Royalism in England during the Third Civil War Flashcards
The attempted Royalist revival - > The Third Civil War - > Experiments in Government and society 1648 - 1660
What major event in 1649 created a governmental vacuum in England?
The execution of Charles I.
What was the preference of the majority of the Political Nation after Charles I’s execution?
They preferred monarchical government and rejected the idea of republicanism.
What did the charge against Charles I focus on, and what did this reflect about attitudes towards monarchy?
It focused on his conduct rather than the institution of monarchy, reflecting a reluctance to abandon the monarchy entirely.
How did regicides view the concept of republicanism?
Republicanism was not widely supported, even among regicides; the execution was signed with reluctance.
What was the general sentiment of the nation towards monarchy after the execution of Charles I?
The majority of the nation was inclined towards monarchy but unsupportive of Charles Stuart (Charles II).
Why did Charles Stuart face challenges gaining popular support in England?
He was associated with his father’s controversial actions and his mother’s Catholicism.
What was the state of the Royalist Party during this period?
It consisted of a small subset of active Royalists loyal to Charles Stuart, forming the Rump of the Royalist Party.
What institutions supported the creation of the Commonwealth of England (1649-1660)?
The army and the Rump Parliament.
What divided the republican government from the broader population?
The population remained broadly monarchical in impulse, while the government pursued a republican experiment.
Where was Prince Charles (later Charles II) living by 1648?
The Hague.
Who supported Prince Charles during his exile?
His sister Mary and her husband Prince William of Orange.
What factors hindered Prince Charles’s political ambitions?
His political and religious associations.
Significance of the Monarchical Vacuum
What did the monarchical vacuum highlight during this period?
Political uncertainty and division.
Significance of the Monarchical Vacuum
What did the execution of Charles I demonstrate about Royalism?
The fragility of Royalism, with diminished power after the execution.
Significance of the Monarchical Vacuum
What key tension defined this period regarding monarchy?
The divide between widespread monarchical sentiment and practical political support for Charles Stuart.
What was the Rump Parliament, and what role did it play?
The remnant of the Long Parliament after Pride’s Purge in 1648; it supported the trial and execution of Charles I.
What was the Commonwealth of England (1649-1660)?
The republican government established after the execution of Charles I.
Who were the Levellers, and what did they advocate for?
A radical political movement advocating for expanded suffrage and equality, influencing republican debates but not aligned with Royalism.
Who was Prince Rupert of the Rhine?
Charles I’s nephew and a prominent Royalist military commander during the Civil Wars.
What did constitutional experimentation reveal during the Third Civil War?
It highlighted the difficulty of transitioning from a monarchy to a republic without widespread support.
Theories and Models
How did the monarchical vacuum reflect a shift in governance debates?
It underscored the shift from divine right to debates on popular sovereignty.
Theories and Models
What did factionalism during the English Civil War period reveal?
The divide between Royalists, Republicans, and moderate supporters of constitutional monarchy.
Evidence for Analysis
What does Charles Stuart’s exile in The Hague signify?
The geopolitical dynamics of Royalism, with reliance on external support.
Evidence for Analysis
What does the regicides’ reluctance reveal about national attitudes?
Limited support for republicanism and a broader national attachment to monarchy.
Evidence for Analysis
How does widespread monarchical support but rejection of Charles Stuart illustrate societal tensions?
It reflects the complexity of the monarchical vacuum and societal division.
