Charles I- Conflict with the Parliament - The Civil War / The Great Rebellion - Pamphleteering & Newsbooks

Charles I- Conflict with the Parliament - The Civil War / The Great Rebellion - Pamphleteering & Newsbooks

Charles I of England


Charles I was the second son of James I. He became heir apparent upon the death of his elder brother, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, in 1612. Upon the death of his father, James I, in March 1625, Charles I ascended to the throne of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Charles I ruled from 1625 to 1649. His reign was marked by conflict with Parliament, financial struggles, and religious tensions, which ultimately led to the English Civil War (1642–1651) and his execution in 1649. 

Charles inherited a kingdom with existing financial issues and religious tensions. His father's reign had already seen friction with Parliament, particularly regarding the king's financial demands.

Belief in the Divine Right of Kings:

Like his father, James I, Charles I firmly believed in the divine right of kings, the idea that monarchs derive their authority from God and are accountable only to Him. This belief led him to view Parliament as an advisory body rather than a legislative power, causing friction.

Financial Disputes:

Charles I's expensive foreign policies and extravagant court drained the royal treasury. Parliament was reluctant to grant him funds, especially as they distrusted his policies. He resorted to various methods to raise money without parliamentary consent, such as: "ship money" (originally a tax on coastal towns for naval defense, Charles extended it to inland counties), and forced loans (demanding money from wealthy subjects).  

Religious Tensions:

Charles I's support for High Anglicanism, with its emphasis on ritual and ceremony, was seen by many Puritans as a move towards Catholicism. His appointment of William Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury, who enforced strict religious conformity, further alienated Puritans. Charles's marriage to Henrietta Maria, a catholic, also increased religious tensions.   

Conflict with the Parliament

The conflict between Charles I of England and Parliament was a pivotal event in English history, ultimately leading to the English Civil War, the execution of Charles I, and the establishment of a republican government in England.

Causes of the Conflict

  1. Divine Right of Kings: Charles I believed in the divine right of kings, which held that monarchs were appointed by God and answerable only to Him. This philosophy led him to disregard Parliament's authority and rule arbitrarily.
  2. Financial Disputes: Charles I faced financial difficulties due to his involvement in expensive wars with Spain and France. He sought to raise funds through unconventional means, such as forced loans and ship money, which were deeply unpopular with Parliament.
  3. Religious Tensions: Charles I's marriage to a Catholic, Henrietta Maria, and his support for the High Church movement, which emphasized ritual and ceremony, created tensions with the predominantly Protestant Parliament.

Key Events of the Conflict

  1. The Petition of Right (1628): Parliament presented Charles I with the Petition of Right, which prohibited the monarch from imposing taxes without consent, imprisoning subjects without cause, and quartering soldiers in private homes. Charles I accepted the petition but later ignored its provisions.
  2. The Personal Rule (1629-1640): Charles I dismissed Parliament and ruled alone for 11 years, imposing his own policies and raising funds through dubious means.

  3. The Bishops' Wars and the Recall of Parliament (1639–1640): Charles attempted to impose Anglican reforms on Scotland, sparking the Bishops' Wars (1639–1640). The Scots rebelled and defeated Charles’s army. Desperate for money to fund another campaign, Charles was forced to recall Parliament.

  4. The Short Parliament (1640): Charles I was forced to summon Parliament to raise funds for a war against Scotland. However, the Short Parliament refused to grant him funds and instead presented him with a list of grievances. Charles I dissolved the parliament after only three weeks.
  5. The Long Parliament (1640-1660): Charles I was forced to summon another parliament, which became known as the Long Parliament. This parliament would eventually become a driving force behind the English Civil War.
  6. The Triennial Act (1641): Parliament passed the Triennial Act, which required the monarch to summon parliament at least once every three years.
  7. The Grand Remonstrance (1641): Parliament presented Charles I with the Grand Remonstrance, a detailed list of grievances and proposed reforms. Charles I rejected the document, leading to a further deterioration in relations.

The Civil War/ The Great Rebellion

The conflict between Charles I and Parliament eventually led to the outbreak of the English Civil War. 
The English Civil War was a pivotal conflict that ravaged England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1642 to 1651. The war pitted the Royalist supporters of Charles I (the Cavaliers) against the Parliamentarian forces (the Roundheads). It was a complex and multifaceted war that involved political, religious, and social tensions, ultimately leading to the downfall of the monarchy and the establishment of a republican government.

The Commencement, Course and Culmination of the WarThe Start 

The conflict began in August 1642, when King Charles I, who believed in the divine right of kings, raised his standard in Nottingham, marking the beginning of the war. The king's actions were in response to the growing tensions between him and Parliament, which had been simmering for years. Parliament, led by figures such as John Pym and Oliver Cromwell, sought to limit the king's power and address grievances such as taxation, religion, and governance.

The Progress 

The war was fought between the Royalist supporters of Charles I, known as the Cavaliers, and the Parliamentarian forces, known as the Roundheads. The conflict was marked by a series of battles, sieges, and skirmishes across England, Scotland, and Ireland. The war saw the rise of prominent military leaders, including Oliver Cromwell, who would eventually become the dominant force in Parliament.
In 1643, the Royalists achieved significant victories, including the Battle of Adwalton Moor and the Battle of Roundway Down. However, the Parliamentarians regrouped and reorganized, forming the New Model Army in 1645. The New Model Army, led by Cromwell and Sir Thomas Fairfax, proved to be a formidable force, winning decisive victories at the Battle of Naseby and the Battle of Langport.

The Culmination

In 1648, the Second English Civil War broke out, as Royalist uprisings and Scottish invasions threatened the Parliamentarian government. However, Cromwell and the New Model Army quashed these threats, defeating the Scots at the Battle of Preston.
The war culminated in the trial and execution of King Charles I in January 1649. The king's refusal to compromise and his perceived betrayal of Parliament led to his downfall. The execution marked the end of the absolute monarchy and the beginning of a republican government in England.
The Commonwealth of England, led by Cromwell as Lord Protector, would govern the country for the next decade. The English Civil War had a profound impact on English history, shaping the country's politics, religion, and society for centuries to come.

The Two Terms: Civil War and Great Rebellion

The terms Civil War and Great Rebellion both refer to the same historical conflict in England, though they reflect different perspectives. The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of armed conflicts between King Charles I and his supporters (Royalists) and Parliamentarians led by figures like Oliver Cromwell. However, Royalist supporters, particularly after the monarchy was restored in 1660, often referred to the conflict as the Great Rebellion to emphasize their view that it was an unlawful uprising against the rightful king. While "Civil War" is the more neutral and commonly used term today, "Great Rebellion" carries a Royalist connotation, portraying Parliament's actions as illegitimate.

Pamphleteering and Newsbooks

During the reign of Charles I, pamphleteering and newsbooks emerged as powerful tools for disseminating information and shaping public opinion. Pamphlets, small booklets usually consisting of 8-24 pages, were widely circulated and covered a range of topics, including politics, religion, and social issues. They were often written in an accessible and engaging style, making them appealing to a broad audience.


Newsbooks, on the other hand, were serialized publications that provided regular updates on current events. They were often published weekly or biweekly and contained a mix of domestic and foreign news. Newsbooks like "Mercurius Aulicus" (supporting the Royalist cause) and "Mercurius Britannicus" (supporting the Parliamentarian cause) played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and influencing the political narrative during the English Civil War.
The proliferation of pamphlets and newsbooks during this period was facilitated by the development of printing technology and the growth of a literate population. Many pamphlets and newsbooks were written by prominent figures of the time, including politicians, clergy, and intellectuals. They often employed rhetorical devices, satire, and propaganda to persuade readers and advance their causes. As a result, pamphleteering and newsbooks became essential components of the public sphere, enabling individuals to engage with political and social issues and contributing to the development of a more informed and participatory citizenry.
Read more: PAMPHLETS AND NEWSBOOKS OF THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
Prepared byJacob Eapen KunnathDept. of English, CMS College Kottayam (Autonomous)

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