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Full name: Charles II
Born: 29th May 1630
Place of Birth: St James's Palace,
London
Ascended to the throne: 29th May 1660,
aged 30 years
Crowned: 23rd April 1661, at Westminster
Abbey, and at Scone as King of Scots, 1 January 1651
Reign: 24 years
Died: 6th February 1685, Palace of
Whitehall, London
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Charles was born 29th May 1630, the eldest son of Charles I.
At the age of 14, he was appointed nominal commander-in-chief in
western England in the Civil War. He was forced into exile and was
in the Netherlands when he heard of his father's execution in
1649.
He accepted the Scottish Covenanter's offer, and was announced
king in 1650. He tried invading England with a Scottish army, but
was defeated, and exiled.
In 1660, he came back to England to reclaim the throne. He
pursued a policy of political and religious tolerance throughout
his reign.
England was at war with the Dutch between 1665, and 1667, which
ended in a Dutch victory. In 1670, Charles signed a treaty with
Louis XIV of France, and agreed to support the French against the
Dutch in return for financial subsidies.
Charles leaned towards Catholic faith, and to re-establish his
Protestant credentials, he married his niece to William of
Orange.
Charles dissolved parliament, and from 1681 onwards, he ruled
alone.
During his rule, he secured England as a sea power. Increasing
trade and colonisation in the East Indies and America.
Charles converted to Catholicism on his deathbed on 6th February
1685.