Greatest English monarch of all time?

[Lincoln Republican]

In your view, who should be considered as the greatest monarch in the history of England and or Great Britain?

Please discuss.

[Frodo]

Alfred the Great, hands down. 

[minionofmidas]

Llywelyn the Great.

[Silent Hunter]

Personally, I'd say Elizabeth I.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Personally, I'd say Elizabeth I.

Yeah, I think Elizabeth I deserves it. Henry VII was also good AFAIK.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     King George III, for helping fuel the cause of American independence.

[J. J.]

Personally, I'd say Elizabeth I.

I'd go with Elizabeth I.  Charles II would be surprisingly  high on my list.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Personally, I'd say Elizabeth I.

Definitely.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

     King George III, for helping fuel the cause of American independence.

That was Parliament's fault more than George III...

My list

1. Elizabeth I
2. Henry II
3. Henry VIII (he had some serious issues, but the effect on the country of his reign is enormous)
4. Alfred
5. Victoria

--- Special mentions
- William IV (under-valued, but was informal, unstuffy and could have shifted the British monarchy radically, also handled the Corn Laws brilliantly)
- Charles II - re-invigorated the Monarchy after the restoration in 1660, as well as advocating for greater religious freedoms
- William III, without him, the reign of one of the worst Kings, James II, would have continued, and provided one of the world's first experiments of 'limited government'
- George V - stable, dependable in difficult times (same goes for George VI)
5.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Oliver Cromwell

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Oliver Cromwell

Lol, Cromwell had all of the self-righteousness of Charles I and mixed with puritan kill-joyism

[big bad fab]

Anthony Blair

But Larry is a strong contender.

[The Dowager Mod]

Henry II just for putting up with his wife and kids.

[Insula Dei]

Oliver Cromwell

Tempted to agree. Feeling like a bad Catholic now.

[afleitch]

James VII

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Oliver Cromwell

Tempted to agree. Feeling like a bad Catholic now.

Pretty much every Monarch since Cromwell, apart from James II was infinitely better than Cromwell...

Forget all the "ohhh Monarchy bad etc etc" bs and consider the actual policies and what they did to the country.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Forget all the "ohhh Monarchy bad etc etc" bs and consider the actual policies and what they did to the country.

First off it isn't bs and secondly I quite like having Jews here.

[Lincoln Republican]

Though doubtless Elizabeth I has to rank as one of the greatest of English monarchs, I would place Henry V at the top as well.

He achieved remarkable successes in both domestic and foreign policy for the realm and possessed tremendous leadership qualities.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Forget all the "ohhh Monarchy bad etc etc" bs and consider the actual policies and what they did to the country.

First off it isn't bs and secondly I quite like having Jews here.

I agree that the views held by some Kings, like Edward I toward the Jews were horrific, but in many cases medieval Kings like Henry II and Richard tried to protect the Jews - but that anti-semitism was driven by the Church primarily.

[patrick1]

Forget all the "ohhh Monarchy bad etc etc" bs and consider the actual policies and what they did to the country.

First off it isn't bs and secondly I quite like having Jews here.

It is very easy to point to one good thing that someone did. Mussolini, trains etc etc. Setting aside his forays in other parts of the realm, he still has a very questionable track record within England. I don't buy that his usurpation of power was some sort of enlightened scheme. It is late here as well so I cant expound either tbc. 

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Henry VIII.

[Lincoln Republican]

Henry VIII.

Can you explain your reasoning?

[Хahar 🤔]

Edward VIII

[Lincoln Republican]

Edward VIII

Can  you explain your reasoning?

[J. J.]

... I quite like having Jews here.

About the only thing good Cromwell did.