English+Civil+War+-+Execution+of+Charles+I

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Charles I was unpopular for marrying Henrietta Maria who was a Catholic. He was friends with many unpopar figures. Placed the duke of buckingham in charge to lead military campaigns but he was unsuccesful so the people did not like Charles more. He also dismissed parliament and imprisoned several of its members which made people think he was trying to make himself an absolutist ruler. He was also very unpopular for forcing loans and heavy taxes on his citizens. One of his least favorite rules was the reinstatement of Ship Money which was an old custom and if there was fear of an invasion or an attack the king would be able to collect money or confiscate boats from coastal towns. Every year he raised the amount of taxes for no real reason. Charles I was the first of our monarchs to be put on trial for treason and it led to his execution. This event is one of the most famous in Staurt's England history - and one of the most controversial. No law could be found in all England’s history that dealt with the trial of a monarch so the order setting up the court that was to try Charles was written by a Dutch lawyer called Issac Dorislaus and he based his work on an ancient Roman law which stated that a military body (in this case the government) could legally overthrow a tyrant. ke the Anglican Church more Catholic. d He was initialy captured and about to be tried by parliament until he fled to Scotland and raised his own army there. He was then defeated by Oliver Cromwell's army, and was brought back to England to be tried.

rule according to his will, and to overthrow the rights and liberties of the people of England" At the trial, Charles refused to defend himself. He did not recognise the legality of the court. He also refused to take off his hat as a sign of respect to the judges who did attend. This seemed to confirm in the minds of the judges that Charles, even when he was on trial for his life, remained arrogant and therefore a danger to others as he could not recognise his own faults.

tried by 135 judges who would decide if he was guilty or not. In fact only 68 turned up for the trial

At nearly 2.00 o’clock in the afternoon, Charles was lead to the scaffold which was covered in black cloth. He had asked to wear thick underclothes under his shirt as he was very concerned that if he shivered in the cold, the crowd might think that he was scared. Charles gave a last speech to the crowd but very few could hear him. He said: "I have delivered to my conscience; I pray God you do take those courses that are best for the good of the kingdom and your own salvation."

It is said that when he was beheaded a large groan went up throughout the crowd.

The charges agansit Charles was "out of a wicked design to erect and uphold in himself an unlimited and tyrannical power to rule according to his will, and to overthrow the rights and liberties of the people of England"

At the trial, Charles refused to defend himself. He did not recognise the legality of the court.He believed that as the king of England he was God's representatic on earth so he believed it impossible for parliament to have any kind of power over him. He also refused to take off his hat as a sign of respect to the judges who did attend. This seemed to confirm in the minds of the judges that Charles, even when he was on trial for his life, remained arrogant and therefore a danger to others as he could not recognise his own faults. Fifty-nine jurors in attendance signed the document warranting Charles's execution.

Bradshaw announced the judgment of the court : that he, the said Charles Stuart, as a tyrant, traitor, murderer and public enemy to the good of this nation, shall be put to death by severing of his head from his body

His date of execution was set for January 30th1649. He was executed atop a scaffold in Whitehall. Charles wore two heavy shirts since it was a cold day and he did not want to appear to be shivering because he thought people might mistake this for fear. His calm, easy nature earned Charles much sympathy from the crowd.

Rather than burying Charles at Westminster Abbey, he was buried at Windsor castle to avoid a riot or some form of public disturbance. Cromwell showed sympathy for Charles and allowed for his family to have the corpse and head for a proper burial. He was the first king in the history of England to be put on trial. [] [|http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~crossby/ECW/history/index.html] http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/STUcharles1.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/charlesi_execution_01.shtml http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/charles1.htm