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.
by Cornelis van Dalen the Younger, after Pieter Nason
line engraving, early 1660s
NPG D18463
published by Carel Allard, after Pieter Nason
line engraving, (1660s)
NPG D18464
after Pieter Nason
line engraving, (1660s)
NPG D18465
after Unknown artist
engraving, 1660-1685
NPG D18472
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660-1685
NPG D18473
by John Chantry
line engraving, early 1660s
NPG D18474
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660
NPG D18505
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1660
NPG D18506
by Coryn or Quirin Bol (Boel), after Gonzales Coques (Cockes, Cocx, Cox)
etching, 1660s
NPG D18507
by Coryn or Quirin Bol (Boel), after Gonzales Coques (Cockes, Cocx, Cox)
etching, 1660s
NPG D18508
by John Chantry
line engraving, early 1660s
NPG D18509
by David Loggan, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18513
by David Loggan, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18514
by Abraham Hertochs (Hertocks)
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18515
by Abraham Hertochs (Hertocks)
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18516
by Frederick Hendrik van Hove, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D18521
after Pieter Nason
line engraving, (1660s)
NPG D18497
after Pieter Nason
line engraving, (early 1660s)
NPG D18501
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18511
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18502
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18503
by Frederick Hendrik van Hove, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D18523
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D18522
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18512
published by Theodorus Merlen, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s?
NPG D18528
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18529
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D18524
The Coronation of Charles II (King Charles II with 4 bishops and 2 peers)
by Unknown engraver
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18536
after Nicholas Dixon
line engraving, (1660s-1670s)
NPG D18525
after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D18540
King Charles II with Justice and 20 unknown men
by Michael Burghers
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D18535
Henry Lascelles; King Charles II; Jane (née Lane), Lady Fisher
by Unknown artist
etching, possibly 1660s
NPG D18552
King Charles II and four unknown men
by Unknown engraver
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D18539
King Charles II with 15 unknown men
by Unknown engraver
etching, 1660s
NPG D18538
by Cornelis van Dalen the Younger, after Pieter Nason
line engraving, early 1660s
NPG D19160
published by Abraham Blooteling (Bloteling), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1660-1690
NPG D19814
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1661
NPG D18461
Coronation of Charles II: The Choir of Westminster Abbey
by Wenceslaus Hollar
etching, published 1662
NPG D42250
Catherine of Braganza; King Charles II
after Unknown artist
etching, 1662 or after
NPG D2942
Catherine of Braganza; King Charles II
by Unknown artist
line engraving, 1662 or after
NPG D11128
King Charles II; Catherine of Braganza
by Unknown artist
line engraving, 1662 or after
NPG D11129
King Charles II (The trial crown piece of Charles II)
by Francis Perry, after Thomas Simon
line engraving, (1663)
NPG D18541
King Charles II (The trial crown piece of Charles II)
by Francis Perry, after Thomas Simon
line engraving, (1663)
NPG D18542
Seal of Barbados showing King Charles II as Neptune
after Thomas Simon
painted plaster cast of reverse of seal, 1960 (circa 1665)
NPG D7215
The Great Seal for King James II when Duke of York with heads of King Charles II and King James II
by Thomas Simon
line engraving, 1665
NPG D18588
by Wenceslaus Hollar, after John Evelyn
etching, 1667
NPG D30335
Frontispiece to 'The History of the Royal-Society of London' by Thomas Sprat
by Wenceslaus Hollar, after John Evelyn
etching, 1667
NPG D2945
by William Sherwin, after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1670-1685
NPG D32290
by Robert Williams, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D29254
sold by John Clark
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D29269
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th to early 18th century
NPG D29272
by James Clark
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D29277
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 D42234
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18467
by Johann Ulrich Kraus, after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18468
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18470
by John Savage, after Willem Wissing
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18471
by Robert White, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1670s
NPG D18517
by Robert White, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1670s
NPG D18518
by James Clark
line engraving, 1670s
NPG D18520
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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