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 Josiah Boydell, published by John Boydell, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, 1778
NPG D31962
'Razor's levée, or ye heads of a new Whig ad...........n on a broad bottom'
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 21 April 1783
NPG D12233
by T. Woodman, by Henry Mutlow, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1784
NPG D31965
by Antoine Louis Romanet, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1786
NPG D31967
by Thomas Rowlandson, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 30 January 1789
NPG D12397
'Charles I taking leave of his family after being sentenced to loose his head by the Parliament'
published by William and James Stratford, after Unknown artist
etching, published 6 October 1792
NPG D33427
Key to Charles I Demanding in the House of Commons the Five Impeached Members
after John Singleton Copley
etching, (1795)
NPG D26376
'Charles I imprisoned in Carisbrook Castle' (King Charles I)
by George Noble, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, 1800
NPG D32078
published by John Thane, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, early 19th century
NPG D26355
by George Perfect Harding, published by Edward Evans
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D26356
by Robert Cooper
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D26364
Jeffrey Hudson and King Charles I
by R. Page
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D28514
by Robert Cooper, after Goddard Dunning
stipple engraving, circa 1800-1820 (1649)
NPG D18305
by Henry Bone, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, early 19th century
NPG D17187
King Charles I when Prince of Wales
by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Francis Delaram
mezzotint, 1813
NPG D31958
King Charles I when Prince of Wales
by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Francis Delaram
mezzotint, 1813
NPG D34880
King Charles I when Prince of Wales
by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Francis Delaram
mezzotint, 1813
NPG D9679
'James I and his royal progeny'
by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Willem de Passe
mezzotint, published 1814
NPG D25692
'James I and his royal progeny'
by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Willem de Passe
mezzotint, published 1814
NPG D34878
'James I and his royal progeny'
by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Willem de Passe
mezzotint, published 1814
NPG D9808
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.