26. Charles II

Charles II (1660-85) was described by Ronald Hutton as the playboy monarch, naughty but nice, the hero of all who prized urbanity, tolerance, good humour, and the pursuit of pleasure above more earnest, sober or material virtues. Yet, like his grandfather he struggled to pay for it. Though Restoration England brought a new respect and freedom to the monarchy, the country had survived 11 years without the crown. He would test the patience of the establishment when his lifestyle and his faith drew him to the webs of Catholic Europe. Characters Charles II – King of England, Scotland and Ireland Catherine of Braganza – Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland James, duke of York – younger brother of Charles II Charles I – King of England, Scotland and Ireland (1625-49), father of Charles II James I – King of England, Scotland and Ireland (1603-25), grandfather of Charles II Henrietta Maria – Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland, mother of Charles II Henrietta Anne – younger sister of Charles II, duchess of Orleans Princess Mary – daughter of James, duke of York William of Orange – prince of Orange, husband of Princess Mary Oliver Cromwell – Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland (1653-58) Richard Cromwell - Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland (1658-59), son of Oliver Cromwell Thomas Fairfax – Parliamentarian commander and general of the New Model Army Prince Rupert of the Rhine – Royalist cavalry commander and colonial governor, cousin of Charles II George Monck – prominent English soldier John Lambert – Parliamentarian general Henry Ireton – Parliamentary general John Bradshaw -  President of the High Court of Justice for the trial of Charles I Colonel Thomas Blood – Anglo-Irish officer Titus Oates – English Priest who fabricated the Popish plot Israel Tonge – English divine who helped fabricate the Popish plot Edmund Godfrey – English magistrate Edward Hyde, 1st earl of Clarendon – Lord Chancellor The CABAL - Lord Clifford, Earl of Arlington, Duke of Buckingham, Lord Ashley, Duke of Lauderdale George Pendrell – Catholic royalist Nell Gwynne - mistress of Charles II Barbara Villiers – mistress of Charles II William Harvey – physician and tutor of Charles II Christopher Wren – architect responsible for rebuilding 52 London churches Isaac Newton – mathematician and physicist Robert Boyle – philosopher, chemist, and physicist Edmund Halley – astronomer, geophysicist, and mathematician Louis XIV – King of France, cousin of Charles II Samuel Pepys – Diarist and President of the Royal society John Evelyn – diarist and writer Gilbert Burnet – contemporary historian and philosopher Figures from the past Henry V – King of England (1413-22) Richard III – King of England (1483-85) Edward, The Black Prince – son of Edward III and heir to the English throne Elizabeth II – Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms (1952-present) CREDITS Henry Purcell – The Old Bachelor bbc_period-bat_07019147 bbc_large-outd_07019157 bbc_horses---h_07039290 bbc_dusk-choru_nhu9679545 bbc_rain---rai_nhu0506113 366713__anandthethird__digging-in-dirt 240914__bdvictor__wheat-in-the-wind 516685__supreme1197__washingface 173930__johnsonbrandediting__water-pour bbc_crowds-che_07035075