Indeed, many scholars of the period considered Henry VIII to be extremely handsome: he was even referred to as an 'Adonis'. At six-feet and two-inches tall with a slim athletic build, fair complexion and prowess on the jousting and tennis courts, Henry spent the majority of his life and reign, slim and athletic.
Yet for centuries Edward III was celebrated as the greatest king England had ever had, and three hundred years after his death it was said that his kingship was perhaps the greatest that the world had ever known. All this leads us to wonder why he is normally overlooked in a list of England's greatest kings.
According to contemporary sources, Elizabeth was very beautiful. One remarked that she was "the most beautiful woman in the Island of Britain", but her eyes were referred to as being "heavy-lidded like those of a dragon".
Henry VIII
One of England's most famous monarchs was a foul-tempered, gluttonous, bloodthirsty tyrant who, as well as ordering the executions of two of the women who had the misfortune to marry him, had an estimated 57,000 people executed during his 36-year reign.
Much like his brother before him, King John was never meant to take the throne. Being the youngest son of Henry II and Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine, John wasn't expected to have much in the way of land and titles. He would however go on to be known as England's most hated king.
Charles II has been reckoned the most notorious womanizer of the English kings. Among his list of mistresses are included: Elizabeth Killigrew, Lucy Walter, Jane Roberts, Catherine Pegge, Winifred Wells, Barbara Villiers, Mary Davis, Nell Gwyn, Louise de Kérouaille, Hortense Mancini, Mrs.
Lady Elizabeth Báthory: One of the World's Cruelest Women
It is what separates a simple murderer from a grotesque butcher who redefines our understanding of depravity. Born in 1560 on a family estate in Royal Hungary, Elizabeth Báthory was of noble blood.
Henry VI, (born December 6, 1421, Windsor, Berkshire, England—died May 21/22, 1471, London), king of England from 1422 to 1461 and from 1470 to 1471, a pious and studious recluse whose incapacity for government was one of the causes of the Wars of the Roses.
George IV was 57 when he came to the throne, and by the late 1820s his health was failing him. His heavy drinking had taken its toll, and he had long been obese.
But when all the votes are in, one figures in the minds of scholars and historians as the greatest. He is Cyrus the Great of Persia, who in the mid-6th century BC ruled the greatest empire the world had ever known.
Anne became known as the 'Flanders Mare' only much later in the 17th century. Henry preferred to select his own wife and court them directly. Once the political motivation for marrying Anne had receded Henry began to look for reasons not to marry her. Her unattractiveness became one of them.
According to his account: Anne Boleyn was rather tall of stature, with black hair and an oval face of sallow complexion, as if troubled with jaundice. She had a projecting tooth under the upper lip, and on her right hand, six fingers.
The poll, conducted on 31 March and 1 April, found Prince Andrew was by far the least popular, with a rating of -55%. He stepped down from public duties in 2020 following a TV interview over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
1. The Royal Family of Saudi Arabia. The royal family of Saudi Arabia is the House of Saud and is undoubtedly the wealthiest royal family in the world. The royal family has been ruling the country since 1744 and is worth $1.4 trillion.
Giacomo Casanova: The Most Famous Womanizer.
It was pretty common for kings to have a mistress in those days, in part because marriages were arranged for political gain and not personal companionship.
1. Attila The Hun. Ruling the Hunnic Empire from A.D. 434-453, Attila the Hun was known as “The Scourge of God.” After seizing power for himself by killing his older brother, Bleda — Attila went on to expand his empire into areas of Germany, the Balkans and Russia.
Prince Andrew is still firmly the least popular member of the royal family in the eyes of the public, though. The Queen's son has been in the spotlight for a much more damaging reason. This chart shows the most and least popular members of the British royal family in the UK in 2022.