XVII century Britain + Restoration by

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 20:28:50 UTC

Charles I, James’ son , was very fond of art and patronized painters like Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony Van Dyck, creating one of Europe’s greatest art collections

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 20:29:55 UTC

1640

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 20:31:41 UTC

Charles I summoned Parliament again to raise taxes for a war against Scotland, but Parliament opposed and this time they protected themselves by an act according to which it could not be dissolved without the Parliamentarians' consent.
Parliament asked the king to renounce control over military and religious affairs, but the king refused and in response he ordered the arrest of five members of Parliament.
This led to the outburst of the Civil War (1642 - 1649).

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 20:34:18 UTC

Charles I believed in the Divine Right of kings, and refused to come to terms with Parliament.
After Charles I dissolved Parliament, he had to call it back to ask funds for a war with France.
Parliament refused and the king raised money with an illegal loan.
Yet there still was a money shortage and Charles was forced to call Parliament back. (Short Parliament)
This time, the members of Parliament agreed to lend the money on condition that he signed the Petition of Rights (=no man was to pay any tax without Parliament's approval).
However the conflicts between the king and Parliament worsened. This is why the king dismissed Parliament again to rule alone for 11 years.

1649

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monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:16:05 UTC

Parliamentarians formed an army guided by Oliver Cromwell.

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:17:29 UTC

Charles I was captured in 1648 and was brought to London, where a commission was set up to try him for treason.

Then the King was condemned to death and his execution took place in 1649

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:18:54 UTC

A soldier and a Puritan

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:22:46 UTC

His protectorate (1642 - 1660) turned into a dictatorship. Theatres and entertainments were closed.
He abolished the Monarchy and the House of Lords.
Every enemy of the Protectorate was punished, and beheaded or burnt.
This period saw lots of women burnt as witches.

Aggressive foreign policy

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:23:12 UTC

wars against Holland and Spain.

Richard Cromwell ( the son of Oliver Cromwell) succeeded him but with no success

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:24:13 UTC

Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 and his son Richard held office for 8 months before the Rump voted to end protectorate.

In 1660 the Republic was dismissed and the Monarchy restored. This period is called the Restoration.

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:26:07 UTC

Charles II was the new king. He continued Charles I's policy of absolutism and restored the Anglican Church in England.

Cromwell's body was exhumed and cut in pieces as punishment and vengeance for Charles I's execution.

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:27:37 UTC

Royalists (Cavalier) and Roundheads (liberal)

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Test Act 1673

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Prohibited all religious services other than the Anglican

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Catholics and Dissenters were excluded form public offices.

Royal Society

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For scientific innovations and research

Greenwich observatory

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Great Plague

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Great Fire

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destroyed London

Sir Christopher Wren

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was in charge of the City's rebuilding

James II

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:38:07 UTC

Charles II had no heir. His brother James went to the throne.
Another Catholic - Parliamentarians were afraid of another absolutist king.
They called William of Orange who was married to one of James's daughters (Mary) because he was from a protestant country.

Glorious or Bloodless Revolution

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:38:19 UTC

William entered England without fighting. It was a bloodless revolution.

Bill of Rights 1689

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:40:47 UTC

William and Mary had to sign the Bill of Rights which limited the power of the king over Parliament.

Toleration act

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Freedom of worship to everyone

Act of Settlement 1701

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If the king had no heir, only Protestants had the right to go to the throne

Queen Anne

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:43:46 UTC

William and Mary had no children. Mary's sister went to the throne, Anne.

Spanish Succession

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:46:03 UTC

The first war which involved many countries all over the world.

Treaty of Utrecht 1713

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:47:34 UTC

Britain gained Gibraltar and Minorca.

Act of Union

monicafontana77 — 2023-02-23 21:48:07 UTC

Scotland was included in the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

2023-02-24 07:39:59 UTC

2 parliaments were summoned: a short and a long parliament

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He expected absolute conformity to the Church of England and sympathized with the Catholic Church.

For this reason many Puritans fled to America to avoid persecutions.

Puritans rules

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Puritan rules were introduced which included execution of adultery, abolition of pastimes, games, theatre performances. Pubs were closed , Christmas and Easter were banned and replaced with days of fasting.

Parliament

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The new parliament was composed by 2 opposing sides, the (who wanted to limit the king’s power) and the Royalists (who supported the king). The most radical and extreme of the two sides were commonly called the “Rump” parliament and was composed of 121 members

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Civil War took place between 1642 and 1649, and there were many bloody battles between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians

Cromwell’s decisions

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Puritan rules were introduced, including execution for adultery, the abolition of popular pastimes, games, dancing and theatre performances. Inns, pubs and theatres were closed down.

Metaphysical Poetry

monicafontana1 — 2025-01-09 18:47:50 UTC

Charles I’s reign was mainly characterised by the so-called Metaphysical Poetry. Among the most famous poets, John Donne, Andrew Marvel and George Herbert. This poetry was characterised by an elaborate language, wit and the use of conceits (elaborate metaphors in which two similar objects are compared). It was influenced by the Italian Baroque poetry.

The term metaphysical was used by John Dryden in the XVIII century to give a negative definition of a some poetry which was too difficult and philosophical.

Pamphlet

monicafontana1 — 2025-01-09 18:49:49 UTC

This period saw the creation of a new genre: the pamphlet.

Normally a booklet focusing on religion, politics.

It has its origins in sermons.

Cavalier Poets

monicafontana1 — 2025-01-09 18:53:09 UTC

Their poetry was characterised by classical elegance and clarity. It was influenced by Latin and Greek poetry.

Among the most important representatives, Richard Lovelace.