25. Charles I

For his obdurate and reckless governance Charles I (1625-49) faced an equally obdurate and formidable parliament and he lost. The monarchy too lost, yet Charles grasped a martyr’s crown becoming the first saint of the Church of England. His reign may have contributed hugely to the destruction of the monarchy but his conduct during the trial and the dignity he displayed afterwards also helped maintain the prestige of monarchy and contributed to its ultimate restoration. CHARACTERS Charles I – King of England, Scotland and Ireland Henrietta Maria – Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland, wife of Charles James I & VI – King of England, Scotland and Ireland, father of Charles Anne of Denmark – Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland, mother of Charles Prince Henry – elder brother of Charles Elizabeth – Electress consort of the Palatinate, elder sister of Charles Prince Charles – son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, heir apparent George Villiers – duke of Buckingham William Laud – Archbishop of Canterbury Roger Manwaring – anti-Calvinist bishop of St. David’s Richard Montagu – anti-Calvinist bishop of Chichester Thomas Wentworth – earl of Stafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Prince Rupert of the Rhine - nephew of Charles, Royalist cavalry commander Parliamentarians John Eliot John Pym Denzil Holles William Strode Arthur Heselrig John Hampden John Rolle William Prynne – prominent Puritan and lawyer Oliver Cromwell – parliamentarian and military commander Thomas Fairfax – commander of the New Model Army Robert Devereux – earl of Essex, chief commander of the Parliamentarian army John Bradshawe – President of the High Court of Justice for the trial of Charles I John Finch – speaker of the House of Commons (1628-29) William Lenthall – speaker of the House of Commons (1640-47) John Felton – army lieutenant and assassin Francis Bacon – Lord Chancellor Infanta Maria Anna – suitor for Charles I, daughter of Philip III of Spain Philip III – King of Spain Louis XIII – King of France, father of Henrietta Maria Ferdinand II – Archduke of Further Austria Peter Paul Rubens – Flemish poet and diplomat Henry VII – King of England (1485-1509) Edward III – King of England (1327-77) John Milton – contemporary poet and civil servant GM Trevelyan - historian CREDITS Juan Baptiste Lully – Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Henry Purcell – The Old Bachelor 75201__robinhood76__01113-knight-fight-orginal Dan Mitch3ll – Wild Horses 267297__claudius__cellar-atmo-large-building 380825__komal22moiz__tug-boat-horn-sound-effect bbc_period-bat_07019005 bbc_period-bat_07019147 bbc_battle-cro_07019150 490800__jordishaw__stabbing-sound 408391__turchinoa__paper-crumple 151769__gnrja__storm-wind-2