I just noticed in my "Today in History" page that Elizabeth I was crowned on January 13, 1559. I don't know whether that's Julian or Gregorian but I got to thinking - who was England's greatest monarch? I like Henry VIII but other than starting the Church of England I can't think of much he did to contribute. My choices are:
Elizabeth I - who inherited a bankrupt little country and created an empire.
Victoria - who extended the empire to its greatest limits.
Of course there were come good ones from other countries - the ancients, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Augustus; Charlemagne, Frederick the Great, Peter ...