Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland has been called England’s most ill-fated monarch.

On March 10, 1629, he dissolved Parliament and had several members imprisoned, beginning the 11-year period known as the Personal Rule. This set into motion the events that led to the English Civil War and the death of Charles I in 1649.

Also known as the Eleven Years’ Tyranny, the period from 1629 to 1640 saw King Charles I rule without Parliament. The king was entitled to do this under the Royal Prerogative. His actions caused discontent among the ruling classes, but the effects were generally more popular with the common people.

Further Reading