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King Charles I: The Reign of a Tyrant

Explore Charles I's illegal rule without Parliament, raising taxes through unsavory means, and the conflict with the Scots that led to the English Civil War. Learn about the struggle between the king and Parliament, and the push towards a Constitutional Monarchy.

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King Charles I: The Reign of a Tyrant

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  1. Charles I: A Tyrant • For a large part of his reign, Charles I ruled illegally without the assistance of Parliament ignoring the “Rule of the Law” • After refusing to sign the Petition or Right in 1629, he ruled England for the next 13 years without summoning Parliament • During this reign he resorted to illegal, unsavory, and unpopular ways of raising taxes

  2. Illegal and unpopular Royal Taxes Ship Money • An ancient tax that was meant to used to build naval ships. Charles, resurrected it and then or used the money for other purposes Forced Loans • Charles forced rich noblemen upper classmen to loan him money at favorable interest rates Mortgaged Royal Land • Public land is sold off or mortgaged Houses Soldiers in private homes • Soldiers were housed in private homes Selling Noble Titles • Nobles titles are sold to questionable and incompetent people Tunnage and Poundage • Custom fees on goods coming into and going out of the country • So after irritating and alienating most of the people of England, he now set his sights on his former homeland Scotland

  3. Nothing like getting the Scots mad • In 1637, the Archbishop Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Number 1 religious official, tried to impose the Church of England on Scotland • Scottish, who are predominantly Presbyterian were incensed • The Scottish signed a covenant to resist and rose in revolt and invaded England

  4. Charles, the Desperate King • So now Charles has a problem • He has an army of mad Scots armed with bag pipes and kilts screaming across the border • Desperately needing money to raise an army to fight the Scots, Charles summoned Parliament for the first time in 13 years • Parliament, however, sympathized with the Scots, rather than Charles

  5. The Petition of Right • Parliament demanded once again that Charles sign the Petition of Right • This would force him to cease all illegal activities, shut down his illegal courts • They also suggested that he reverse his religious policy to appease the Scots • But Charles had a baby fit and would not sign the Petition of Right and angrily shut down or dissolved Parliament after only three weeks • Historians now refer to this as the “Short Parliament”

  6. Charles Reconsiders • But after his initial fit Charles reconsiders his situation: - The Scots are still invading England - He still needs money to raise an army to fight them • So he resummons Parliament again

  7. Long Parliament – 1640 - 1653 • Historians now refer to this as the “Long Parliament” because it would sit on and off for over 13 years, through the English Civil War • But this Parliament was even less accommodating Demands • They demand the arrest of Lord Strafford and the Archbishop Laud on a charge of treason • The King agreed and both his henchmen and “friends” were executed

  8. Grand Remonstrance • They also demanded that the king sign a document that went even beyond the Petition of Right in scope • The Grand Remonstrance would curtail the king’s powers and effectively make England a Constitutional Monarchy • Power of the king would be severely limited • Parliament would become supreme • King’s power would be largely symbolic

  9. What do the English people think about the Grand Remonstrance? • England was divided • Parliament’s support is largely in the towns and cities • Farming communities still tend to favor the king • Parliament, although elected, represents only by a small segment of people • A lot of commoners, did not like Parliament because to them it was just an exclusive “rich man’s club”

  10. Some still fear the King • Some members of Parliament, particularly Anglicans and House of Lords members, still support and even fear the king • Many fear the wrath of the king if and when he is able to regain his power • Many still believe that the king’s power is divine

  11. Legal Argument • Many members of Parliament wonder if they have a legal right to take the powers of a king away Magna Carta • At this time, the most definitive document regarding the role of the king in England • It was somewhat vague about the king’s power in relation to parliament

  12. The right to conduct foreign policy • The Magna Carta did, however, outline some of the king’s powers • According to the Magna Carta the king had the right to conduct foreign policy • This power alone would ensure that the king’s position was always a powerful one • England was a world power with colonies and dominions everywhere • The right to conduct foreign policy was a powerful weapon in his hands

  13. Royal Prerogative • It also allowed the king to exercise the “Royal Prerogative” • This allowed the king to act outside the law or even against the law in cases of emergency • The problem, herein, was to define what an “emergency” was • Obviously this power was one that could easily be abused by a king • And throughout this period, Charles would do that, exercises his “Royal Prerogative” several times

  14. Parliament divided on whether to pass the Grand Remonstrance Radicals • Mainly Puritans, Presbyterians and members of the House of Commons • Want to force the king to sign the Grand Remonstrance • Wanted Parliament to be supreme • Wanted the King to be a figure head Moderates • Many Anglican members of the House of Commons and members of the House of Lords felt that the Grand Remonstrance went too far and was probably illegal • They preferred to get the king to sign the Petition of Right insteadand get him to cease all his illegal activity • They were more willing to share power with the king • They wanted the king to be a good boy and rule in accordance to law and tradition

  15. Grand Remonstrance passes -- barely • Grand Remonstrance passed Parliament by a very narrow margin

  16. Royal Prerogative • The narrow passing of the Grand Remonstrance was a sign to Charles that Parliament was divided • Charles exercised his “Royal Prerogative” and marched on Parliament with 500 soldiers • His plan was to arrest Five Puritan members (Ring leaders) and shut down Parliament • And this leads to a ….

  17. … good ol’ fashioned shoot out • The Puritan radicals escaped before Charles arrived • After Charles left, Parliament called for the raising of the militia to fight the king

  18. The King heads North • The king headed North to Nottingham in Northern England where his support lie • His plan was to raise an army to fight the Parliamentary forces

  19. Meanwhile, back at the ranch • Queen Henrietta Maria, a former French princess, heads to Europe with the priceless Crown Jewels in hand • She plans to sell them raise money for an army to fight Parliament • So finally the war of words was over, and the English Civil War officially began

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