![[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.