What do you think?
Rate this book
Charles I: A Life from Beginning to End
Charles I * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. Charles I is one of the most instantly recognizable of the English monarchs. During his reign the relationship between king and Parliament changed radically, with revolutionary results. A man of deeply held convictions whose refusal to compromise brought about conflict and civil war, King Charles I almost destroyed the English monarchy forever. Inside you will read about... ✓ The Sickly Prince ✓ The King and the Queen ✓ The Eleven Years’ Tyranny ✓ The Bishops’ Wars ✓ The Country Divides ✓ Civil War and the King's Execution And much more! When considering the 24-year reign of Charles I, it is difficult not to come to the conclusion that he may have made a much better Duke of York (the title historically given to the second son of the royal family) than King of England. And perhaps Charles, too, would have been much happier had his older brother taken the throne instead.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2018
129 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Hourly History
696 books860 followersAt Hourly History, we focus on publishing history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.
Receive our new eBooks for free every Friday.
Sign up at: www.hourlyhistory.com/free
Receive our new eBooks for free every Friday.
Sign up at: www.hourlyhistory.com/free
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 22, 2020
Interesting and educational
I knew very little about King Charles I as I was more interested in King Charles II. Today I learned that Charles I was a second son who was not meant to be king. He was a weak king who did not like to deal with administrative issues and left that to others. He was firm in his belief that he was chosen by God to rule and that others had no right to tell him how to do it. He married a Catholic which angered the Puritan, and tried to include ritual and bishops in the Anglicans, which caused an armed uprising in Scotland.
As a result of his issues with Parliament, Charles abused his people. Parliament refused to grant his requests for funds unless he told them what the funds were to be used for, and he didn't think it was any of their business. To obtain money, he resurrected ancient laws to create lawbreakers and obtain fines. He heavily taxed the people and imprisoned those who did not pay.
He refused to assemble Parliament for 11 years and lived however he chose. The people had had enough. The next 11 years would be spent under the heel of Oliver Cromwell.
I knew very little about King Charles I as I was more interested in King Charles II. Today I learned that Charles I was a second son who was not meant to be king. He was a weak king who did not like to deal with administrative issues and left that to others. He was firm in his belief that he was chosen by God to rule and that others had no right to tell him how to do it. He married a Catholic which angered the Puritan, and tried to include ritual and bishops in the Anglicans, which caused an armed uprising in Scotland.
As a result of his issues with Parliament, Charles abused his people. Parliament refused to grant his requests for funds unless he told them what the funds were to be used for, and he didn't think it was any of their business. To obtain money, he resurrected ancient laws to create lawbreakers and obtain fines. He heavily taxed the people and imprisoned those who did not pay.
He refused to assemble Parliament for 11 years and lived however he chose. The people had had enough. The next 11 years would be spent under the heel of Oliver Cromwell.
May 7, 2021
King Charles I against the World
Excellent read. Very informative and interesting. I learned a few new things about Charles I and also about the English Civil War. I highly recommend this book.
Excellent read. Very informative and interesting. I learned a few new things about Charles I and also about the English Civil War. I highly recommend this book.
November 9, 2019
Charles wasn't meant to be king, and it shows in his behavior throughout his troublesome reign. His older brother Henry, groomed for the kingship, died of typhoid at the age of 18.
Charles was a seriously-flawed man who was prone to doubt (so that he was slow to act) and he, like his father James I, believed in the divine right of kings to rule. And since kings are chosen by God, then it followed that whatever the king chose to do was right. Charles wasn't satisfied just ruling his country as he chose, he decided to alter the religions of the people he controlled. Since most folks look upon their own religion as sacrosanct, they would look upon any ruler's interference as serious business.
Another problem Charles had was his inability to compromise. Since he thought his rule came from God, he saw no need to compromise. However, that attitude led to the English Civil Wars and then the removal of his head. This explanation of Charles I and his leadership was clear and succinct.
Charles was a seriously-flawed man who was prone to doubt (so that he was slow to act) and he, like his father James I, believed in the divine right of kings to rule. And since kings are chosen by God, then it followed that whatever the king chose to do was right. Charles wasn't satisfied just ruling his country as he chose, he decided to alter the religions of the people he controlled. Since most folks look upon their own religion as sacrosanct, they would look upon any ruler's interference as serious business.
Another problem Charles had was his inability to compromise. Since he thought his rule came from God, he saw no need to compromise. However, that attitude led to the English Civil Wars and then the removal of his head. This explanation of Charles I and his leadership was clear and succinct.
August 30, 2018
I guess I never realized how truly complicated the relationship between the Monarchy and Parliament was throughout history. This was particularly true during the reign of King Charles I. There were many details here I did not know. Fascinating reading. This brief but concise history also brought into clearer focus, the roles of a number of historic figures I knew only by name.
Hourly History has again produced an engaging and informative, quick read introduction into a specific life and moment in history.
Hourly History has again produced an engaging and informative, quick read introduction into a specific life and moment in history.
October 4, 2018
Very Informative
This little book gave me a better understanding of why Charles I lost his crown and life with the country then being ruled by Cromwell in a republican state. This and Cromwell's continuous search for the Prince of Wales turned king in absentia, were a large part in the formation of Charles II.
This little book gave me a better understanding of why Charles I lost his crown and life with the country then being ruled by Cromwell in a republican state. This and Cromwell's continuous search for the Prince of Wales turned king in absentia, were a large part in the formation of Charles II.
September 15, 2018
Complex persona of a someone who rose to become the King of England quite accidentally has been brought out quite succinctly in the book. What is indeed fascinating was the evolving relationship between the Parliament and the King that ultimately resulted in the execution of the latter.
January 31, 2019
Enlightening
This is a well written, concise history lesson. Since most of the events in this book took place about a century before the American Revolution, It's easy to see that the founding fathers were by Charles I reign when airing the Constituting
This is a well written, concise history lesson. Since most of the events in this book took place about a century before the American Revolution, It's easy to see that the founding fathers were by Charles I reign when airing the Constituting
March 20, 2019
Quick profile, lots of context missing
More interesting than reading a Wikipedia entry, but I would get confused as some people would pop in without context. Had to look up a few of the names so I could see who they were...could have used a bit more editing
More interesting than reading a Wikipedia entry, but I would get confused as some people would pop in without context. Had to look up a few of the names so I could see who they were...could have used a bit more editing
January 20, 2021
I never really knew that much about Charles I so this was interesting. I didn't agree with a lot of his ideas, but felt a little sad for him in that he was raised to believe certain things by his father.
July 30, 2021
Not fit to reign
This man hadn't been trained and groomed to be king. When circumstances changed and he was made king, he was obviously ill equipped to actually deal with the role. He also wouldn't take sound advice, from anyone. He listened to fool's and it cost him his life.
This man hadn't been trained and groomed to be king. When circumstances changed and he was made king, he was obviously ill equipped to actually deal with the role. He also wouldn't take sound advice, from anyone. He listened to fool's and it cost him his life.
February 5, 2024
What I see in this story is that this man, Charles I, was not at all fit to be a king. What he has especially in common with King Henry VIII is that they both had older brothers who were supposed to become the king but died young, leaving the younger brother to become one.
Read
October 16, 2020Good read. An easy and clear description of events. I would like to have had more detail on the events involving his clash with Oliver Cromwell which ultimately led to his execution.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews