Charles I

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Charles I (1600–49) King of England, Scotland and Ireland (1625–49). Son of James I, he was criticized by Parliament for his reliance on the Duke of Buckingham and for his Catholic marriage to Henrietta Maria. Although he accepted the petition of right, Charles' insistence on the “divine right of kings” provoked further conflict with Parliament, and led him to rule without it for 11 years (1629–40). With the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, Charles imposed harsh penalties on nonconformists. When attempts to impose Anglican liturgy on Scotland led to the Bishops' War, Charles was forced to recall Parliament to raise revenue. The Long Parliament insisted on imposing conditions, and impeached Charles' chief adviser, the Earl of Strafford, and in 1641 it presented the Grand Remonstrance. Relations worsened and Charles' attempt to arrest five leading opponents in the Commons precipitated the English Civil War. After the defeat of the Royalists, attempts by Oliver Cromwell and other parliamentary and army leaders to reach a compromise with the king failed, and he was tried and executed.

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