The Historical Context, 1625-49

Charles I takes the throne at age 25 in 1625. In the early years of his reign, he is heavily influenced by the Earl of Buckingham.

1625--Charles asks Parliament for money to fight the war against Spain. Parliament refuses. Charles fights anyway. The English are creamed after a drunken invasion of Cadiz.

1627--Charles goes to war against France, despite a previous alliance, mostly because of the French persecution of the Huguenots (French Protestants). Three expeditions sent; Buckingham's expedition gets creamed, losing half his men

1628--Charles calls Parliament in an attempt to raise cash to fight his wars. The Parliament drafts the Petition of Right, which limits royal prerogative (a landmark in British legal history). Charles signs (reluctantly) so that he can get his money. Charles then dismisses Parliament in an attempt to protect Buckingham, who is soon thereafter assassinated.

1629--Charles recalls Parliament, which tries to address issues of religious controversy. Charles finally dissolves Parliament, arresting nine members and throwing many of them in the Tower. Charles won't call Parliament for another 11 years--which means he'll have to try to get his money elsewhere, or economize.

1630--Charles makes peace with France and Spain.

1629-1640 Charles tries to raise money through all kinds of odd taxes, trying to argue that he has the right to tax (though that right is generally held to belong only to Parliament). Charles' chief advisors are Thomas Wentworth (Earl of Stafford) and Archbishop William Laud (made Archbishop in 1633). Laud's suppression of dissenters and advocation of High Church Anglicanism helps drive Puritans to New England and ends up precipitating the chain of events leading to the civil war in England.

1637--Charles wants to invade Scotland, which has rioted against Laud's attempted imposition of Anglican conformity on their Presbyterian church. Charles can't raise the cash to fight; Stafford gets Charles to call Parliament in order to get the funds he needs.

1640--The Short Parliament. Charles calls Parliament in order to get money to fight the Scots. Parliament refuses. Charles dissolves Parliament. The Scots invade. Charles has no money to fight. The Scots say they won't leave; they demand to be paid 850 pounds a day until a settlement is reached. Charles needs cash.

1640--The Long Parliament. Charles calls Parliament to get the money he needs. This is the beginning of the power struggle that is the English Civil War.

1641--Stafford is impeached, but not convicted; Commons intimidates Charles into signing Stafford's death warrant even without the conviction. Stafford is executed. Laud is also imprisoned, and later (1645) he too is executed.

1641--Irish rebellion leads to a vote to raise an army to go fight them. The Parliament is reluctant, worried that Charles will use the army against Parliament instead of against the Irish. They pass a resolution called "The Grand Remonstrance," outlining grievances and demanding greater voice by Parliament in conduct of government and war. Charles marches forces into the House of Commons to arrest five leading members (they'd been warned and weren]t there to be arrested). Charles is in trouble and knows it; he moves north to raise a large army.

1642--Parliament sends the King an ultimatum that essentially asks him to give up all power. Not a chance. War begins.

Overview: Charles wins at first, but Parliament has superior resources and manpower (and they control the navy). Charles has no cash. Charles's support is primarily in the north and west, Parliament's is to the south and east (London). The Scots side with Parliament. 1644--first major victory by the Parliamentary forces at Marston Moor, but they can't follow up. 1645: Cromwell and Sir Thomas Fairfax organize the New Model Army, which decisively defeats the Royalists in 1645.

1646--Charles surrenders to Parliament At this time, no one intends to depose Charles. Charles tries working factions against each other, making conflicting promises to different groups. Parliament orders New Model Army either to disband or go fight the Irish. The Army threatens mutiny, and Oliver Cromwell, who had before been trying to act as a neutral mediator, throws in his lot with the army. He tries to propose a moderate solution, but no one buys it.

1647--Charles escapes to Isle of Wight and tries to get the Scots to invade England on his behalf. The Scots invade, and remaining Royalists cause uprisings, but Cromwell's army wins. By this time, the Army has little use for either the King or for Parliament.

1648--in December, Parliament is purged of those who support the Scottish Presbyterians or the Royalist faction. This then becomes the Rump Parliament, which pretty much takes orders from the Army.

1649--Rump Parliament House of Commons (less than 100 members) convenes a court to try Charles I; Charles refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the court and won't speak in his own defense. He's convicted and executed in January 1649.