The Restoration Era by Ecem

1651: Charles II escapes and hides at the Royal Oak

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-18 18:53:46 UTC

In September 1651, the last major battle of Civil War, the Battle of Worcester, took place. The Parliamentarian commander Olive Cromwell defeated the young king’s army. After his defeat, Charles II fled for his life with an award of a thousand pounds on his head. During this exile, the King and a companion hid in an oak tree.

1642: Start of the English Civil War

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-18 19:44:10 UTC

In August 1642, tensions between Charles II and Parliament broke out into the English Civil War. This conflict arose from long-lasting disagreements about religion, and discontent over the king’s use of power and his economic policies. The war formally began when Charles I raised his standard at Nottingham, calling for support against Parliament. The country split into those who supported the king and those who supported Parliament. The war had a crucial role in determining England’s future, leading to a significant political change.

See the video in the next post —>

1649: Execution of Charles I

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-18 19:44:53 UTC

Charged with treason, King Charles I is found guilty and beheaded outside the Banqueting House, Whitehall. His execution marked the end of the monarchy and led to the exile of Charles II, who sought to regain his father’s throne.

Charles I’s last words, minutes before the executioner's axe fell:

I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown; where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world.

1653: Oliver Cromwell makes himself Lord Protector

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-19 13:47:25 UTC

Following the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester, The Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland was introduced. In December 1653, Oliver Cromwell was given the new title of Lord Protector by Parliament. He was now head of state, in place of monarchy, ruling over England, Scotland and Ireland.

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-19 21:29:31 UTC

1658: Death of Oliver Cromwell

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-19 22:02:06 UTC

When Oliver Cromwell died, he was succeeded as Lord Protector by his son, Richard.

1659: Richard Cromwell resigns and Charles II is invited to return from exile

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-19 22:29:23 UTC

Richard lacked the political and military qualities of his father. He failed to get the support he needed and is forced to resign in May 1659 ending the Protectorate. Charles II, the son of Charles I, was invited to return from exile to claim the throne.

April 1660: Declaration of Breda

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-19 23:11:00 UTC

The exiled king issued the Declaration of Breda, in which he made certain promises in return for his restoration to the English throne. This helped to ease the transition back to a monarchy and gain the support of Parliament.

May 1660: Restoration of England monarchy

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-19 23:15:06 UTC

Charles triumphantly returned to London on his 30th birthday. His return marked the official restoration of the monarchy. This event restored the Stuart dynasty and ended England's brief experiment with republicanism. Theatres were soon flourishing again, the Church of England was restored and all manner of entertainments flourished.

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-19 23:19:06 UTC

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-20 08:34:30 UTC

This document, written in iron gall ink on flat parchment, resulted in the execution of Charles I and the subsequent rule of Oliver Cromwell, who was one of the 59 signatories. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the Death Warrant was used to identify and prosecute the commissioners who signed it for treason. Even the signatories who had died, including Cromwell, were dug up and hanged.

January 1661: The Posthumous Execution of Oliver Cromwell

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-20 09:07:23 UTC

On 30 January 1661, Oliver Cromwell’s body, along with that of John Bradshaw and Henry Ireton were removed from Westminster Abbey to be posthumously tried for high treason and ‘executed’. This symbolic act occurred on the anniversary of King Charles I's execution. The three bodies were beheaded and buried in a common grave. Their heads were displayed on a spike at Westminster Hall until 1685, when a storm brought them down.

'If the ravens leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall...'

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-20 16:38:05 UTC

A legend says that the kingdom will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London. To prevent this, Charles II ordered that at least six ravens must always be kept at the Tower, a tradition that continues today.

November 1660: The Royal Society is found

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-20 18:11:15 UTC

Charles II was a significant supporter of both art and scientific pursuits. His support of the Royal Society, which aimed to explore science through experiment, was crucial to its success. Charles had a deep interest in scientific work, leading research and conducting experiments himself.

April 1661: Coronation of Charles II

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-20 20:39:16 UTC

Charles II is crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey.

1665-1666: Great Plague of London

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-20 21:43:22 UTC

The Great Plague of London killed as many as 100,000 people, roughly 20 per cent of the city’s population. It was the worst outbreak of plague in England since the Black Death of 1348.

September 1666: Great Fire of London destroys two-thirds of the city

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-20 21:44:04 UTC

The Great Fire of London began in a baker’s shop off Pudding Lane. Some 13,200 houses, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral, were destroyed. The financial costs were estimated at £10 million.

June 1667: Dutch ships attack the English fleet in the Medway

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-20 21:45:00 UTC

And, the truth is, I do fear so much that the whole kingdom is undone.

These were the words of Samuel Pepys, taken from his diary entry on 12th June 1667, a stark reminder of the victorious Dutch attack launched on the unsuspecting Royal Navy. This attack became known as the Raid on Medway, a humiliating loss for England and one of the worst in the history of the navy.

1672: Royal African Company is established to regulate the African slave trade

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-30 13:56:15 UTC

Charles II granted the Royal African Company a monopoly on the rapidly expanding slave trade.

September 1678: 'Popish Plot' to murder Charles II is 'revealed'

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-30 13:59:23 UTC

The Popish Plot was a period of extraordinary political tension that took hold in England in 1678. It was a crisis that revolved around a series of increasingly elaborate allegations against English Catholics, who were supposedly in league with the French, of a plot to murder King Charles II and replace him on the throne with his Catholic brother James, Duke of York.

February 1685: Charles II dies and James II accedes to the throne

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-30 14:00:06 UTC

Having suffered a stroke, Charles II converted to Catholicism on his death-bed and passed away a few hours later. His death marked the end of the Restoration era, paving the way for his brother, James II, whose reign would lead to further conflict and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, establishing a constitutional monarchy in England.

1670: Secret Treaty of Dover

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-30 19:31:47 UTC

Charles II signed the Treaty of Dover with France, forming an alliance with Louis XIV. This secret agreement committed Charles to convert to Catholicism at some point in the future in exchange for French financial and military support. Although he never openly converted, this caused tension with Parliament and suspicion about his loyalties.

March 1673: Test Act excludes Catholics from public office

Ecemylmz — 2024-10-31 20:17:59 UTC

The Test Act required public office holders to accept communion in the Protestant form and swear an oath of allegiance recognising the monarch as the head of the Church of England. The intention of the act was to exclude Catholics and dissenters from public office.