Charles II of England

Q: What is King Charles II famous for?

Charles II is famous as the first king of the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy after it had been abolished during the English Civil Wars. His reign saw colonial expansion in North America, the Great Fire of London in 1666, and the foundation of the Royal Society.

Q: What happened to Charles II of England?

Charles II fled England during the English Civil War and lived in exile in France and the Netherlands. He returned as king of England in the 1660 Restoration. He died of a stroke aged 54.

Q: Was King Charles a good king?

Charles was popular because people wanted a return of the monarchy. He was a charming king mostly interested in sports but a war with the Netherlands was expensive and unpopular.

Q: How did Charles II die?

Charles II of England died four days after suffering a stroke on 6 February 1685. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Mark Cartwright

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Definition

Charles II of England (r. 1660-1685) was the king of Scotland (1649-1685) before the Restoration in 1660 also made him king of England and Ireland. Charles was a charming and easygoing monarch who took a keen interest in sports, science, and the arts. From the acquisition of New York to the Great Fire of London, his reign was certainly eventful.

More about: Charles II of England

Timeline

29 May 1630
Charles, son of Charles I of England and future Charles II of England, is born.
1646 - 1649
Thomas Hobbes tutors the future Charles II of England.
Feb 1649
Charles, son of Charles I of England, becomes Charles II of Scotland.
1 Jan 1651
Charles II of Scotland is crowned at Scone.
Sep 1651
Charles II of Scotland flees England after defeat at the Battle of Worcester.
4 Apr 1660
The Treaty of Breda where Charles II of Scotland promises a free Parliament and religious toleration if he is restored to the English throne.
29 May 1660
The Restoration of the monarchy in England. Charles II of England returns.
23 Apr 1661
The coronation of Charles II of England in Westminster Abbey.
Apr 1662
The Royal Society recieves its charter from Charles II of England.
21 May 1662
Charles II of England marries Catherine of Braganza.
24 Mar 1663
Charles II of England grants the lands of 'Carolina' in North America to eight noblemen.
8 Jul 1663
Charles II of England grants a royal charter to the Rhode Island colony.
Jun 1665
A new wave of the Black Death plague creates great loss of life in England.
Jun 1666
The Netherlands' navy defeats the British at Medway, England.
2 Sep 1666
The Great Fire of London begins and rages for four days.
1667
Treaty of Breda where the Netherlands cedes New Amsterdam to Britain (and it is renamed New York).
1670
The Treaty of Dover between Charles II of England and Louis XIV of France, an alliance against the Netherlands.
1678
Titus Oates spreads an invented plot that traitors plan to assassinate Charles II of England.
1681
Charles II of England grants the Quaker entrepreneur William Penn the territory of Pennsylvania.
1683
The Rye House Plot is foiled, which attempted to replace Charles II of England with his illegitimate son the Duke of Monmouth.
6 Feb 1685
Charles II of England dies after a stroke in London’s Whitehall Palace.