Early Life and Accession to the Throne
Charles was the second son of King James VI of Scotland and I of England. His father, James, was the first monarch to rule over both England and Scotland, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1603. Charles grew up in a royal household and was educated in both English and Scottish traditions. He was very close to his mother, Anne of Denmark, and his older brother, Henry, who died suddenly in 1612, leaving Charles as the heir to the throne.
Charles ascended the throne in 1625 following the death of his father, James I. His coronation was marred by immediate challenges. He inherited a deeply divided kingdom, with significant political and religious tensions brewing, particularly between the monarchy and Parliament. His rule, characterized by his belief in the divine right of kings, would quickly put him on a collision course with Parliament, leading to years of conflict.
The Struggle with Parliament
One of the central issues that defined Charles I’s reign was his autocratic style of governance. Believing firmly in the divine right of kings—the idea that monarchs were appointed by God and accountable only to Him—Charles sought to govern without the need for parliamentary approval. This belief was not shared by all, and it quickly became clear that Charles’s approach would alienate many of the English political elite.
Early in his reign, Charles faced opposition from Parliament over issues such as taxation and the military. In 1629, after a series of disputes with Parliament over funding for foreign wars, Charles dissolved Parliament and decided to rule without it, a period that would last for eleven years, known as the "Personal Rule." During this time, he resorted to raising funds through unpopular means, including ship money, a tax traditionally levied on coastal towns for naval defense but expanded by Charles to include inland areas. This was one of the key causes of public unrest.
Charles's actions during the Personal Rule alienated many in both England and Scotland. His attempts to introduce religious reforms in Scotland, which were seen as an imposition of Anglican practices, led to widespread discontent. The Scottish bishops, known as the "Laudian reforms," attempted to impose a more English form of worship, which was highly unpopular in Scotland, particularly with the Presbyterian population. shutdown123