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.

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...

Read More

Charles I - beheaded

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

Read More

Charles I bust at St Margarets

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

Read More

Charles I - Harrow on the Hill

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

Read More

Charles I statue

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

Read More

Show all 12

Other Subjects

Agnes George

Agnes George

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

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
Patrick Packingham

Patrick Packingham

Burnt at the stake in Uxbridge for his Protestant beliefs. Aged 23. He was charged with not doing deference to Romish ceremonies, and was condemned by Bishop Bonner, his cause not being heard.  T...

Person, Execution, Religion

2 memorials
Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset

Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset

Brother of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife, he was honoured by the king on the marriage and remained in favour after Jane's death, following childbirth.  On Henry's death, the king's only son...

Person, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Sir Simon de Burley

Sir Simon de Burley

Soldier and then tutor to Prince Richard who would become Richard II. Burley stayed close to Richard, arranging his marriage for him.  Burley had great influence over the king, which was resented b...

Person, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Earl of Kilmarnock

Earl of Kilmarnock

Jacobite.  Taken prisoner at the Battle of Culloden.  Tried and beheaded on the Tower Hill scaffold.

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Scotland

1 memorial