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.
Five Children of King Charles I
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, 17th century, based on a work of 1637
NPG 267
studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1638
NPG 5705
by Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
oil on panel, 1639
NPG 5103
by David Des Granges, after Adriaen Hanneman
watercolour on vellum, based on a work of 1648
NPG 6276
after Adriaen Hanneman
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1648
NPG 1499
King Charles II at Whiteladies (King Charles II; Richard Penderel)
by Isaac Fuller
oil on canvas, 1660s?
NPG 5247
by John Michael Wright
oil on canvas, circa 1660-1665
NPG 531
by John Roettier
silver medal, 1660
NPG 6076
King Charles II in Boscobel Wood
by Isaac Fuller
oil on canvas, 1660s?
NPG 5248
King Charles II and Colonel William Carlos (Careless) in the Royal Oak
by Isaac Fuller
oil on canvas, 1660s?
NPG 5249
King Charles II on Humphrey Penderel's Mill Horse
by Isaac Fuller
oil on canvas, 1660s?
NPG 5250
King Charles II and Jane Lane riding to Bristol
by Isaac Fuller
oil on canvas, 1660s?
NPG 5251
by Unknown artist
oil on canvas, circa 1665
NPG 1313
after Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, feigned oval, based on a work of circa 1675
On display at Lyme Park, Stockport
NPG 153
studio of John Riley
oil on canvas, circa 1680-1685
NPG 3798
by James Parmentier
oil on copper, circa 1685
NPG 137
'The Kings and Queens of England: From the Conquest to Queen Victoria'
by Henry Hering
albumen carte-de-visite photomontage, 1862
NPG Ax131392
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D26421
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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