Artist: Simon Verelst (Dutch, 1644-1721)
Collection: Royal Collection Trust, London, United Kingdom
Charles II (1630 – 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651 and King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685.
The eldest child of the executed King Charles I. When civil war broke out in 1642, the heir to the throne Prince Charles was only twelve. He courageously engaged in the fighting for the next four years and, on one occasion when advised to retreat, cried 'I fear them not'. He was eventually sent abroad for safety in 1646, spending most of his youth in exile on the continent during the Republic.
His attempt to invade England in 1651 ended in disaster at the Battle of Worcester when he was sheltered by Royalists until he finally escaped back to France. He returned to reclaim his throne amid much rejoicing in 1660, entering London on his 30th birthday. He was restored to the throne the same year, but with limitations on his powers. He opened the public theatres after nearly 20 years of closure, and his court became famed for luxury, indulgence and the prominence of women. He had 14 children with his many mistresses, but none with his Portuguese queen, Catherine of Braganza. Cynical, lazy, and notorious for saying one thing and doing another, Charles was also charming and approachable, and promoted science and technology with genuine interest. He became adept at outmanoeuvring the opposition to his policies, particularly in matters of religion and foreign affairs.
The second half of his reign was marked by war with the Dutch after the Royal African Company, which had a monopoly of the Transatlantic slave trade, began to capture Dutch slave-trading posts in 1667. The company was founded by a royal charter issued by Charles in 1672 and was led by his brother, James Duke of York. In 1685, James succeeded as King James II, as although Charles had fathered fourteen children by his mistresses, he had no legitimate heir.
