How did Charles II return to the throne?

Following the execution of his father Charles I and years of exile during the English Interregnum, Charles II was restored to the English, Scottish, and Irish thrones in May 1660. Political instability after the death of Oliver Cromwell and the intervention of General George Monck paved the way for his return. Welcomed to London on his thirtieth birthday, Charles governed until his death in 1685, navigating intense religious and political factionalism.

What we know

• After Oliver Cromwell defeated Charles II at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, Charles spent nine years in exile across France, the Dutch Republic, and the Spanish Netherlands. [2]
• Political instability following Oliver Cromwell's death in 1558, combined with the actions of General George Monck, led to the Stuart Restoration and the invitation for Charles to return to Britain. [2, 5]
• Charles II entered London to public acclaim on May 29, 1660, which was his thirtieth birthday. [2, 5]
• Charles dissolved the English Parliament in 1681 and ruled alone for the remainder of his life until his death in 1685. [2]

Where to go next

• what caused itWhat was the English Interregnum?
• what followedHow did the Stuart Restoration change English culture?
• how it workedWhat was the Clarendon Code?
• whoWho was Catherine of Braganza?
• whenWhat happened during the Exclusion Crisis?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a Portuguese queen popularize tea in England?Charles II's wife, Catherine of Braganza, is credited with popularizing the consumption of tea in England after her marriage into the Stuart court.

Sources

• [1]Charles II of England (Wikidata Q122553) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Charles II of England · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Catherine of Braganza · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]James II of England · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Stuart Restoration · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

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