Anirudh Zaveri European History – 3rd October 7, 2010

Arjun Sachdeva
Jasmair Sangha
Charles I of England

Charles the First of England was born at Dunfermline, Scotland on November 19, 1600
and died on January 30, 1649. Charles I succeeded James I of England, and reigned England,
Scotland, and Ireland from March 27, 1625 till his execution in January 30, 1649. He was the
second of the four Stuart monarchs, who reigned for the second least amount of time.
Charles I was the second son of James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark, and became
the heir to the throne after the death of his elder brother Henry in 1612. As a child, Charles
suffered from weak ankle joints, which slowed his physical development; also he was slow in
learning to speak which lead to a slight stammer, which he never overcame. Thomas Murray,
who helped Charles excel in language, oversaw his education. He was later married to Henrietta
Maria, daughter of Henry IV of France and she bore him seven legitimate, Charles II and Henry
II, and one daughter Mary. Charles II later succeeded him, and Mary was married to William of
Orange and was the mother of William III.
Friction with Parliament occurred from the beginning of Charles reign, and lasted
throughout his reign. Charles postulated that it was his divine right to be the absolute ruler of his
territories, but the Parliament resented his idea, which resulted in each causing grievances
against the other throughout his reign. After many failed attempts in dissolving the Parliament in
1625 and 1626, Charles I, like his father, resorted to extra parliamentary measures when
Parliament would not adequately finance his enterprises. Parliament members were furious of
Charles’s action, and to express their discontent in 1628 Charles was presented with the Petition
of Right a declaration of the “rights and liberties of the subject", which he reluctantly agreed to.
This declaration basically set certain liberties of subjects that the king is prohibited from
infringing. However, shortly after in 1629, he dissolved Parliament again, imprisoned its leaders
and ruled without having any parliamentary meetings for 11 years of his reign. To allow Charles
to rule without renegotiating financial arrangements with Parliament, his chief minster, Thomas
Wentworth, instituted a policy known as thorough. This policy imposed strict efficiency and
administrative centralization in government to achieve absolute royal control of England.
Through this policy, Charles’s ministers exploited every possible fundraising device. However
the success of this policy was dependent of the ability to operate independent of the Parliament,
which lasted till 1640 when Charles was forced in desperation to call for Parliament. The Short
Anirudh Zaveri European History – 3rd October 7, 2010
Arjun Sachdeva
Jasmair Sangha
Parliament, run by John Pym, refused to supply Charles with proper finances to fight the Scots
without reexamination of policies employed by Charles without parliamentary consent. The king,
in response, immediately dissolved the Parliament. However, once the Presbyterian Scots
invaded England, Charles was coerced to rectify Parliament own its own terms. The Long
Parliament acted on widespread support and general unanimity because of patronage by the
citizens that were affected my Charles’s harsh policies. Parliament abolished royal instruments
of political and religious thorough and all the levied taxes without consent of the Parliament now
became illegal. Finally, Parliament resolved that no more than three years should elapse between
its meetings and that it could not be dissolved without its own consent. Also, neither Charles nor
any future king could again govern without consulting it. However, Charles saw divisions within
the Parliament as a chance to reassert his power. A Civil War erupted between the Cavaliers,
Charles supporters, and Roundheads, parliamentary supporters.
Charles inherited an excessive financial debt from his father, and the Parliaments refusal
to grant to a king who refuses to address grievances towards the nobility. Charles acted without
consent of the Parliament, to enforce many illegal taxes. Paradigms of these unpopular taxes
were ship money, and forced loans, loans which were theoretically taxes that would be repaid in
the future and if a citizen refused to contribute funds to the king they would be imprisoned or
executed. These issues became the pretexts to dissolution of the Parliament, and the Civil war.
Charles strived to unify England's religion, leading to somewhat of popery during his
reign. Puritans became highly suspicious of certain practices influencing the return of Roman
Catholicism. During his years of personal ruling, Charles declared peace with France and Spain,
leading to fear rousing between subjects believing that he wished for Roman Catholic
dominance. These suspicions continued due to his marriage because his wife was permitted to
take part in the mass daily at the English Court. His religious policies provoked a war with
Scotland, as they were furious at Charles's attempt to impose religious conformity. This conflict
galvanized the beginning of the Civil War, which would determine whether England would be
controlled by the King's bishops and conform to high Anglican practice or adopt a decentralized,
Presbyterian system of church governance. Eventually after a turbulent war, Charles was
executed and his religious aspirations were left unfinished.
The only major war fought during Charles's reign was the eruption of a civil war between
Charles's supporters and the Parliament, which slowly engulfed England into a four year war
Anirudh Zaveri European History – 3rd October 7, 2010
Arjun Sachdeva
Jasmair Sangha
(1642-1646). This war was fought over two main issues, the transformation of England into a
absolute monarchy from parliamentary rule and whether English religion would be controlled by
the king's bishops and conform to high Anglican practice or adopt a decentralized, Presbyterian
system of church governance. This war was basically a stalemate till two factors finally led to the
Parliament's victory, the alliance with Scotland in 1643 and the reorganization of the
Roundheads by Oliver Cromwell. After these improvements to the "New Model Army", the
Parliament won several decisive battles to defeat Charles militarily. In desperation, Charles
sought to take advantage of internal divisions in the Parliament, trying to win the Presbyterians
and Scots over to the royalist side. His efforts seemed meaningless because of Cromwell's strong
Independent religious background, and soon foiled Charles's plots. Soon after, England morphed
into a Puritan republic from 1649 to 1660. However, this military dictatorship proved no more
effective than Charles's rule.
During the years of Charles's personal rule, he elaborated his already prestigious court,
while patronizing several of the greatest artists of the time. Charles's also, in desperation, sold
noble titles and knighthoods, which made each title less exclusive.
Charles’ reign was met with much displeasure from England. He wasn’t widely approved
as he sought for religious uniformity, higher taxes, and avoided Parliament.