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Essay / King Charles I: what led to his execution
Back to the source: the trial of King Charles I, 1649King Charles I was the first of the monarchs to be tried for treason and this led to its execution. No law could be found in English history dealing with the trial of a monarch. King Charles I assumed that he had unlimited political power over the sovereign state and its people. In 1625, Charles I's first year as king was an eventful year. He came to the throne during a plague and immediately led the country into a war against Spain, which failed miserably. From the beginning of his reign, his claims to be an absolute monarch were visible. “Do not forget that parliaments are entirely in my power for their convocation, their session and their dissolution. Therefore, depending on whether I find the fruits good or bad, they must continue or not. …” The House of Commons and the English people were suspicious of their new king. Once King Charles I issued the new taxes, the House of Commons had no choice but to create a petition against these new taxes, "insisting on its traditional privilege of approving taxes and objecting to Charles's imposition of a measure similar to martial law. Although Charles did not accept the petition, he accepted it and then decided to abandon Parliament and rule alone. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay His premature actions of absolute monarchism led him to attempt to reform local government. He created the first annual income tax in England, appointed William Laud to reform churches throughout the country, provoking riots within the Scottish Presbyterian Church which led the Scots to band together and sign a National Covenant in 1638, “vowing to defend the Presbyterian Church from death.” All these protests caused Charles to turn desperately to Parliament for help. Of course, Parliament wanted reform before bowing to the king's wishes, but Charles I didn't like what he was being told, so he overthrew the "Short Parliament" and called another one. This act was another trait of his absolute monarchy displayed to the public. The riots increased, the reformers were still angry, and most of the English population was not happy. The Puritans demanded even more reforms, Irish rioters attacked their “Protestant overlords, massacring around 12,000 people”. In the chaos, Charles continued his absurd reign of the monarchy and hatched a plot to imprison his Catholic wife, Henrietta. He also accused five important figures in Parliament of treason and wanted to imprison them. In doing so, reformers were convinced that Charles was abusing his power and had become a "tyrant, rather than a benevolent father, to his people." Once Charles was brought to justice, he reasoned that “neither Parliament, nor any earthly tribunal.” , had the right to judge him.” He started by disrespecting the courts by refusing to take off his hat. This statement alone demonstrates absolute monarchism, reflected in his thinking that he does not fall into the same category as others in court. He then threatens the court by asking who is responsible for judging him: “Remember that I am your king, your lawful king, and what sins you bring upon your heads, and the judgment of God on this land; think about it carefully, I say, think about it carefully, before you move from one sin to a greater one; trying to imply that there will be consequences for whoever pushed him into court. Charles continued to."