April 23, 1661: King Charles II is crowned King of England, Scotland, and Ireland


Charles II was born into turbulent times. He was born at St. James Palace on May 29, 1630, to King Charles I of England and his wife, Henrietta Maria. While he was brought up by a Protestant governess, his mother was secretly Catholic and must have taught her son some of her beliefs. During his childhood, he was moved from castle to castle, as his father fought against Parliament during the English Civil War. At the age of 15, he actually fought with his father at the Battle of Edgehill. In 1646, the Parliamentarians captured the King and Charles fled to the Hague into the arms of his sister, Mary and her husband, William II, Prince of Orange.

In 1649, King Charles I was executed by order of Parliament. His father’s death elevated Charles to the King of Scotland, while England and parts of Ireland remained in the possession of the Parliamentarians. Charles arrived in Scotland to assume his duties as monarch and to stage an invasion of England. He and his forces were defeated at the Battle of Dunbar by Parliamentarian forces lead by Oliver Cromwell. With his victory over the exiled King, Cromwell was appointed Lord Protector of Great Britain. In 1651, Charles attempted another invasion of England but was defeated again at the Battle of Worcester.

In 1658, Cromwell died, and his son, Richard became Lord Protector. Richard proved not be able to live up to his father’s example. In 1660. Richard resigned and the Long Parliament, which control England throughout the entire Civil War, dissolved. In its place, the Rump Parliament was created. The Rump Parliament decided to invite Charles back to reign as monarch. Charles agreed in the Spring of 1660. On April 23, 1661, Charles II was crowned King of England, Ireland and Scotland at Westminster Abbey.

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