Charles I Biography

Birth of Charles I, son of James I of England & Queen Anne of Denmark

Leaves Scotland to live in England

Investiture as Prince of Wales at Westminster, the last investiture until 1911

A naval bombardment of Cadiz ends in failure

Parliament grants tonnage & poundage for a year rather than life

Crowned King of England

Marries Henrietta Maria, daughter of the France's Henry IV

Attends the burial of James I in state as the chief mourner at Westminster Abbey

Opens his 1st Parliament

The Dutch & English to subsidize support for German Protestants

The Act of Revocation is passed in Scotland reforming ownership of Church lands

The Act of Revocation is passed in Scotland reforming ownership of Church lands

Refuses to grant funds without redress of grievances

Begins the impeachment of the Duke of Buckingham

Succeeds as King of England. 2nd son of James I & Anne of Denmark, became heir when his brother Henry died in 1612

Charles I buries the Buckingham in the Chapel of Henry VII, reserved for royalty

Addresses Parliament for the 1st time but fails to raise funds for a war with Spain

Has 9 MPs arrested

Appoints Laud & Wentworth as advisers to rule without Parliament

Charles raises money by fines imposed by star Chamber & selling monopolies

Parliament does not open again for 11 yrs

Quebec is temporarily surrendered to the English

Creates controversy because of the Papist ceremony using a Church of England service. 1st time since early infancy that Charles has set foot in Scotland

Raises "ship money" on the coastal counties

Tries to stop his 2nd Parliament debating taxation, outlawing Popery & Arminianism

Extends "ship money" to include inland counties

The Scottish Church is to use a Prayer Book written in England by English churchmen. Issues the Book of Canons reorganizing the Scottish Church along English lines

The reading of the English Prayer Book causes a riot in Scotland

The Scottish Church is to use a Prayer Book written in England by English churchmen. Issues the Book of Canons reorganizing the Scottish Church along English lines

The General Assembly abolishes Charles Is reforms & re-establishes Presbyterianism

Issues the Book of Canons reorganizing the Scottish Church along English lines

Enhances the Navy, the "Sovereign of the Seas" is constructed

Charles I concedes the Scottish right to free church assembly and a free Parliament

A general assembly of the Scottish church abolishes the episcopacy

The Scottish National Covenant is founded, "in defence of the true reformed religion"

The 1st Bishops War ends without fighting by the Pacification of Berwick. Charles I concedes the Scottish right to free church assembly and a free Parliament

Parliament refuses money & Charles is defeated

Parliament refuses money & Charles is defeated

The Scots rebel against the Church worship which Charles designed for them

The Scottish National Covenant is founded, "in defence of the true reformed religion". The Scots rebel against the Church worship which Charles designed for them

Charles I advises his Privy Council he will have to use force against the Covenanters

Charles commissioner try to close the Assembly but they are ignored

Charles commissioner try to close the Assembly but they are ignored

The episcopacy is abolished

Starts after Charles tries to enforce the English Book of Common Prayer on the Scots

"Ship money" is illegally raised inland in time of peace, finances Charles court

The Covenanters capture Inverness

The Covenanters capture Inverness

Dumbarton castle falls to the Covenanters

Edinburgh castle falls to the Covenanters

Dumbarton castle falls to the Covenanters

Edinburgh castle falls to the Covenanters

The Royalists briefly occupy Aberdeen

The Royalists capture Aberdeen

The "black oath" requires all Scots in Ulster to take an oath to the King

The "black oath" requires all Scots in Ulster to take an oath to the King

The Treaty of Berwick ends the 1st Bishops War as Charles is forced to call a truce

The Covenanters occupy Aberdeen

The Covenanters occupy Aberdeen

1st day of Charles 2nd Parliament in Scotland

Final day of Charles 2nd Parliament in Scotland

The presence of Marie de Medici and her household intensifies fears of Catholic influence.

Scottish troops remain in northern England pending a permanent settlement.

Charles issues the summons for a Parliament to meet in April.

Charles addresses his first English Parliament since dissolving Parliament in 1629.

Charles asks both Houses to provide rapid financial support against Scotland.

Charles summons Parliament after eleven years to seek funds for war against the Covenanters.

Charles ends eleven years of Personal Rule by meeting the Short Parliament.

The King asks the Commons to finance military operations against the Scottish Covenanters.

The Commons insists that grievances must be addressed before voting money for war.

Pym links the Commons refusal of supply to abuses committed during Personal Rule.

Charles presses the Commons to decide quickly whether it will grant subsidies.

Charles decides that continuing debate will not produce the requested subsidies.

Charles dissolves the Short Parliament after the Commons refuses immediate war subsidies.

Charles dissolves Parliament after failing to obtain money for the renewed Scottish war.

The Scottish Parliament begins its second session amid constitutional conflict with Charles.

Scottish legislation proceeds without the King’s assent during the constitutional confrontation.

The Scottish Parliament asserts that its measures may become law without royal assent.

The second Scottish parliamentary session ends after challenging royal authority.

Charles concentrates poorly supplied English forces in northern England.

A further Scottish parliamentary session begins without normal royal direction.

Charles leaves London to supervise the English war effort in northern England.

The Covenanter army crosses into England and advances through Northumberland.

Scottish Covenanters defeat the English army at Newburn.

The Covenanter army defeats English forces attempting to defend the River Tyne crossings.

Scottish forces occupy Newcastle after victory at Newburn.

The Scottish Covenanter army occupies Newcastle after the English defeat at Newburn.

The city admits the Covenanter army after English commanders withdraw.

Charles’s defeated northern army withdraws toward York after abandoning Newcastle.

The Scottish army advances beyond Newcastle and occupies parts of Durham.

Scottish troops extend their occupation southward into County Durham.

Charles asks assembled peers for advice following the Scottish invasion.

Charles convenes a Great Council of Peers after military defeat in the north.

Charles announces that a new Parliament will meet in November.

The Great Council advises Charles to summon Parliament and continue peace negotiations.

Public demonstrations urge the King to summon another Parliament.

Royal writs initiate elections for the Parliament scheduled to meet in November.

Charles authorises negotiations with Scottish commissioners after the English military collapse.

English and Scottish commissioners begin formal negotiations at Ripon.

Scottish forces retain Durham as security until a final peace settlement.

The treaty leaves Scottish forces occupying Northumberland while negotiations continue.

The treaty suspends the Second Bishops War and establishes temporary occupation arrangements.

The Ripon settlement allows Scottish forces to remain quartered in County Durham.

Charles accepts daily payments supporting the occupying Scottish army.

The Treaty of Ripon permits the Scottish army to remain in Durham pending settlement.

The Ripon agreement recognises continued Scottish occupation of Northumberland.

English and Scottish commissioners sign the treaty ending active hostilities.

Charles agrees to pay the Scottish army eight hundred and fifty pounds daily.

Charles seeks parliamentary funds for English troops and payments owed to the Scots.

Charles opens the Parliament later known as the Long Parliament.

Payments required by the Ripon treaty make parliamentary taxation unavoidable.

The Parliament beginning in November later becomes known for its exceptional duration.

The military and financial crisis forces Charles to recall Parliament.

Charles assembles Parliament because war and occupation have exhausted royal finances.

Charles asks Parliament to finance the armies and relieve counties occupied by the Scots.

Charles calls the Long Parliament following defeat and settlement in the Bishops Wars.

Financial obligations under the Ripon settlement compel Charles to meet Parliament.

Members begin challenging taxation, religious policy and ministers associated with Personal Rule.

A mass petition asks Parliament to abolish episcopacy within the Church of England.

The Triennial Act limits prolonged government without a Parliament.

Charles assents to legislation requiring Parliament to meet at least once every three years.

Charles attends proceedings against his chief minister, the Earl of Strafford.

Charles attends the marriage of Princess Mary to William II, Prince of Orange.

Charles accepts that the Long Parliament cannot be dissolved without its own consent.

Charles reluctantly assents to the bill of attainder against Strafford.

Charles receives Strafford's letter accepting sacrifice for the peace of the kingdom.

Charles resists parliamentary proposals for eliminating bishops.

Charles accepts statutory regulation of customs duties formerly collected without full parliamentary authority.

Legislation removes the ecclesiastical Court of High Commission.

Charles assents to legislation abolishing the Court of Star Chamber.

Charles accepts major limitations on royal power within the Scottish kingdom.

Parliamentary legislation declares ship money unlawful without parliamentary consent.

Charles leaves London for Scotland amid continuing conflict with the English Parliament.

Charles arrives in Edinburgh to negotiate with the Scottish political leadership.

Charles receives reports of the Irish uprising while staying in Scotland.

The Irish rebellion creates an immediate crisis over raising and commanding an army.

Charles returns to London as the Grand Remonstrance crisis intensifies.

Crowds demonstrate around Westminster as political language divides into royalist and parliamentary camps.

Charles rejects parliamentary attempts to control military appointments.

A parliamentary deputation formally presents the Grand Remonstrance to Charles.

Charles receives the parliamentary document at Hampton Court.

Charles asks the Lords for resources to protect subjects threatened by the Irish rebellion.

Charles appoints Thomas Lunsford as Lieutenant of the Tower, provoking public opposition.

Charles answers the Remonstrance and refuses its central accusations.

Charles rejects key accusations and defends his religious and constitutional policies.

Charles withdraws Lunsford's appointment following protests in the City.

Charles appoints John Byron as the new Lieutenant of the Tower.

Charles offers to lead forces for Ireland while Parliament doubts his intentions.

Charles governs from York while political negotiations with Parliament collapse.

Charles establishes his court at York while gathering northern Royalist support.

Charles stays at Aston Hall while moving through the Midlands before Edgehill.

Charles formally accuses five Commons members and Lord Mandeville of high treason.

Charles enters the Commons but finds the accused members have escaped.

Charles enters the Commons with an armed escort seeking the accused members.

Popular opposition after the failed arrests causes Charles and the royal family to leave Whitehall.

Charles and the royal family leave London after popular demonstrations support Parliament.

The royal family moves from Whitehall to Hampton Court amid public unrest.

Charles sends Parliament a conciliatory message after leaving London.

Charles sends another message seeking negotiations with the two Houses.

Charles offers a pardon to the Commons members previously accused of treason.

Charles announces that Henrietta Maria and Princess Mary will travel to Holland.

Charles assents to legislation excluding bishops from the House of Lords and temporal offices.

Legislation removes bishops from the House of Lords and secular government positions.

Charles assents to the exclusion of bishops from the House of Lords.

Charles refuses Parliament's demand for control of the militia.

Charles rejects Parliament's demand to appoint the kingdom's militia commanders.

Parliament asserts that its ordinances may operate without the King's assent during the emergency.

Parliament claims authority to issue binding ordinances without royal assent.

Parliament passes the Militia Ordinance to place county forces under its nominees.

Charles establishes his court at York while gathering northern political support.

Charles denounces Hotham after being refused entry to Hull.

Charles travels from York to demand entry to Hull and its military magazine.

Hotham refuses Charles entry to Hull under Parliament's instructions.

Charles reports Hotham's refusal to Parliament and demands redress.

Charles proposes transferring the central law courts from London to York.

Parliament declares the proposed transfer of the law courts unlawful.

Parliament declares that the King's military preparations amount to war against Parliament.

Parliament approves the Nineteen Propositions demanding extensive control over ministers, armed forces and royal policy.

Charles receives Parliament's proposals for a major transfer of royal authority.

Charles issues commissions authorising supporters to muster county forces.

Charles authorises supporters to muster county forces through commissions of array.

Charles rejects the proposals and defends the established balance of the constitution.

The King rejects Parliament's programme for controlling ministers, religion and the armed forces.

Charles directs an unsuccessful attempt to force Hull's Parliamentarian garrison to submit.

Charles abandons the Hull siege after flooding and strong resistance frustrate the Royalists.

Most of the fleet rejects royal orders and accepts Parliament's admiral.

Coventry refuses Charles entry and denies the Royalists access to the fortified city.

Parliament demands that Charles lower his standard and withdraw treason accusations.

After failing to secure Coventry, Charles offers negotiations while continuing mobilisation.

Charles dismisses parliamentary commissioners during renewed disputes over Hull.

Charles declares leading parliamentary opponents traitors and calls for their suppression.

Charles raises the Royal Standard at Nottingham and summons supporters to arms.

Charles arrives at Nottingham and begins formally assembling the Royalist army.

Charles raises his standard and formally summons supporters against Parliament.

Charles establishes a recruiting centre at Shrewsbury and draws support from Wales.

Parliamentarian forces briefly occupy Oxford before the Royalist field army returns.

Charles gathers recruits, money and equipment before marching eastward.

The Royal Standard is raised again after the original standard collapses in bad weather.

Charles's Royalist cavalry defeats Parliament's advance guard at Powick Bridge.

The Royalist army begins moving toward the capital after Edgehill.

Charles reaches Edgecote while seeking the Parliamentarian army before Edgehill.

The Royalist council plans to secure Banbury and Oxford before advancing farther.

Charles and his commanders plan the approach to Banbury and Oxford.

Charles fights the inconclusive Battle of Edgehill and continues his advance toward London.

Charles remains with the Royalist centre during the inconclusive battle.

Charles's army takes Banbury while advancing toward Oxford and London.

The Royalist army secures Banbury during its march after Edgehill.

Charles enters Oxford and develops the city as the principal Royalist headquarters.

Charles enters Oxford and begins establishing the city as his wartime headquarters.

Charles prepares the Royalist army to advance from Oxford toward London.

Charles gathers recruits and cavalry support before marching toward the Midlands.

Charles reaches Reading while advancing toward London after Edgehill.

Charles reaches Reading while Parliamentarian forces reorganise nearer London.

Charles orders Royalist troops to attack Parliament's outpost at Brentford.

Charles confronts a larger Parliamentarian army and withdraws from Turnham Green.

The Royalist Reading garrison is handed over to the Roundheads

Rejects proposals drawn up by the Lords & Parliament after the Battle of Edgehill

Fails to capture Gloucester

Signs a truce with the Irish rebels to free his troops for service in England

Charles fights Essex's army at the inconclusive First Battle of Newbury.

Captures Donnington Castle north west of Newbury

Withdraws his troops from Ireland & recruits Irish reinforcements. Makes peace with the Irish Confederation

Makes peace with the Irish Confederation

Charles summons a rival Parliament at Oxford after the Civil War has divided the kingdom.

Leicester is sacked by Charles I & Prince Rupert

Montrose expels the Covenentors from Aberdeen

The Battle of Aberdeen is fought between Royalist & Covenanter forces

Montrose expels the Covenentors from Aberdeen

The new Parliament includes 100 members of the Commons & 30 peers. Opens his own Parliament in Christ Church Hall

Royalist defeat near York which loses Charles stronghold in the nth. 4,000 Royalists are killed & 1,500 taken prisoner

Parliament captures York

Parliament captures York

The Royalists defeat Essex & capture 8,000 infantry. After their victory the Royalists are in a position to march on London

After victory at Lostwithiel the Royalists are in a position to march on London

With 10,000 men faces Cromwell with 22,000. The Battle is inconclusive & Charles retreats to Oxford. Manages to avoid capture & defeat, returns to Donnington Castle

Charles I escapes after the Second Battle of Newbury despite Parliamentarian attempts to trap his army.

Cromwell prevents Charles joining forces with Prince Maurice & Prince Rupert

Signs a brief truce but breaks it when he refuses to accede to Parliaments terms

Signs a brief truce but breaks it when he refuses to accede to Parliaments terms

Charles I surrenders to the Scots rather than to Parliament. Charles final field force is crushed

Charles I places himself in Scottish hands rather than surrendering directly to Parliament.

Charles I surrenders to the Scots rather than to Parliament

A modified Self-Denying Ordinance is passed by the Lords

Leaves to Royalist stronghold of Oxford to negotiate with the Scots

Charles I sacks Leicester, followed by his defeat at Naseby. Charels I captures Leicester waiting for Goring & Gerard to join forces with him

Reaches Droitwich & leaves it 14th May

Reaches Market Drayton & recieves news that Brereton has raised the siege of Chester

Charles decides to send Goring south west while he & Rupert head nth

With the help of Prince Rupert captures & sacks Leicester

Charles reaches Daventry where he learns that Oxford is no longer under siege

Stands on high ground on East Farndon over Great Oxendon, 2 miles south of Harborough

Charles avoids Battle by marching from Borough Hill to Belvoit Castle

The 1st Civil War lingers for another year until capitulation at Oxford 1 year later. Decisive victory for Parliamentary forces

Calls a Council of War & decides to fight against Fairfax south of Market Harborough

Rejects the Newcastle Proposals to take the Covenant & Parliament control the militia

Charles writes to his Queen that he has not enough forces to resist or escape. All that remains are garrisons in Oxford, Newark, Pendennis, Exeter & Raglan

Will disband his forces if he can live as a King & have a few friends in service. Offers peace to the Independents

Leaves Oxford to surrender himself to the Scots at Newark

Departs from Oxford in disguise

Charles I enters Scottish custody, changing the political and military balance of the Civil War.

Charles I abandons Oxford and moves toward eventual surrender to the Scots.

Charless supporters believe he is heading for London but he surrenders to the Scots

Slips out of Oxford in disguise

Charles surrenders to the Scots

Charles I remains in Scottish hands after the collapse of his remaining military position.

Surrenders to the Scots at Newark after defeat at Stowe-on-the-Wold

Newark is surrendered to the Scots

Montrose receives a letter from Charles I asking him to withdraw from Scotland

Oxford is surrendered to Parliament, only Pendennis, Raglan & Harlech remain

Raglan is surrendered to Parliament, ends military operations of the 1st civil war

Offers to repeal all the penal laws if the Vatican assists him to victory

Offers a seperate peace with the Independents in Parliament but they do not respond

Parliament pays a 400,000 pounds ransom to Charles Scottish captors

Makes the Earl of Glamorgan Duke of Somerset

Sends Montreuil to Newark to prepare the Scots for his reception

The French send Montreuil to Scotland to negotiate peace with the Covenanters

The French send Montreuil to Scotland to negotiate peace with the Covenanters

Princess Henrietta is surrendered to Parliament

The surrender ends Royalist resistance in the west and places Princess Henrietta in Parliamentarian hands.

John Berkley surrenders & surrenders Princes Henrietta to Parliament. John Berkley surrenders & ends the war in the west

Taken prisoner by the Army from Holmby House in Northamptonshire

Hosted by the Governor of Carisbrooke Castle

Escapes to the Isle of Wight

The Scots promise to restore Charles if he restores Presbyterianism. Signs a secret Treaty at the Isle of Wight with the Scots. Promises to impose Presbyterianism for 3 yrs to gain Scottish support

Parliament renounces its allegiance to the King

Promises to impose Presbyterianism for 3 yrs to gain Scottish military support

Parliament discovers Charles secret negotiations with Scotland

Following his Treaty with the Scots Parliament renounces allegiance to Charles I

Following his Treaty with the Scots Parliament renounces allegiance to Charles I

In the wake of the ejections from the Long Parliament, the remnant, the Rump Parliament, arranges for the trial and execution of Charles I

In the wake of the ejections from the Long Parliament, the remnant, the Rump Parliament, arranges for the trial and execution of Charles I

The Army siezes Charles I

The "Rump Parliament" of 60 members votes that Charles be brought to trial

Charles I goes on trial for treason

Charles I goes on trial for treason

Charles I goes on trial, he refuses to plead

Sentenced to death as a "tyrant, traitor & murderer"

Says to Bishop Juxon, "I go from a corruptible crown to an uncorruptible crown"

Walks from St James Palace to his execution at Whitehall

Death of Charles I

Charles I is executed outside the Banqueting House after conviction for treason.

Says to Bishop Juxon, "I go from a corruptible crown to an uncorruptible crown"

Walks from St James Palace to his execution at Whitehall

Executed in front of the Whitehall Banqueting House; Charles II is proclaimed king in Scotland after the execution

Charles I was executed, removing the monarch and beginning republican government.

The interregnum lasts until 1660, ended by the restoration of Charles II. 1st day of the Interregnum, rule without monarchy

Permission was refused for his burial in the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey

England, Holland & Sweden ally against France's ambitions in the Spanish Netherlands