King Charles II
(1630-1685), Reigned 1660-85Sitter associated with 295 portraits
When civil war broke out in 1642, the heir to the throne Prince Charles was only twelve. He courageously engaged in the fighting for the next four years and, on one occasion when advised to retreat, cried 'I fear them not'. He was eventually sent abroad for safety in 1646. His attempt to invade England in 1651 ended in disaster at the Battle of Worcester when he was sheltered by Royalists until he finally escaped back to France. He was restored to the throne in 1660, amid great rejoicing, but with limitations on his powers. He became adept at out-manoeuvring the opposition to his policies, particularly in matters of religion and foreign affairs. The second half of his reign was marked by war with the Dutch after the Royal African Company, which had a monopoly of the Transatlantic slave trade, began to capture Dutch slave-trading posts in 1667. The company was founded by a royal charter issued by Charles in 1672 and was led by his brother, James Duke of York. In 1685, James succeeded as King James II, as although Charles had fathered fourteen children by his mistresses, he had no legitimate heir.
after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1670s
NPG D18519
The Statue of King Charles II at the Entrance of Cornhill (King Charles II; Oliver Cromwell)
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18531
by John Savage, after Willem Wissing
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18527
by Jan Lamsveld (Lamsvelt), after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, late 17th or early 18th century
NPG D18526
King Charles II and an unknown woman
by Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18533
by William Sherwin
line engraving, published 1672
NPG D19258
King Charles II; Gilbert Sheldon; Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Bt
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D22689
King Charles II; Gilbert Sheldon; Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Bt
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D22690
King Charles II; Gilbert Sheldon; Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Bt
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D29288
King Charles II; Gilbert Sheldon; Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Bt
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D18532
by Robert White, after Adriaen de Henny (Hennin)
line engraving, published 1674
NPG D29263
by Robert White, after Adriaen de Henny (Hennin)
line engraving, published 1674
NPG D29281
by Robert White, after Adriaen de Henny (Hennin)
line engraving, published 1674
NPG D10638
by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after John Riley
line engraving, 1675-1685
NPG D18466
King Charles II and an unknown man
by Unknown engraver
line engraving, 1675-1685
NPG D18537
'Dr Oates discovereth ye Plot to ye King and Councell' (Titus Oates; King Charles II)
after Francis Barlow
line engraving, 1679
NPG D23012(a)
after Francis Barlow
line engraving, 1679
NPG D23014(a)
by and sold by Robert White, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1679
NPG D29264
by Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1679
NPG D19192
by Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1679
NPG D20916
King Charles I; King Charles II
printed and sold by Thomas Bakewell, printed and sold by Timothy Jordan, sold by Thomas Taylor, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, published 1680s-1690s (circa 1632-1699)
NPG D32115
King Charles I; King Charles II
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, published 1680s-1690s (circa 1632-1699)
NPG D32116
by Robert Williams, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D9117
by Robert White, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1680
NPG D32291
by Abraham Blooteling (Bloteling), after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, 1680
NPG D29253
by Robert Williams, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D10642
by Robert Williams, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D10643
The Five Eldest Children of King Charles I
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684 (1637)
NPG D11400
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1680-84 (circa 1671)
NPG D11401
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684
NPG D11408
by Abraham Blooteling (Bloteling), after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, 1680
NPG D18693
'A True Narrative of the Horrid Hellish Popish-Plot...The Second Part'
after Unknown artist
line engraving and letterpress, 1682
NPG D23016
King Charles II; William Sancroft; Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford
after William Faithorne
line engraving, circa 1683-1685
NPG D22691
King Charles II; William Sancroft; Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford
after William Faithorne
line engraving, circa 1683-1685
NPG D22692
by Robert Williams, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, circa 1683-1704
NPG D11924
published by Isaac Beckett
mezzotint, circa 1683-1688
NPG D11820
published by John Smith
mezzotint, circa 1683-1729
NPG D11971
King Charles I; King Charles II
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1684 (circa 1632)
NPG D11399
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1684
NPG D17885
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published circa 1685-1688 (1660s)
NPG D32635
by Robert Williams, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (1685)
NPG D11519
by Robert Williams, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (1685)
NPG D18985
by Cornelius Nicolas Schurtz, after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 1689
NPG D18469
King James I of England and VI of Scotland, King Charles I and King Charles II
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 18th century
NPG D25717
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D28647
by Michael Vandergucht, after P. La Vergne
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D28648
by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, early 18th century
NPG D29255
by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, early to mid 18th century
NPG D29256
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D10639
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D10640
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D10641
by Boocock
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D18458
by James Basire, after Thomas Simon
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D18543
by and published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1704
NPG D11915
by Antoine Trouvain, after John Riley
line engraving, published 1706
NPG D29276
by Pierre Drevet, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, circa 1707
NPG D18498
by Pierre Drevet, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, circa 1707
NPG D18499
by Pierre Drevet, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, circa 1707
NPG D18500
by Michael Vandergucht, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1713
NPG D18457
by Michael Vandergucht, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1713
NPG D18495
Related People
- Queen Anne (niece)
- Anne of Denmark (grandmother)
- Princess Anne (sister)
- Hon. Augustus Henry Archibald Anson (grandson)
- James Beauclerk (son)
- Catherine of Braganza (wife)
- King Charles I (father)
- Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox (son)
- Charles FitzRoy, Duke of Cleveland (son)
- Mary Radcliffe (née Tudor), Countess of Derwentwater (daughter)
- Princess Elizabeth (sister)
- George Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland (son)
- Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton (son)
- Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans (sister)
- Henry, Duke of Gloucester (brother)
- King James I of England and VI of Scotland (grandfather)
- King James II (brother)
- James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch (son)
- Charlotte Lee (née Fitzroy), Countess of Lichfield (daughter)
- Henrietta Maria (mother)
- Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (sister)
- Charles FitzCharles, Earl of Plymouth (son)
- Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans (son)
- Anne Frederica (née Anson), Countess of Wemyss (granddaughter)
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