Charles I of England (r. 1625-1649) was a Stuart king who, like his father James I of England (r. 1603-1625), viewed himself as a monarch with absolute power and a divine right to rule. His lack of compromise with Parliament led to the English Civil Wars (1642-51), his execution, and the abolition of the monarchy in 1649.
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Definition
Timeline
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19 Nov 1600Birth of Charles, second son of James VI of Scotland and the future Charles I of England.
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1625 - 1649Reign of Charles I of England.
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1625Charles I of England marries Henrietta Maria, the young sister of Louis XIII of France.
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1626The English launch a disastrous attack on Cadiz.
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1628The English Parliament issues its Petition of Right.
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Jun 1628The English launch a disastrous attack on La Rochelle.
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1629A peace treaty is signed between England and France.
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Mar 1629Charles I of England dissolves Parliament and will not recall it for 11 years.
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29 May 1630Charles, son of Charles I of England and future Charles II of England, is born.
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Aug 1630A peace treaty is signed between England and Spain.
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1632Charles I of England appoints Anthony van Dyck as his court artist.
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1633James, son of Charles I of England and future James II of England, is born.
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1633Charles I of England appoints William Laud as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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1637Charles I of England attempts to impose a new and unpopular Common Prayer Book in Scotland.
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1640A scottish army invades northern England and occupies Newcastle.
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1640The Short and Long Parliaments debate funds for an army for Charles I of England.
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Oct 1641A major rebellion breaks out in Ireland against English rule.
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23 Nov 1641Parliament passes the Grand Remonstrance critcising the rule of Charles I of England.
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1 Dec 1641Parliament's Grand Remonstrance is formally presented to Charles I of England.
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1642 - 1651The English Civil Wars between Parliamentarians ('Roundheads') and Royalists ('Cavaliers').
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Jan 1642Charles I of England attempts to arrest five Members of Parliament and the Earl of Manchester.
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Aug 1642 - 1646The First English Civil War.
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23 Oct 1642The Royalists defeat the Parliamentarians at the Battle of Edgehill in Warwickshire during the English Civil Wars.
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2 Jul 1644The Parliamentarians, with the help of Scottish troops, defeat the Royalists at the Battle of Marston Moor during the English Civil Wars.
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27 Oct 1644The indecisive Second Battle of Newbury during the English Civil Wars.
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14 Jun 1645The Parliamentarians led by Sir Thomas Fairfax defeat the Royalists at the Battle of Naseby during the English Civil Wars.
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Jan 1647The Scots hand over Charles I of England to the English.
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Nov 1647Charles I of England escapes from his capitivity and stays on the Isle of Wight.
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Feb 1648 - Aug 1648The Second English Civil War when a Scottish army attempts and fails to restore Charles I of England.
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17 Aug 1648 - 20 Aug 1648A Parliamentarian army led by Oliver Cromwell defeats an Anglo-Scottish Royalist army at the Battle of Preston.
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Dec 1648The creation of the 'Rump Parliament' sees the number of MPs reduced to just 150 members.
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1 Dec 1648A group of Parliamentarian officers captures Charles I of England on the Isle of Wight.
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20 Jan 1649Charles I of England is put on trial by Parliament and found guilty of treason.
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30 Jan 1649Execution of Charles I of England. The monarchy is abolished.
