Charles the FirstCharles the First‘-that man of blood’‘-that man of blood’

Part 1Part 1‘1600-1629’‘1600-1629’

Charles was one of three children:Charles was one of three children:Henry Henry 1594-16121594-1612 (died of typhoid)(died of typhoid)

Elizabeth Elizabeth 1596-16621596-1662 (married Frederick V)(married Frederick V)

Charles Charles 1600-16491600-1649

Prince CharlesPrincess ElizabethPrince Henry

When James became King of England, When James became King of England, Charles was left in Charles was left in ScotlandScotland because because he was weak.he was weak.

Charles stuttered, had weak legs from Charles stuttered, had weak legs from ricketsrickets, hardly ever saw his mother and , hardly ever saw his mother and was regarded as a runt. James always was regarded as a runt. James always called him “baby” even when Charles called him “baby” even when Charles was 24 years old.was 24 years old.

How prepared was Charles for How prepared was Charles for Kingship?Kingship?

He had been the heir for 12 He had been the heir for 12 years.years.

He had been involved with He had been involved with Court factions.Court factions.

As heir he sat in the House of As heir he sat in the House of Lords.Lords.

Did not learn about Scotland.Did not learn about Scotland.

He took his position He took his position seriously.seriously. King Charles

George VilliersGeorge Villiers

1614 Villiers was introduced to King 1614 Villiers was introduced to King James in an attempt to wean him away James in an attempt to wean him away from his favourite - from his favourite - Robert CarrRobert Carr

Robert CarrGeorge Villiers

Villiers stellar rise to powerVilliers stellar rise to power

16141614 Villiers was 22 years old, he had an income of Villiers was 22 years old, he had an income of ££50 per year50 per year16151615 he became a gentleman of the bedchamber he became a gentleman of the bedchamber with a pension of with a pension of £1000£100016161616 he became: he became:

-master of the king’s horse with a staff of 200-master of the king’s horse with a staff of 200 -a Knight of the Garter-a Knight of the Garter -made Viscount Villiers with an estate of £30,000-made Viscount Villiers with an estate of £30,000 -managed the king’s patronage-managed the king’s patronage -received a miniature of James with his heart in his -received a miniature of James with his heart in his

handhand16171617 he was made an earl he was made an earl16181618 he was made the Marquis of Buckingham he was made the Marquis of Buckingham16191619 he was made Lord Admiral he was made Lord Admiral16231623 he was made the Duke of Buckingham he was made the Duke of Buckingham

George Villiers

George VilliersGeorge Villiers

Villiers had unique attributes:Villiers had unique attributes:• YouthYouth• BeautyBeauty• High spiritsHigh spirits• SensualitySensuality• Sweet characterSweet character• DevotionDevotion

George Villiers and family

Charles and Villiers did Charles and Villiers did not initially get along.not initially get along.Villiers was aware of Villiers was aware of Charles’ potential as heirCharles’ potential as heirJames wanted peace and James wanted peace and encouraged Charles to encouraged Charles to marry and produce heirsmarry and produce heirsJames wanted Charles to James wanted Charles to marry the Catholic marry the Catholic Spanish Spanish InfantaInfanta to ensure to ensure peacepeace

Spanish Infanta

16181618 the the Thirty Years WarThirty Years War began. It was a began. It was a struggle between Catholicism and struggle between Catholicism and Protestantism.Protestantism.Spain invaded the Palatinate and drove out Spain invaded the Palatinate and drove out Charles’ sister Elizabeth and her husband. Charles’ sister Elizabeth and her husband. They fled to Holland.They fled to Holland.Charles’ marriage plans took on new urgency Charles’ marriage plans took on new urgency because Elizabeth was his heirbecause Elizabeth was his heir

February 1623February 1623 Charles and Villiers, under the Charles and Villiers, under the names of names of Tom and John SmithTom and John Smith, went to Spain , went to Spain to conclude secret marriage talks.to conclude secret marriage talks.

Negotiations failed and they returned home Negotiations failed and they returned home to a tumultuous welcome. People were to a tumultuous welcome. People were thrilled that the Spanish alliance was over.thrilled that the Spanish alliance was over.

16241624 Charles and Villiers called for a war Charles and Villiers called for a war against Spainagainst Spain

James summoned parliamentJames summoned parliament

King James

November 1624November 1624 James approved of a James approved of a marriage alliance with France.marriage alliance with France.

Parliament approved and army to free Parliament approved and army to free the Palatinate (which failed)the Palatinate (which failed)

16251625 James died and Charles became James died and Charles became kingking

James was buriedNear Henry Vll

Charles, unwisely, became Charles, unwisely, became more and more dependent on more and more dependent on Villiers:Villiers:

• Villiers corned the patronage, Villiers corned the patronage, sale of offices, and titles. This sale of offices, and titles. This made him many enemies.made him many enemies.

• Villiers had friends among Villiers had friends among High Anglicans, Catholics and High Anglicans, Catholics and William LaudWilliam Laud

• Villiers mother converted to Villiers mother converted to CatholicismCatholicism

16251625 George Villiers arranged a marriage George Villiers arranged a marriage between Charles and the French between Charles and the French Catholic Catholic Princess Henrietta MariaPrincess Henrietta Maria

Part of the arrangement for the Part of the arrangement for the marriage meant that England had to marriage meant that England had to suspend laws against English suspend laws against English CatholicsCatholics

Release Catholics in prisonRelease Catholics in prison Lend ships to help the French King Lend ships to help the French King

against Protestantsagainst Protestants

First Parliament First Parliament 1818thth June – 11 June – 11thth July July

Called to grant taxesCalled to grant taxes

But there was plague in But there was plague in London.London.

Parliament went to OxfordParliament went to Oxford

Charles took his court of Charles took his court of 120 peers, 26 bishops, 120 peers, 26 bishops, MPs and all their followers.MPs and all their followers.

Oxford

However, the Parliament did not grant However, the Parliament did not grant Charles any taxesCharles any taxes

Tunnage and Poundage Tunnage and Poundage (a tax on wool and wine (a tax on wool and wine

always granted to the monarch for life)always granted to the monarch for life) was not ratified was not ratified

Between ParliamentsBetween Parliaments

October 1625 October 1625 an ill an ill conceived attack was conceived attack was made on Cadiz. made on Cadiz. George Villiers was the George Villiers was the Lord AdmiralLord AdmiralHalf of the fleet was lostHalf of the fleet was lostCharles collected Charles collected Tunnage and Poundage Tunnage and Poundage without Parliament’s without Parliament’s permissionpermission

Cadiz

Second Parliament Second Parliament 66thth February – 16 February – 16thth June 1626 June 1626

Charles wanted money for warCharles wanted money for warInstead Lords and Commons preferred to complain about Villiers and Instead Lords and Commons preferred to complain about Villiers and Cadiz and his relationship with CharlesCadiz and his relationship with CharlesParliament did consider a tax grant of Parliament did consider a tax grant of £350,000 but gave top priority to £350,000 but gave top priority to getting rid of Villiersgetting rid of VilliersThe Commons: The Commons:

-investigated Villiers-investigated Villiers -formulated 13 charges-formulated 13 charges -gave the charges to the Lords-gave the charges to the Lords -common law judges sat-common law judges sat -trial was set -trial was set Charles had now lost control and support of the Lords.Charles had now lost control and support of the Lords.Charles excluded Villiers’ enemies the Earls of Arundel and BristolCharles excluded Villiers’ enemies the Earls of Arundel and BristolCharles was criticised for his interferenceCharles was criticised for his interference

13 Charges Against George Villiers13 Charges Against George Villiers1. Villiers had excluded others from office for his own 1. Villiers had excluded others from office for his own

gainsgains2 & 3 He had purchased the position of Lord Admiral 2 & 3 He had purchased the position of Lord Admiral

from the Earl of Nottingham for from the Earl of Nottingham for £3,000£3,0004. He had not done a good job and had subsequently 4. He had not done a good job and had subsequently

lost good ships and subjectslost good ships and subjects5,6,7,8 Misconduct as an admiral5,6,7,8 Misconduct as an admiral9. He sold titles for profit9. He sold titles for profit10. He took bribes in exchange for offices10. He took bribes in exchange for offices11. He promoted his family11. He promoted his family12. He gained Crown land for himself12. He gained Crown land for himself13. He may have administered poison to King James 13. He may have administered poison to King James

(this was hearsay)(this was hearsay)(1-12 were also a criticism of Charles)(1-12 were also a criticism of Charles)

George Villiers

Charles dissolved Parliament partially to Charles dissolved Parliament partially to save George Villiers.save George Villiers.Charles still needed money. Charles still needed money. He began a series of forced loans to pay his He began a series of forced loans to pay his mutinous sailors who had not been paid.mutinous sailors who had not been paid.Men were press-ganged into the military and Men were press-ganged into the military and then billeted without people’s permission.then billeted without people’s permission.The town of Banbury was burned down by The town of Banbury was burned down by pressed soldiers.pressed soldiers.

During the war with France, Villiers During the war with France, Villiers used up all his forced loans to help the used up all his forced loans to help the French ProtestantsFrench Protestants

The church was under the influence of The church was under the influence of the High Anglican anti-Calvinist William the High Anglican anti-Calvinist William LaudLaud

Third Parliament Third Parliament 1717thth March – 26 March – 26thth June 1628 June 1628

first sessionfirst session

Charles recalled parliamentCharles recalled parliament

Parliament was more concerned with Parliament was more concerned with grievances rather than money, and how grievances rather than money, and how to stop Charles using his emergency to stop Charles using his emergency powers powers

Parliament presented Charles with a Parliament presented Charles with a Petition of RightPetition of Right to sign:to sign:

-there were to be no arbitrary taxes-there were to be no arbitrary taxes -no illegal imprisonment-no illegal imprisonment -no martial law-no martial law -no billeting without consent-no billeting without consent

When Charles finally gave the document royal consent, When Charles finally gave the document royal consent, Parliament granted him five subsidies of Parliament granted him five subsidies of £275,000£275,000When Parliament turned their attention to Tunnage and When Parliament turned their attention to Tunnage and Poundage, Charles dissolved itPoundage, Charles dissolved it

Between ParliamentsBetween Parliaments

August 1628 Villiers August 1628 Villiers prepared another prepared another expedition to help the expedition to help the French ProtestantsFrench Protestants

George Villiers was George Villiers was stabbed to deathstabbed to death

Charles was devastatedCharles was devastated

Scene of Villiers death

Third ParliamentThird Parliament2020thth January – 10 January – 10thth March 1629 March 1629

second sessionsecond session

Charles called this session Charles called this session to legitimise his collection of to legitimise his collection of Tunnage and PoundageTunnage and Poundage

Parliament criticised the rise Parliament criticised the rise of of ArminianismArminianism

Charles dismissed Charles dismissed ParliamentParliament

Jacob Arminius

Personal Rule 1629-1640Personal Rule 1629-1640

It was Charles’ prerogative to It was Charles’ prerogative to call and dismiss Parliamentscall and dismiss Parliaments

He had become disillusioned He had become disillusioned with Parliamentswith Parliaments

With a personal rule Charles With a personal rule Charles would be personally liable for would be personally liable for all successes and failuresall successes and failures

End of Part 1

Continue with Part 2 – 1629-1649