Charles II (reigned from 1660-1685) was the son of Charles I who had been executed by the Cromwellians on January 30, 1649. After the regicide of his father
the young Charles fled to the Continent after many exciting escapes from Roundhead forces. After the death of Oliver Cromwell his son Richard proved to be an incompetent ruler. The Parliament and people clamoured for Charles to return from exile. He became the King and the Restoration era was begun.
There were many momentous events during the reign of the merry monarch including:
1. The Plague which devastated London in 1665.
2. The Great Fire of London which in 1666 destroyed five/sixth of the city.
3. Three naval wars against the Dutch. The issue was trade and control of the seas.
4. Higher taxation of the populace needed to fight Charles' wars.
5. Continued religious controversy and persecution. Dissenters and Quakers were imprisoned. The Church of England was the official religion. Charles converted to Roman Catholicism on his deathbed following the faith of his brother James II (who short inglorious reign was from 1685-1688).
6. The founding of the Royal Society and the growing interest in science. Men like Sir Isaac Newton and Christopher Wren the architect of St. Paul's flourished during this reign.
7. Charles became unpopular when it was learned he had received a hefty bribe from Louis XIV of France. Despite being a member of the Triple Alliance of Holland, Sweden and England which was Protestant, Charles was a crypto-Roman Catholic.
The personality of Charles II? He was a rake. Charles sired countless illegitimate children and had a whole cadre of willing mistresses. Among the most famous were the actress Nell Gwynn and the notorious Barbara Villiers Lady Castlemaine. Charles was wed to the plain Catherine of Braganza from Portugal.
Charles loved sex, racing at Newmarket Track, gambling, hunting and playing tennis.
He was a non-intellectual whose reign never fulfilled its promise for the British people of greater religious stability and peace. Charles was a charming cavalier who was personally kind and endearing to his family and friends.
Jenny Uglow is a veteran British biographer. This long book covers the first ten years of Charles II reign taking the story from its beginning in 1660 to 1670. The book is lavishly illustrated with colored plates and period drawings making it an attractive volume. Along with the much earlier book on Charles II by Lady Antonia Fraser this is the one to read on the cavalier king and his exciting times.,