Why do we call Queen Elizabeth "Elizabeth I" when simply Elizabeth is correct?

Question

Only second and subsequent English monarchs of a particular name have a number after their name. Elizabeth II, as the second queen named Elizabeth, merits the "II" - but Elizabeth I, as the first one named Elizabeth, would simply have used the style "Elizabeth" (not "Elizabeth I") - so why do we now give her the number 1, and also any other monarchs. EG Henry VIII merited the VIII, but Henry I would have simply been Henry.

Answer 1

So we can distinguish which Elizabeth we are discussing

That is like saying we shouldn't have the number '1' because by having the number '2' it is self evident that'1' is '1'

If something has happened more than once then we say 'the first time it happened  etc'

Answer 2

For clarity's sake, and also up until a few years ago there was a "Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother"!

Answer 3

I just call her "Liz," except when we're out in public, then I call her "Your Majesty" (she really likes that, makes her feel special).

Answer 4

Probably for clarity's sake, 'cause if you say Elizabeth, maybe you were thinking of the current one, or maybe you accidentally left off the number.

Answer 5

I would have thought the reason was self-explanatory, but obviously not to everyone. . .

Answer 6

just to complicate things The Queen mother was crowned Queen Elizabeth too! ;p

Answer 7

very good q,,,,, and we only gave monarchs numbers since henry the eighth b4 that they were given names ie ;- edward the confesser, after h v111 we started using numerical order.

Answer 8

I think it saves time by say Queen Elizabeth the first, Because then people know which Queen you are talking about. If you just said Queen Elizabeth it could be either you are talking about.

Answer 9

Private Eye calls Elizabeth II 'Brenda' to distinguish her from her Tudor namesake, which I like.

They also call The Duke of Edinburgh 'Phil the Greek'...

Answer 10

Don't worry your pretty litle head. Just do the washing-up.

Answer 11

the number is kind of insignificant to the pronunciation of "the" before 1.  It shows that she is important and has a higher status.  Like "THE" place to be as opposed to a place to be.  It obviously shows her eminence.

Answer 12

Because once there is a second, you must specify, so that you are clear as to WHICH Elizabeth you are speaking of, especially since the current queen is Elizabeth II.

When she was the ONLY Queen Elizabeth, you didn't have to specify...no confusion.

You only need to say Queen Anne or Queen Victoria, because there is only one of each.  As soon as there is a second of either, you will need to specify.

Answer 13

It may not be the absolutely correct way to do it, but as the present Queen is also an Elizabeth, I would imagine it is to eliminate any confusion.

Answer 14

A regnal post-nominal numbers were a Norman (as opposed to English) custom, and it started when Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), popularly known as Longshanks ruled over England. He initially intended to call himself Edward IV, recognising the three Saxon kings of England of that name. However, for unknown reasons, this designation does not appear to have been formally used, the King instead being known as 'King Edward' not only by custom (for a King would generally not be known by his regal designation in ordinary conversation), but in all known formal documentation.

Upon the accession of his son, also named Edward, the custom of the old reign was taken as rule "the new King was named Edward II, and the old Edward I. Technically, then, this established the custom of numbering English monarchs only from the Norman Conquest (although Edward is the only name that has been shared by pre- and post-Conquest monarchs).

Answer 15

It is not correct to call her 'just Elizabeth' When in the country you refer to her as 'the Queen', you do not need to use her name at all because hse is THE Queen. If you refer to a dead monarch, e.g. Elizabeth 1st then eeryone k nows hwo you bare referring to. If the wife of the Queen was an Elzabeth ( as was the wife of the last king, George 6th,) she would be referred to as the Queen, but when he dies she was Queen Elizabeth....she was later called the Queen mother to avoid confusion wiht her dauighter who had the same name. and to avoid confusion wiht the monarch Elzabeth 1st.

Answer 16

We call her the first to distinguish her from the present one. Of course during her reign she was only known as Elizabeth as she was prior to 1952. The two kings without numbers (Stephen and John) would of course become the first if there was another king of that name in the future.

Answer 17

Because now there is a second Elizabeth- It's purely to differentiate.  She wouldn't have had the "1st" moniker while she was alive, of course.  As soon as there is a 2nd in the family, they are referred to as second, and the first is then referred to as the 1st.