Posts Tagged ‘understanding british history for a london move’

It’s that crazy time again, Weekend Warriors, when we delve into British history as part of your cultural prep for your upcoming international relocation to London. Last week, we introduced King Charles II, whose father Charles I had been kicked to the curb by those seeking commonwealth versus monarchical rule, which had paved the way for Oliver Cromwell to become Lord Protector. Well, now that both Charles I and Oliver are dead, and Oliver’s son Richard has in turn been kicked to the curb to restore the monarchy, it’s the latest episode of “Charles II in Charge.” (Huh, this is the last place I’d ever think I could make a Scott Baio reference…)

Anyway. Last we saw, Charles II‘s reign was seein’ some tough times: plague, fire, and defeat in war. This Second Anglo-Dutch War had been instigated by the British capture of New Amsterdam—in the New World—from the Dutch in 1664. In 1665, New Amsterdam was reincorporated as New York under British law. Nonetheless, in ultimately losing to the Dutch in 1667, Charles II now seeks an alliance with France against them, securing a secret treaty with King Louis XIV in 1670. In doing so, Charles II agrees to support the French against the Dutch in the Third Anglo-Dutch War of 1672-1674 as well as promises to restore England as a state of Catholicism. In return, France pays subsidies to him, which he’s in need of given Parliament’s current domination of government, thus, tight hold on the king’s purse strings.

Anti-Catholicism is on the rise again in England, however, and it’s an issue that the Whig party uses to undermine the king. In addition to his perhaps not-so-secret alliance with France, Charles II has bred plenty of illegitimate children, but he has none with his actual wife, so his closest heir is his Catholic brother James. Parliament tries in vain to pass an exclusion bill that would prevent Catholics from holding public office, and Charles II spends his remaining years defending his brother’s right to the throne and winning the support of the Tory party. Tensions between the king and Parliament are further heightened by his attempts at becoming a sole ruler—which he does become after dissolving Parliament in 1681. A few years later, Charles II suffers a stroke and subsequent complications; he converts to Catholicism on his death bed in 1685.

Well, whatever your religious or political views, your London Relocation agent will make sure no tensions arise during your London apartment search; London rent prices could figuratively cause a stroke, so London Relocation will negotiate that down for you and keep you in charge of the process, not the London lettings agents or landlords. (How’s that for a none-too-subtle plug?)

Hey there, Weekend Warriors! It’s another Sunday round-up of the monarchs that have shaped London, England’s history, a bit of cultural food-for-thought as you prepare your international relocation to London. Last week, we saw the restoration of the monarchy after two “terms” of Commonwealth rule under Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard Cromwell. Today, we’ll meet King Charles II, who finally assumes his rightful seat on the throne long after his father Charles I had been executed to make way for Commonwealth rule.

If you recall, civil war broke out in England under Charles I‘s reign, at which time Charles II was only twelve. Nonetheless, at age fourteen Charles II was already appointed as nominal commander in chief in western England. As tensions surrounding his father’s monarchical rule culminated, young Charles II was forced into exile on the European continent. It was in 1650, the year after his father’s execution, that Charles II struck a deal with the Scots to become King of Scotland, and he invaded England under this authority yet was defeated by Oliver Cromwell in 1651.

Having retreated back into exile, it is not until 1660 that Charles II is now invited to return to us in England and be crowned as King. King Charles II is rather lenient on those responsible for his father’s execution back in 1649—less than ten of the conspirators are executed. He also must exude a great degree of political tolerance considering that, though the citizenry is elated to have a monarch again, Parliament now assumes most of the control. Thus paves the way for a modern concept of government as the civil war factions that had emerged during Charles I’s reign ultimately evolve into political parties (the Cavaliers ultimately become the Tory Party and the Roundheads the Whig Party). Charles II’s tolerance extends into religious affairs as well, partially because of his own Catholic leanings.

King Charles II has a doozy of a first few years of rule. Contrary to the “Great” part of the nicknames given to a couple of them, the major events that transpire are really quite awful. 1665 is the Great Plague, and 1666 is the Great Fire. Then in 1667, England loses its war against the Dutch. See what I mean?

Join me next Sunday for the continuation of our exploration of King Charles II’s reign. And in the meantime, breath easy knowing that your London Relocation agent will ensure you reign victorious over what could otherwise be a dreaded London apartment search! It’ll be a great experience for you, and by “great,” I really mean it this time! No verbal irony.

To be fair, Mary does get the shaft where her succession is concerned, just like her mother, Catherine of Aragon, had when Henry VIII went so far as breaking from the Catholic church to divorce her because she couldn’t deliver a male heir. So here we have Mary who is next in line to Edward VI, but who is declared illegitimate by that brother so that Lady Jane Grey can be given the throne. Mary’s legitimacy is contested on the basis of Henry’s earlier allegations that his first marriage to Catherine was incestuous, as Catherine had first been his brother’s wife. Indeed, when Henry VIII leaves Catherine for Anne Boylen and this second wife provides him with another daughter, Mary is sent packin’ away from her parents and loses her status as “princess.” It is only when Henry’s marriage to Anne Boylen falls apart and leads to her death that Mary returns to her father’s court.

But Mary, is having Lady Jane Grey executed really necessary? She didn’t want to be queen and gives up her crown to you; isn’t that enough? Apparently not. The punishment for high treason is death, whether Jane was behind her own succession or not.

So. Mary. She’s Queen of England now, and the first to assume such title as her own birthright. She’s also a staunch Catholic, which is problematic for those who were hoping for England to become a Protestant state. Thus, while Mary I had garnered enough support to retake her throne, it starts to slip away on the religious front; well, maybe more so on the financial front, as many have prospered from the monies allocated after the Catholic church lands and possessions were already taken over and dissolved. Mary’s desire to marry Prince Philip II of Spain is further problematic. Why? For the precisely the same reason as Henry VIII hadn’t wanted a female heir. A female monarch is perceived as weaker and susceptible to losing power to a dominating husband; especially feared is if that husband is a foreigner. By the very virtue of being Spanish, Prince Philip is distrusted, and being a Catholic doesn’t help him either.

Yet in 1555, Mary marries him anyway. She’s riding the high of suppressing Sir Thomas Wyatt’s rebellion that same year and wants more of her way. Well, in trying to restore Catholicism, her-way-or-the-highway happens to involve burning hundreds of Protestants at the stake, earning her the nickname “Bloody Mary” (no, it wasn’t because she liked celery and vodka in her morning tomato juice).

By 1558, England is defeated in war by France, losing its last French territory, Calais, and, since when it rains it pours, that same year Mary is left by Philip, falls ill, and dies. She’d borne no children but instead left behind a citizenry thoroughly disillusioned with her reign and a nation that would not be Catholic.