England

The historical situation during the 17^th century

Charles I and the clash with Parliament (1625- 1642)

The reign of Charles I was troubled by the continuos clash between king and Parliament, which derived from the absence of a true balance between their powers. Moreover, Charles had always avoided every contact with the Puritan Party, which, however, had a great number of supporters in Parliament.

The king believed that his power came from God, but he was in contrast with Parliament also because it had always refused to finance his home and foreign policy.

Charles promoted art and culture, and during his reign were organised  lots of military expeditions, like the ones against France and Spain, and because of the great failures, he had to accept the Petition of Rights, a document that avoided him to:

Impose taxes without Parliament's consent

Imprison someone without a trial

Introduce martial laws in peace time.

Although he agreed the petition at the beginning, he decided to dissolve Parliament and to rule alone. Later he summoned Parliament again: the first session, called Short Parliament, lasted a few months; the second session, called Long Parliament, lasted more than the first.

Other reasons for the clash were the king's marriage with a Catholic queen and the nomination of William Laud, a great enemy of the Puritans, as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Besides, the king introduced a new tax, called "ship money": it stated that every town had to give money for the building of the ships of the Royal Navy.

However the contrast with Parliament hadn't a solution and the Civil War broke out.

The Commonwealth (1642- 1660)

When the Civil War broke out two opposing political forces were going to clash: the Royalists, who sided with the king and included the nobility, the gentry and the Church of England; and the supporters of Parliament, including small landowners, artisans and puritans.

At the outbreak of war the situation was very uncertain: only when Oliver Cromwell, a farmer and member of Parliament, became the leader of a group of soldiers called  "Ironsides", because of the way they fought with, the Parliamentarian forces started to have a decisive advantage over the king.

In fact some time later Cromwell took control of London after the king's execution and proclaimed England a republic, known as the Commonwealth, with a Parliament of only one Chamber, that of the Commons.

Under his protectorate England increased his international prestige: Ireland and Scotland were reduced to colonies, Holland had to accept the English supremacy on the seas, while the Caribbean island of Jamaica became an English colonial possession.

Although his powerful foreign policy, he wasn't able to govern at home. When he died, his son Richard proved unable to control the Army, which had become very powerful during this period, and resigned: so the power was taken by General Monk, who summoned a Parliament with two Houses again. So Charles II was asked to come back from his exile and the monarchy was restored.

Summary

Charles I succeeds James I on the throne of England (1625).

The king's believes, which Parliament didn't agree with, make start to the clash  between the two political institutions of this period: Parliament and Monarchy.

Charles considers his power bigger than everyone's other because deriving from God.

He become patron of arts and commissions works by Flemish painters.

Parliament refuses to finance his home and foreign policy.

Two failing military expeditions brings him to accept the Petition of Rights, a kind of Magna Charta (1628).

The king decides to dissolve Parliament and to rule alone (1629) and to introduce the "ship money".

He marries Henriette Marie, the Catholic daughter of Henry IV, king of France.

William Laud is appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by the king.

Charles summons Parliament again (1653).

The Civil war breaks out(1642).