![[charles-ii.png]]
**King Charles II** (1630–1685) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 until his death in 1685. His reign, known as the **Restoration**, marked the return of the monarchy after the English Civil War and the Puritan Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.
# **Early Life:**
- Born on **29 May 1630** in St. James’s Palace, London.
- Son of **King Charles I** and **Henrietta Maria of France**.
- During the English Civil War (1642–1651), his father was defeated and executed in 1649, leading Charles to flee to continental Europe for exile.
# **The Restoration:**
- After the collapse of Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate and the political instability that followed under his son Richard, Charles was invited back to the throne in **1660**.
- His return marked the **Restoration of the Monarchy**, with Charles ascending the throne amid national desire for stability and the end of Puritan rule.
- He issued the **Declaration of Breda**, promising religious tolerance, a pardon for most Parliamentarians, and parliamentary government.
# **Reign and Policies:**
- Charles II’s reign was marked by efforts to balance royal authority with parliamentary power, though tensions remained.
- He faced challenges such as:
- The **Great Plague of London** (1665).
- The **Great Fire of London** (1666).
- The **Anglo-Dutch Wars**, maritime conflicts with the Netherlands.
- He supported the **[[Act of Uniformity]] (1662)**, enforcing strict conformity to the Church of England, leading to the ejection of nonconformist ministers (e.g., William Bagshawe).
# **Personal Life and Legacy:**
- Charles was known for his **charismatic personality** and cultural patronage, earning the nickname “The Merry Monarch.”
- Though married to **Catherine of Braganza**, they had no surviving children. However, he had numerous illegitimate children, including James Scott, Duke of Monmouth.
- His brother, **James II**, succeeded him after his death.
# **Death and Conversion:**
- Charles II died on **6 February 1685** and controversially converted to **Catholicism** on his deathbed, despite ruling as an Anglican monarch.
**Legacy:**
- His reign restored monarchy and cultural life to England, but his policies also deepened religious divisions, setting the stage for the later **Glorious Revolution** in 1688 under James II.