of Stanhope ParkBattle
- 1330 — Battle of DrumluiBattle
- 1332 — Battle of Dupplin MoorBattle
- 1332 — Battle of Wester KinghornBattle
- 1332 — Battle of AnnanBattle
- 1333 — Battle of Halidon HillBattle
- 1333 — Third Siege of GibraltarSiege
- 1333 — Siege of BerwickSiege
- 1333 — Fourth Siege of GibraltarSiege
- 1333 — Battle of DornockBattle
- 1335 — Battle of CulbleanBattle
- 1335 — Battle of BoroughmuirBattle
- 1339 — Siege of PerthSiege
- 1340 — Battle of BlairnacoiBattle
- 1346 — Battle of Neville's CrossBattle
- 1349–1350 — Fifth Siege of GibraltarSiege
- 1350 — Battle of WinchelseaNaval battle
- 1355 — Siege of BerwickSiege
- 1355 — Battle of Nesbit MoorBattle
- 1357 — Treaty of BerwickTreaty
- 1359 — Treaty of LondonTreaty
- 1372 — Battle of DunsBattle
- 1372 — Siege of GuerneseySiege
- 1377 — Great RumourRebellion
- 1378 — Battle of MelroseBattle
- 1381 — Peasants' Revolt of 1381Rebellion
- 1381 — Battle of North WalshamBattle
- 1385 — English invasion of ScotlandSiege
- 1386 — Battle of InvernahavonBattle
- 1387 — Treaty of WindsorTreaty
- 1387 — Battle of MargateNaval battle
- 1387 — Battle of Radcot BridgeBattle
- 1388 — Battle of OtterburnBattle
- 1396 — Battle of the North InchBattle
- 1399–1400 — Epiphany RisingRebellion
- 1399 — Battle of Tragh-BhaileBattle
- 1400–1415 — Glyndŵr RebellionRebellion
- 1400 — Battle of DrumnacoubBattle
- 1401 — Battle of Mynydd HyddgenBattle
- 1401 — Battle of TuthillBattle
- 1402 — Battle of Homildon HillBattle
Facts from Wikidata (CC0), HCED (CC0) and Cliopatria (CC BY 4.0); overview excerpted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).