biography
| name: |
Charles II (of England)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1630–85)
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| biography:
| King of Britain and Ireland (1660–85), born in London, UK, the son of Charles I. As Prince of Wales, he sided with his father in the Civil War, and was then forced into exile. On his father's execution (1649), he assumed the title of king, and was crowned at Scone, Scotland (1651). Leading poorly organized forces into England, he met disastrous defeat at Worcester (1651). The next nine years were spent in exile until an impoverished England, in dread of a revival of military despotism, summoned him back as king (1660). In 1662 he married the Portuguese princess, Catherine of Braganza. It was a childless marriage, though Charles was the father of many illegitimate children. His war with Holland (1665–7) was unpopular, and led to the dismissal of his adviser, Lord Clarendon (1667), who was replaced by a group of ministers (the Cabal). He negotiated skilfully between conflicting political and religious pressures, including the trumped-up ‘Popish Plot’, and refused to deny the succession of his brother James. For the last four years of his life, he ruled without parliament. |
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