Reign of King Charles I

Historical Context Note

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.04: English Writing and Culture of the Seventeenth Century, 1625-1688.
Vol. editors: Jennifer Brady (Rhodes College), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Neil Forsyth (Université de Lausanne), Claire Preston (Queen Mary, University of London), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University)

Domains

Changes of government, elections and reigns

Dates

Date of occurrence 1625-03-27-1649-01-30

Places

United Kingdom (Location)

Resources

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The reign of Charles I might well to be said to be the most disastrous of any English monarch. While he was not the only monarch to be overthrown, he was the only only one to be publicly executed, and the only one to bring about the collapse of the monarchy itself.

His reign began inauspiciously with controversy over his unpopular marriage to Henrietta Maria, sister of Louis XIII of France. Charles's sister was the wife of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, and thus champion of the Protestant alliance in the Thirty Years' War. By marrying a French princess, however, Charles was effectively allying himself with the Catholic cause.

His reign began inauspiciously with controversy over his unpopular marriage to Henrietta Maria, sister of Louis XIII of France. Charles's sister was the wife of…

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