Person    | Male  Born 19/11/1600  Died 30/1/1649

King Charles I

Categories: Execution, Royalty, Seriously Famous

Countries: Scotland

Born Fife. Until the age of 11 he was only the 'spare' but then his 18-year old brother Henry died (probably of typhoid) and Charles became the heir, ascending the throne in 1625 on the death of his father, James I. His wife (1625) Henrietta Maria of France was Catholic, he was a High Anglican.

Only 5 feet 4 inches tall, Charles was a firm believer in the divine right of kings and fell out with Parliament in a big way, mainly over money. This all led to the Civil War (1642 - 1646). Charles eventually surrendered and was tried for treason by a tribunal with 135 commissioners who acted as judges and jury, although only 68 ever participated at the trial. He lost by one vote and was beheaded outside the Banqueting House in Whitehall.

21 of those held responsible for his death who had since died and been buried in Westminster Abbey were, on the restoration of his son, Charles II, to the monarchy, dug up and moved to an unmarked pit at nearby St Margarets. See Reburied parliamentarians.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
King Charles I

Commemorated ati

Brentford Monument

Brentford High Street have carried out some magnificent research on Brentford...

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Charles I - beheaded

In about 1945 Hedley Hope-Nicholson, a Charles I fan and central member of th...

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Charles I bust at St Margarets

This is one of a pair, See Charles I beheaded for more information. IanVisit...

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Charles I - Harrow on the Hill

{Above the portrait bust:} Carolus Rex {Below the portrait bust:} Near this ...

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Charles I statue

Made in 1633 during Charles I's reign, London’s oldest bronze statue was inte...

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Show all 13

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Robert Lawrence

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Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard

As lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves Catherine attracted Henry's ever-roving eye.  Anne was dumped (via the annulment method) and the obese, 49-year old Henry married the 20-year old Catherine.  Sh...

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William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury

William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury

Born Reading. 1628 became Bishop of London. 1633 became Archbishop of Canterbury. Supported Charles I, opposed many of the church practices that had come in during Queen Elizabeth's reign and perse...

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2 memorials
Colonel Algernon Sidney

Colonel Algernon Sidney

Opponent of King Charles II.  Born Baynard's Castle.  Exiled in Rome.  Returned in 1677 and was implicated in the Rye House Plot.  Beheaded on Tower Hill.

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Politics & Administration, Italy

1 memorial
Agnes George

Agnes George

Burnt at the stake in Bow (or possibly Stratford) for her Protestant beliefs.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial