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The Great British Collection

Charles II

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

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.

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