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.
Anne of Denmark; King Charles I when Prince of Wales; King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Simon de Passe
line engraving, after 1612
NPG D27683
Anne of Denmark; King Charles I when Prince of Wales; King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Simon de Passe
line engraving, after 1612
NPG D18186
Anne of Denmark; King Charles I when Prince of Wales; King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Simon de Passe
line engraving, after 1612
NPG D18185
Anne of Denmark; King Charles I when Prince of Wales; King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Simon de Passe
line engraving, after 1612
NPG D18187
sold by John Sudbury, sold by George Humble
line engraving, (1613)
NPG D18283
by Francis Delaram
line engraving, published 1616
NPG D10620
by Francis Delaram
line engraving, published 1616
NPG D10621
by Renold or Reginold Elstrack (Elstracke), after Unknown artist
line engraving, (1618)
NPG D9248
after Renold or Reginold Elstrack (Elstracke)
line engraving, (1618)
NPG D18282
by Simon de Passe
line engraving, 1619
NPG D18225
King Charles I; Maria Anna of Spain, Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia
by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
line engraving, 1622
NPG D10622
King Charles I; Henrietta Maria
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1625-1630
NPG D43010
after Daniel Mytens
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D18307
by Michael Hayee, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, (circa 1625-1650)
NPG D19852
by Hendrik Hondius (Hond)
line engraving, 1626
NPG D26297
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1627
NPG D21344
by Willem Jacobsz Delff, after Daniel Mytens
line engraving, 1628
NPG D26299
by Johannes Meyssens, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D26304
by Wenceslaus Hollar
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D26307
by Wenceslaus Hollar
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D26309
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.