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Position:Home>History> Public reaction to execution of Charles I?Question: Public reaction to execution of Charles I!? Was Charles I unpopular when he was executed!? Many have remarked upon the give-and-take and the bond between English rulers and their subjects that didn't exist in many other nations, such as France!.
Was Charles I hated by his people!? Otherwise I don't see why they would have let him be executed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I think some were glad as they blamed him for the destructive Civil Wars, but most were quite shocked!. The Parliament was not representative of the people as they threw out any MPs who disagreed with the ruling clique, it ruled by the strength of the army, public opinion did not bother them!. It's probably apocryphal but there's a story that someone later informed Cromwell that nine tenths of the people hated him!. Cromwell replied ' Yes, but there is a sword in the tenth man's hand'!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Because of the crimes committed, according to the trial of Charles the first, his crime was shedding the blood of the nation through the civil wars!. Since religion played a part in this, according to the Bible the only suitable punishment was to shed his own blood through behedding!. This was done in public to make an example of him to all people, if you are a monarch and you betray us then you will be publically executed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com In general, from the civil war onward Anglicans and Catholics supported him while Puritans and Presbyterians opposed him!. He was unpopular with Parliament at the time of his execution, but that didn't translate into being unpopular with the population in general, since Parliament at that time was elected only by a small subset of the population, and "Pride's Purge" of Parliament removed most members who were less hostile to the monarchy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com He actually was pretty popular at first, but that didnt last long!. He believed firmly in the Divine Right theroy to which he owed nothing to his people: not fair government, not rights!.!.!.!.nothing!. He wanted to rule absolutely and without parlement of any other kind or people's representation!. And well, it caught up to him and he was in over his!.!.!.ahem!.!.!.!.head!. Plus it didnt help that his queen was of the hated French origin either!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Some people liked him; others didn't--as an eyewitness noted: "His blood was taken up by divers persons for different ends: by some as trophies of their villainy; by others as relics of a martyr; and in some hath had the same effect, by the blessing of God, which was often found in his sacred touch when living!." Reason he was executed: "Charles' problems revolved around religion and a lack of money!. His marriage to the Roman-Catholic French princess Henrietta Maria in 1625 did not please his Protestant subjects and led to suspicions of his motives!. In 1637 he totally misgauged the sentiments of his Scottish subjects when he attempted to impose an Anglican form of worship on the predominantly Presbyterian population!. Riots escalated to general unrest!.!.!.The continuing civil unrest in the north forced Charles to again convene Parliament in December 1640!. The following year the Irish revolted against English rule while the determination of King and Parliament to assert their authority over the other led to open conflict between the two in 1642!. The tide of the Civil War ebbed and flowed for the next six years, culminating in the defeat at the Battle of Preston of Charles' army in August 1648 by Parliamentary forces under the command of Oliver Cromwell!. The King was charged with high treason against the realm of England!. At his trial, Charles refuted the legitimacy of the court and refused to enter a plea!. Not withstanding the absence of a plea, the court rendered a verdict of guilty and a sentence of death" * also, note that the King kind of signed his own death warrant, since "Charles was placed on trial in January 1649!. Three times the king refused to plead, denying the competence of the court to try him!. After four days of proceedings, his refusal to plead was judged to be a confession and on January 29th he was sentenced to death by beheading!." He died because of!.!.!.well, his own pride, kind of!. Or ego!. Or something!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |