ENGLAND’S TYRANT KING CHARLES
On 30 January 1649, as King Charles I was escorted through the Banqueting House to the scaffold outside, he walked under the magnificent ceiling painting by Peter Paul Rubens that he had commissioned 13 years earlier. A tribute to his father, King James VI & I, it glorified the monarchy and symbolised the divine right of kings – a belief that led Charles to the executioner’s block.
Derided as a tyrant by some and celebrated as a martyr by others, Charles was a divisive king who continues to ignite debate almost four centuries after his death. As James’ second son, Charles spent the first 12 years of his life as the spare to the heir until the death of his elder brother, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, in 1612. He succeeded his father in 1625 and initially there was excitement for a new, young king.
Less than two months into his reign, Charles married Princess Henrietta Maria of France, a Catholic. The marriage worried Parliament, who feared that she would influence him to reintroduce Catholic practices and steer the Church of England towards Catholicism.
“CHARLES SUCCEEDED HIS FATHER IN 1625 AND INITIALLY THERE WAS EXCITEMENT FOR A NEW, YOUNG KING”
There was a growing distrust in Charles’ religious policies. Like his father, he wanted to create a religious uniformity across England, Scotland and Ireland. But some of his beliefs, for example that there should be a hierarchy within the church and that the heads of the church should be treated with deference, were far too Catholic for the Puritans in Parliament.
Regardless, Charles saw introducing religious reforms as his right. He also inherited his father’s unwavering belief in the divine right of kings, that a monarch was appointed by and only answerable to God. Consequently, Charles expected his wishes to be carried out without question and saw any
