Charles II of England

Charles II (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 30 January 1649 (retrospectively de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. His father Charles I had been executed in 1649 following the English Civil War; the monarchy was then abolished and the country became a Republic under Oliver Cromwell, the "Lord Protector". In 1660, shortly after Cromwell's death, the monarchy was restored under Charles II.

Legacy

Charles II left no legitimate issue. He did, however, have several children by a number of mistresses (many of whom were wives of noblemen); many of his mistresses and illegitimate children received dukedoms or earldoms. He publicly acknowledged fourteen children by seven mistresses; six of those children were borne by a single woman, the notorious Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, whom Charles granted the Dukedom of Cleveland. His other favourite mistresses were Nell Gwynne and Louise Renée de Penancoët de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth. Charles also acknowledged children by Lucy Walter, Elizabeth Killigrew, Viscountess Shannon and Catherine Pegge, Lady Greene. The present Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Duke of Richmond and Gordon, Duke of Grafton and Duke of St Albans all descend from Charles in direct male line. Charles' relationships, as well as the politics of his time, are depicted in the historical drama ' (produced in 2003 by the British Broadcasting Corporation).

Related Topics:
Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine - Dukedom of Cleveland - Nell Gwynne - Louise Renée de Penancoët de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth - Lucy Walter - Elizabeth Killigrew, Viscountess Shannon - Catherine Pegge, Lady Greene - Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry - Duke of Richmond and Gordon - Duke of Grafton - Duke of St Albans - 2003 - British Broadcasting Corporation

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It is worth noting that Diana, Princess of Wales was descended from two of Charles' illegitimate sons, the Duke of Grafton and the Duke of Richmond (who is also a direct ancestor of Camilla Parker Bowles). Thus her son HRH Prince William of Wales, currently second in line to the British Throne, will very likely be the first British monarch descended from Charles II, and the first descended from Charles I since the death of Queen Anne in 1714.

Related Topics:
Diana, Princess of Wales - Duke of Grafton - Duke of Richmond - Camilla Parker Bowles - HRH Prince William of Wales - Charles I - Queen Anne - 1714

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Charles II's eldest son, the Duke of Monmouth, led a rebellion against James II, but was defeated at the battle of Sedgemoor on 6 July 1685, captured, and executed. James II, however, was eventually dethroned in 1688 in the course of the Glorious Revolution. James was the last Catholic monarch to rule England.

Related Topics:
Duke of Monmouth - Battle of Sedgemoor - 6 July - 1685 - 1688 - Glorious Revolution

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Charles, a patron of the arts and sciences, helped found the Royal Society, a scientific group whose early members included Robert Hooke, Robert Boyle and Sir Isaac Newton. Charles was the personal patron of Sir Christopher Wren, the architect who helped rebuild London after the Great Fire in 1666. Wren also constructed the Royal Hospital Chelsea, which Charles founded as a home for retired soldiers in 1681. Since 1692, a statue of Charles II in ancient Roman dress (created by Grinling Gibbons in 1676) has stood in the Figure Court of the Royal Hospital.

Related Topics:
Royal Society - Robert Hooke - Robert Boyle - Sir Isaac Newton - Sir Christopher Wren - Great Fire - Royal Hospital Chelsea - 1692 - Grinling Gibbons

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The anniversary of Charles' Restoration (which is also his birthday) — 29 May — is celebrated in the United Kingdom as "Oak Apple Day", after the Royal Oak in which Charles is said to have hid to escape from the forces of Oliver Cromwell. Traditional celebrations involve the wearing of oak leaves, but have now, for the most part, died out. The anniversary of the Restoration is also an official Collar Day.

Related Topics:
Restoration - 29 May - Oak Apple Day - Collar Day

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