King Charles I
(1600-1649), Reigned 1625-49Sitter associated with 335 portraits
The younger, surviving son of James I and Anne of Denmark, Charles became heir to the throne on the death of his brother Henry in 1612. Charles inherited his father's belief in the 'Divine Right of Kings' and became the greatest of all British royal art patrons and collectors. His dismissal of Parliament and personal rule, however, along with his imposition of taxes and attempts to impose religious uniformity led eventually to civil war. He was defeated and tried on the charge that he 'traitorously and maliciously levied war against the present Parliament and the people therein represented', and he was executed outside the Banqueting House, Whitehall, on 30 January 1649.
by Wenceslaus Hollar, sold by Peter Stent
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D26310
by Wenceslaus Hollar, sold by Peter Stent
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D26311
by Wenceslaus Hollar
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D26312
by Lucas Vorsterman
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26320
by William Marshall
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26321
by William Marshall
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26322
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26324
by William Faithorne
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26325
King Charles I and Sir Edward Walker
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26326
King Charles I and Sir Edward Walker
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26327
by Cornelis Galle the Younger, after Nicolaus van der Horst
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26328
by Richard Gaywood
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D26329
by William Marshall
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26330
published by Peter Stent
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26332
published by Peter Stent
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26333
by Henry Cook (Cooke)
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26336
The Statue of King Charles I at Charing Cross
by Wenceslaus Hollar, after Hubert Le Sueur
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D26343
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26344
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26345
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26347
by Claes Jansz Visscher, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26350
published by Peter Stent
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26351
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26352
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26353
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26354
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D26361
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly mid to late 17th century
NPG D26367
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26380
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26382
The Betrothal of the Princess Mary to William, Prince of Orange
by Renier Persyn
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26430
King Charles I and Henrietta Maria
possibly by William Faithorne
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26444
King Charles I and Henrietta Maria
by George Glover
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26446
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron and King Charles I
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D28956
by Unknown artist, published by Peter Stent
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18202
probably after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18203
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18204
published by Balthasar Moncornet, after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18205
by Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18206
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18207
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18208
by Frederik Bouttats the Younger, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18210
published by Johannes Meyssens, after Daniel Mytens
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18212
by François Chauveau, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18213
published by Balthasar Moncornet, after Daniel Mytens
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18214
published by Balthasar Moncornet
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18215
probably by Cornelis Galle the Younger, after Nicolaus van der Horst
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18217
probably by Cornelis Galle the Younger, after Nicolaus van der Horst
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18218
by Lucas Vorsterman, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18219
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving and etching, mid 17th century
NPG D18220
by Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18277
by Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18278
probably by Cornelis Galle the Younger, after Nicolaus van der Horst
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18279
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18284
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18285
by Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18286
published by Wolfgang Kilian, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18287
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18288
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D18289
by Federico Agnelli (Agnellus), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18290
by Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18291
Related People
- Anne of Denmark (mother)
- Princess Anne (daughter)
- King Charles II (son)
- Prince Charles (son)
- Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (grandfather)
- Princess Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia and Electress Palatine (sister)
- Princess Elizabeth (daughter)
- Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans (daughter)
- Henry, Prince of Wales (brother)
- Henry, Duke of Gloucester (son)
- Isabella Stuart (granddaughter)
- King James I of England and VI of Scotland (father)
- King James II (son)
- Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (grandson)
- Princess Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart (granddaughter)
- Henrietta Maria (wife)
- Mary, Queen of Scots (grandmother)
- Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (daughter)
- Prince Rupert, Count Palatine (nephew)
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Laurie Pettitt
03 March 2017, 22:12
The trial of Charles I was unique. There was not the mechanism to try a King.
The High Court of Justice was formed and procedures set up to deal openly with the King.
He refused to plead. But Parliament did not use 'Pressing' (A door is placed on top of the prisoner and weights applied until he either pleads or expires)
Imagine if a Motor car had appeared in the streets of 17th Century London. In order to stop it causing mayhem, it would be necessary to make laws, hitherto unknown to safeguard the Public.
Charles was one of the men who thought they could treat Cromwell as a cuckold.
My summing up is 'A silly little man. With a silly little shrew of a Queen and a silly little Bishop. What made him silly? Signing the death warrant on Strafford. He woulod have saved us a lot of pain and blood if he had shared the block with Strafford.