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THE LIFE OF KING CHARLES II

THE FICTION BEFORE THE FACT

I was first captivated by the story of King Charles II, (should this surprise anyone?) from reading the Musketeer novels. Who was the mysterious man in the shadows, I asked myself when he was first introduced.

"This was a man scarcely thirty years of age, handsome, tall, austere, or rather melancholy, in all his gestures and looks."

"He spoke to people looking them full in the face, without affectation, it is true, but without scruple, so that the brilliancy of his black eyes became so unbearable, that more than one look had sunk beneath his, like the weaker sword in a single combat."

These are two mere quotes from the characterization which quickly became one of my favorite parts in the Musketeer novels. It was these books which really made me pursue reading more about the exiled King Charles II and the history behind the fiction.

Fiction about Restoration England Another source which really nailed it for me was the movie Restoration. I really loved the settings and the story about "The Age of Reason." Of course the costume GOD did the work on it. James Acheson was highly accurate with this film (moreso than with Man in the Iron Mask - in which he took creative liberty with the Musketeer costumes). I'm still looking for more. But really, I am quite busy with facts which I am sorely lacking.

THE FACTS (slightly condensed)

Charles II

Charles II (born in 1630) had been present at the battle of Edgehill of the English Civil War at the young age of 12 (1642). Charles II was placed as nominal commander-in-chief at the headquarters in Bristol. A year later he was forced to leave England by Parliamentarians. In 1648, certainly by protective instinct, he was ordered by his father to join his mother in Paris. Although he attempted to find ways to help his father in the second English civil war... he would hear of his father's execution in 1649.

In 1650 he was crowned King of the Scots and made an attempt to regain the throne. This effort and many of his following efforts were doomed to fail. He would be forced to make a daring escape disguised as a normal man and live for many years in anonymity. Yet despite the years of homelessness, fate would create unforeseen events which would restore Charles to the throne. One year after the death of Cromwell however, Charles II was welcomed back to England and arrived in London on his 30th birthday.

Charles II was remarkably lenient on those whom had been responsible for executing his father. Charles was officially crowned king on April 23, 1651 (even though he had been invited to return to London as King in 1650). In 1652 he would be married to Catherine of Braganza, the daughter of the King of Portugal. Although she bore him no children, King Charles II never divorced her.

Charles II's reign would be marred by three horrible calamities. In 1665 thousands of Londoners would be killed by the plague. One year later, a great fire destroyed the heart of London. In 1667 the Dutch navy sailed up the Thames and burned part of the English fleet. 

Charles II was deemed the "Merry Monarch." Despite all that he had been through, he was remarkable light-hearted. He had a fondness for the style of France, as I have mentioned and much of his decorating was modeled after French inspirations. He had a great fondness for women and had many mistresses- though he apparently never had more than one mistress at a time. He frequented the theatre because of his fascination with actresses. He had four very well known mistresses: Lady Castlemaine, Lady Portsmouth, Hortense Mancini, and Nell Gwynn (an orange seller turned actress). Also an interesting legacy is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the breed that would be named after the king's fondness for the dogs.



 
  
Click on the picture to learn more about the King's favorite breed
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Brief Timeline of 17th century England through the death of Charles II

1603
Death of Elizabeth I
James I becomes King

1604
Peace with Spain
Hampton Conference - attempt to make peace between Catholics and Puritans

1605
Gunpowder Plot

1607
James I fails to unite the kingdoms, even as former James VI of Scotland

1609
Rebellion in Northern Ireland

1612
Death of Prince Henry - James I's leading successor

1613
Marriage between Protestant Elector Palatine and the Princess Elizabeth causes increased religious tension

1620
Puritans begin to move to New England

1623
Failed attempt to marry Prince Charles and the daughter of the king of Spain

1624
War with Spain begins

1625
Death of James I
Charles I becomes king
Charles I marries the Catholic Henrietta Maria of France - causing more tension

1626
War with France begins

1628
Duke of Buckingham is assassinated

1629
Charles I eliminates Parliament

1637
Charles I's sympathizer, Hampden, supports Charles I effort to collect Ship Money
Charles I begins doomed effort to govern Scotland

1640
Long Parliament

1641
Attempts to remodel government in England and Scotland
Factions of Protestants in Scotland and England rebel
Charles I's taxation policies draw vehement enmity

1642
King attempts to imprison five members of Parliament
English Civil War begins prompting Charles I escape from London

1643
The forces of Charles I hold the advantage

1644
Parliamentary forces take advantage

1645
New Model Army arises from Parliamentary forces

1646
Charles I surrenders to Scotland

1648
Second Civil War
Scotland sides with Charles I only to be defeated

1649
Execution of Charles I

1652
Cromwell finishes the dominion of Scotland and Ireland
First Dutch War begins

1655
Another War with Spain begins
Failed Royalist rebellion

1657
Cromwell nominates "House of Lords"

1658
Death of Cromwell
Succession of Cromwell's son, Richard

1659
Richard overthrown only to produce a lack of government

1660
Restoration of Charles II

1662
Church of England reinstated

1663
Efforts for religious toleration fail

1665
Great Plague does its major damage
Second Dutch War

1666
Great Fire of London

1673
End of second failed attempt for religious toleration

1679
Whig and Tory parties emerge

1685
Charles II dies
James II ascends to the throne despite a rebellion by Charles II's bastard son, the Duke of Monmouth

More Information

Britannia:King Charles II Read more about King Charles II