The Anarchy: Stephen or Matilda?
The Wars of the Roses: York or Lancaster?
The Civil War: Royalist or Parliamentarian?
In the initial Wars of the Roses, it would be hard to put up an argument for Henry VI as he was clearly unsuited to be a King.
I've always rather liked Henry VI, ever since I saw him portrayed by Terry Scully (and whatever happened to him?) in An Age of Kings in the early 1960s.
Nobody called themselves Protestant at the time. It started as a pejorative, I can't remember if it first became current just before or after his death.
Damn you must be old
Definitely the White Rose.
Parliamentarians, although as has been noted Oliver Cromwell was a bit of a misery guts.
Puritans disapproved of having sex standing up in case it lead to dancing.
The White Rose, obviously.
On balance, I’d side with the Royalists, as they were more fun, but Cromwell’s cancellation of Christmas has a lot to recommend it.
Matilda
York, mainly because my dad's from Yorkshire, but I find several people on the Yorkist side quite interesting.
Tough one. Sellar and Yeatman said it all really - I suppose Parliamentarians in the sense that I think a republic is generally a Good Thing, but I don't think much of their methods.
Puritans weren't that miserable, it was the Presbyterians that were the real kill joys and twas they who banned Christmas in 1648, the year before Puritans took power. Strict Presbyterians in Scotland continued the Christmas humbug for hundreds of years, they might be some who are still on it now.
Although both groups were mainly about separating jollity from religious occasions not getting rid of it altogether. Its also worthy of note that Puritans allowed far more religious freedom than than the monarchy. Recusancy fines were abolished, thus church attendance was no longer complusory and it's still the only period in English history when there was no official religion.
I think I'll opt for Stephen, I like the idea of a King Steve. Also Matilda had already been an Empress and its hard to love a carpet bagger.
The best named king we never had was Alfonso, son of Edward I and first in line until his death. Leaving the job to the less than wonderful Edward II.
The best named kings ever though were French. Louis the Fat, Charles the Bald and (though I have yet to locate him) Childeric the Sweaty.
John The Stupid was one of theirs.
Ivar The Boneless.
Cnut the Great, bit of a lost opportunity there
William the Conqueror was called William the Bastard at home in Normandy.
He probably invaded Britain out of sheer desperation.