Charles I : A Political Life

"This new biography of Charles I assesses his contribution to the politics of the era of the English Civil War and emphasises his qualities, as well as his weaknesses, as a king. He provided for his succession (the first responsibility of a monarch); he controlled his court and avoided the factional infighting that was one of the classic signs of a weak or incapable king; he did not cave in or give up in the face of political setbacks." Nevertheless, Charles I presided over a disastrous civil war and a temporary end to monarchical government in England. Richard Cust discusses how the complexities of Charles's personality influenced his actions - his strong sense of personal honour lead him to aspire to the highest standards of nobility and self control but also to harbour anxieties and grudges. He loathed Puritanism and feared popularity. He was an exasperating man to deal with and had an immense capacity to make a bad situation worse, but in the end it was his strengths as much as his weaknesses that brought disaster.

Author(s): Richard Cust  

ISBN 10: 0582070341
ISBN 13: 9780582070349
Pages: 512