Charles I of England

Reign: 1625 – 1649
Life: 1600–1649

Charles was born into the House of Stuart as the second son of King James VI of Scotland. After his father inherited the English throne in 1603, he moved to England, where he spent much of the rest of his life. An unsuccessful and unpopular attempt to marry him to Infanta Maria Anna of Spain culminated in an eight-month visit to Spain in 1623, which demonstrated the futility of the marriage negotiations. His religious policies, coupled with his marriage to a Catholic, generated antipathy and mistrust from Reformed religious groups such as the English Puritans and Scottish Covenanters, who thought his views too Catholic.

During Charles I of England's reign, Charles I of England ruled England, Shah Jahan ruled Mughal Empire, and Philip IV of Spain ruled Spain.

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Actes and monuments by John Foxe

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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Go deeper on Charles I of England

Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

Actes and monuments

John Foxe

A well-regarded work on Charles I of England and scottish history, useful for going deeper beyond this page.

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King Charles II
Arthur Bryant
A well-regarded work on Charles I of England and scottish history, useful for going deeper beyond this page.
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