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Charles I, King of England,
Scotland and Ireland 1625-1649,
son of James VI-I, King of England 1603-1625, King of Scots 1567-1625
and Princess Anna of Denmark
Born 19 November 1600 Dunfermline
Died 30 January 1649 Whitehall (beheaded)
Buried Chapel Royal, Windsor
Married 11 May 1625 Paris (by Proxy)
Princess Henrietta Maria de France
Born 26 November 1609 The Louvre, Paris
Died 10 September 1669 Chateau de Colombes
Buried St.Denis
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Born a second son, he was a delicate child with slow physical development,
unable to walk or talk at the age of three. When his parents left Scotland
for London with his elder brother and sister, he was left behind and remained
in Scotland until, in July 1604, he was
considered well enough to make the journey leisurely in a curtained
litter. He was placed in charge of Lady Carey who patiently taught him
both to walk and talk in a stammering fashion. Charles loved his elder
brother, Henry, but Henry died when Charles was only twelve; and when his
sister Elizabeth married the year after, he was left alone. His father
hoped for a marriage-alliance for Charles with the Spanish Infanta Maria
and, in 1623, sent him with the Duke of Buckingham to Madrid. However,
religion prevented this marriage from taking place.
In 1625 after his father's death, Charles I became king and two months
later married Princess Henrietta Maria of France. Like his father, Charles
I had problems with the Parliament. After dissolving it for a third time
in 1629, he decided to govern without Parliament which he did for eleven
years. Charles I and Henrietta Maria were a devoted couple and produced
nine children, of whom only four reached adulthood. Their Court was
cultured and they encouraged the art of van Dyck. Charles I built up
an enormous collection of paintings, only to have it sold later by Cromwell.
Eventually it became inevitable to recall Parliament, to where the King
came to order the arrest of five members. However, as they had been forewarned,
they had made themselves scarce. Civil War between Cavaliers and Roundheads
was unavoidable. It took its toll on England and Scotland and the Royalists
were finally defeated by Oliver Cromwell at Naseby in 1645. In 1646 Charles
surrendered to the Scots but was handed over to the English who imprisoned
him in Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight. He was taken to Westminster
Hall to be tried by 135 judges. Charles
did not plead as he did not recognise their right to judge their king.
He was found guilty by 68 against 67 and sentenced to death. On 30 January
1649 he was beheaded outside Whitehall Palace. Being winter, he wore two
shirts to prevent himself from shivering so that the people would not think
he was shaking from fear.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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