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Charles II of England

King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1630-1685)

98 dated entries naming Charles II of England, drawn from 35 separate years between 1630 CE and 1734 CE. Nothing here is written by us: each line is the sentence a Wikipedia year article used, and the link beside it opens the exact revision.

Also written as Charles II of England and Scotland, Charles II of Great Britain, King Charles II of England in the source articles; Wikipedia redirects those to the same subject, so their entries are on this page.

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17th century

  • 1630May 29 – King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland (died 1685)source
  • 1638November 25 – Catherine of Braganza, Portuguese princess, queen consort of Charles II of England (died 1705)source
  • 1646March 2 – The future Charles II of England escapes from Cornwall into exile across the English Channel.source
  • 164930 January – Prince Charles Stuart declares himself King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland. At this time none of the three Kingdoms have recognised him as ruler. Parliament this day has passed an "Act prohibiting the proclaiming any person to be King of England or Ireland, or the Dominions thereof".source
  • 164930 January – Prince Charles Stuart declares himself King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland. At the time all three Kingdoms had not recognised him as ruler.source
  • 1649January 30 – The deposed King Charles I is beheaded outside the Banquet Hall in the Palace of Whitehall, London. The Commonwealth of England, with a republican form of government, replaces the monarchy as the form of government of England and members of the Long Parliament serve as government. Charles, Prince of Wales declares himself as King of England, Scotland and Ireland pending restoration of the monarchy.source
  • 1649February 5 – In Edinburgh, the Scottish Parliament declares Prince Charles, son of the recently executed King Charles I, as King Charles II of Scotland. Prince Charles, at the time, is at sea in charge of royalist forces fighting to drive Oliver Cromwell from the British Isles. Scotland is the first of the three Kingdoms to recognize his claim to the throne.source
  • 1649July 5 – After news reaches the Western Hemisphere that King Charles I has been deposed and executed, the English colonial government of the Somers Isles, now called Bermuda, proclaims its recognition of Charles II as the rightful ruler of the islands.source
  • 1649October 11 – The Sack of Wexford in Ireland ends after having started on October 2, with Cromwell's New Model Army breaking through, killing more than 1,500 Irish Catholic defenders and civilians, while losing only 20 of the English soldiers. The capture of Wexford ends the remaining chance that Charles II, heir to the English throne, can land troops in Ireland, and Charles and the royalist fleet flee to Portugal.source
  • 16501 May – claimant King Charles II of England signs the Treaty of Breda with the Scottish Covenanters.source
  • 16501 May – Charles II repudiates his alliance with Irish Catholics in favour of one with Scottish Covenanters in the Treaty of Breda. Most English Royalists in Ireland surrender to the Parliamentarians after this point.source
  • 1650June 23 – Claimant King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland arrives in Scotland (at Garmouth), the only one of the three kingdoms that has accepted him as ruler.source
  • 1651January 1 – Charles II is crowned King of Scots at Scone (his first crowning).source
  • 16511 January – Charles II is crowned King of Scotland at Scone.source
  • 165120 July – English Civil War: at the Battle of Inverkeithing in Scotland, the English Parliament's New Model Army defeats a Scottish army loyal to Charles II.source
  • 1651September 3 – Charles II of England is defeated in the Battle of Worcester, the last major battle of the English Civil War, and forced to flee.source
  • 1651October 16 – Prince Charles of the House of Stuart escapes from England to find refuge in France.source
  • 1656April 2 – The Treaty of Brussels is signed, creating an alliance between Philip IV of Spain and the exiled Royalists of the British Isles, led by Charles II.source
  • 16562 April – Treaty of Brussels concluded between representatives of Philip IV of Spain and the exiled Charles II of Great Britainsource
  • 16562 April – Anglo-Spanish War: King Philip IV of Spain signs a treaty with the exiled Charles II of England for the reconquest of England.source
  • 16591 March – in exile in the Netherlands while plotting the restoration of the monarchy to Britain, Charles appoints seven royalists (including six from the "Sealed Knot" group) to a "Great Trust and Commission" to make plans for a post-restoration government. The Great Trust is led by Charles's trusted advisor, Edward Hyde.source
  • 1659March 1 – In exile in the Netherlands while plotting the restoration of the monarchy to England, Scotland and Ireland, Charles, son of the late King Charles I appoints seven royalists (including six from the "Sealed Knot" group) to a "Great Trust and Commission" to make plans for a post-restoration government. The Great Trust is led by Charles's trusted advisor, Edward Hyde.source
  • 1659August 7 – As Booth's Uprising spreads to Liverpool, Thomas Myddelton, Randolph Egerton and fellow royalists take control of the town of Wrexham in Wales and proclaim Charles II to be King.source
  • 16597 August – as Booth's Uprising spreads to Liverpool, Thomas Myddelton, Randolph Egerton and fellow royalists take control of the town of Wrexham in Wales and proclaim Charles II to be King.source
  • 1660April 4 – The Declaration of Breda, signed by Charles Stuart, son of the late King Charles I of England, promises amnesty, freedom of conscience, and army back pay, in return for support for the English Restoration. The Declaration is read to the new parliament on May 1.source
  • 1660April 23 – Charles II becomes King of England, Scotland and Ireland.source
  • 1660May 8 – In exile in the Netherlands, Prince Charles Stuart receives word that the Parliament of England has declared his elevation to the throne as King Charles II of England.source
  • 16608 May – Parliament declares that Charles has been lawful King of England since 1649 and invites him to return.source
  • 1660May 29 – King Charles II of England arrives in London and assumes the throne, marking the beginning of the English Restoration.source
  • 1661April 23 (May 3 N.S.) – King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland is crowned in Westminster Abbey.source
  • 166123 April – Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland is crowned King in Westminster Abbey. A new St Edward's Crown is made for the occasion.source
  • 1661April 23 – Charles II of England, Ireland and Scotland receives his second crowning, in Westminster Abbey.source
  • 1661June 23 – The "Marriage Treaty" is signed between representatives of King Charles II of England and King João IV of Portugal, providing a military alliance between the two kingdoms and a marriage between Charles of the House of Stuart and João's daughter Catherine of the House of Braganza on May 21, 1662. The treaty also sets the transfer of Portuguese territory in India (at Bombay) and in North Africa (Tangier) to England as well as military aid from England to Portugal.source
  • 1662May 21 – (May 31 N.S.); Princess Catherine of Braganza, daughter of King João IV of Portugal, marries Charles II of England. As part of the dowry, Portugal cedes Bombay in India, and Tangier in Morocco, to England.source
  • 166221 May – Catherine of Braganza marries Charles II of England at Portsmouth in both a secret Catholic and a public Anglican ceremony the day after they first meet.source
  • 1662July 15 – The Royal Society, founded by King Charles II of England and Scotland receives an official charter in London.source
  • 1662October 27 – Charles II of England sells Dunkirk to France, for £400,000 (2.5 million French livres).source
  • 1662October 27 – Charles II of England sells Dunkirk to France for £400,000 (or 2.5 million livres).source
  • 1663January 10 – The Royal African Company is granted a Royal Charter by Charles II of England.source
  • 1663March 24 – King Charles II of England issues the Charter of Carolina, establishing the Province of Carolina, and dividing it between eight Lords Proprietors.source
  • 16638 July – King Charles grants a Royal Charter to the North American Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.source
  • 1664March 12 – King Charles II of England makes royal charter for territory in North America that leases to his brother, James, Duke of York, a patent for a large amount of land in what is now the northeastern United States. According to the Charter, James receives "all that part of the mayne land of New England" between "New Scotland in America" and the river of Kenebeque", along with "Mattowacks or Long Island" and "Martins Vineyard and Nantukes", and the lands between the "Connecticutte and Hudsons rivers" and the lands "from the west side of "Connecticutte to the east side De la Warre Bay". The lease, which includes the territory claimed by the Dutch Republic as New Netherland is for most of the U.S. state of Maine and parts of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.source
  • 1664August 11 – Sir John Lisle, a former member of the English House of Commons who had been designated a regicide for his role in signing the death warrant in the execution in 1649 of Charles I of England, is assassinated in a church courtyard in Lausanne in Switzerland. Lisle had gone into exile after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The shooting of Lisle, done on order of King Charles II, is carried out by a team led by royal agent James Cotter.source
  • 1664September 5 – Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield, illegitimate daughter of King Charles II of England (died 1718)source
  • 1665King Charles II of England and Ireland grants letters patent to Sir Robert Reading to erect six lighthouses on the coast of Ireland, at Hook Head, Old Head of Kinsale, Barry Oge's castle, the Isle of Magee (near Carrickfergus) and Howth (two).source
  • 1665June 30 – King Charles II of England issues a second charter for the Province of Carolina, which clarifies and expands the borders of the Lords Proprietors' tracts.source
  • 1668February 13 – In Lisbon, a peace treaty is established between Afonso VI of Portugal and Carlos II of Spain, by mediation of Charles II of England, in which the legitimacy of the Portuguese monarch is recognized. Portugal yields Ceuta to Spain.source
  • 1668March 27 – King Charles II of England signs an agreement with representatives of the English East India Company to lease the Indian city of Bombay (modern-day Mumbai) to the company for a rent of 10 pounds sterling per year, with transfer taking effect on September 21.source
  • 1669October 19 – The Parliament of Scotland holds its first new session in six years (although two Conventions of Estates had been held briefly in 1665 and 1667). The session is opened in Edinburgh by Charles II of England in his capacity as King of Scotland.source
  • 1670June 1 – At Dover, England, Charles II of England and Louis XIV of France sign the Secret Treaty of Dover, ending hostilities between their kingdoms. Louis will give Charles 200,000 pounds annually. In return Charles will relax the laws against Catholics, gradually re-Catholicise England, support French policy against the Dutch Republic (leading England into the Third Anglo-Dutch War), and convert to Catholicism himself. The treaty is ratified three days later. The terms will not become public until the early 19th century. Louis is represented in the negotiations by Charles' sister Princess Henrietta, Duchess of Orléans, who dies suddenly soon after returning to France.source
  • 16701 June – the secret Treaty of Dover is signed between King Charles II of England and Louis XIV of France, ending hostilities between their kingdoms. Louis will give Charles 200,000 pounds annually. In return Charles promises to relax the laws against Catholics, gradually re-Catholicize England, support French policy against the Dutch Republic (leading England into the Third Anglo-Dutch War), and convert to Catholicism himself when conditions permit. The treaty is ratified on 4 June. The terms will not become public until the early 19th century. Louis is represented in the negotiations by Charles' sister, Princess Henrietta, Duchess of Orléans, who dies suddenly on 30 June soon after returning to France.source
  • 16701 June – At Dover, England, Louis XIV and Charles II of England sign the Secret Treaty of Dover, ending hostilities between their kingdoms. Louis will give Charles 200,000 pounds annually. In return, Charles will relax the laws against Catholics, gradually re-Catholicize England, support French policy against the Dutch Republic, and convert to Catholicism himself.source
  • 1670July 11 – Representatives of England (led by King Charles II) and Denmark (led by King Christian V) sign a treaty of alliance and commerce, the Treaty of Copenhagen.source
  • 1671January 18 – Royalist Sir Richard Talbot petitions King Charles II on behalf of the Catholic nobility and gentry.source
  • 1671May 9 – Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom from the Tower of London. He is immediately caught, because he is too drunk to run with the loot. He is later condemned to death, and then mysteriously pardoned and exiled by King Charles II.source
  • 16719 May – "Colonel" Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London but is caught before he can get away with the loot. He is later condemned to death and then pardoned and exiled by King Charles II.source
  • 1671September 6 – The Court of King Charles II of England dispatches a letter to the "King of Formosa" (Zheng Jing, ruler of the Kingdom of Tungning) confirming that English ships will be welcome to trade at the "City of Tywan", referring to Taipei on the island of Taiwan.source
  • 1672January 2 – After the government of England is unable to pay the nation's debts, King Charles II decrees the Stop of the Exchequer, the suspension of payments for one year "upon any warrant, securities or orders, whether registered or not registered therein, and payable within that time, excepting only such payments as shall grow due upon orders on the subsidy, according to the Act of Parliament, and orders and securities upon the fee farm rents, both which are to be proceeded upon as if such a stop had never been made." The money saved by not paying debts is redirected toward the expenses of the upcoming war with the Dutch Republic, but the effect is for the halt by banks for extending further credit to the Crown. Before the end of the year, the suspension of payments is extended from December 31 to May 31, and then to January 31, 1674.source
  • 1672March 15 – Charles II of England issues the Royal Declaration of Indulgence, suspending execution of Penal Laws against Protestant nonconformists and Roman Catholics in his realms; this will be withdrawn the following year under pressure from the Parliament of England.source
  • 167215 March – King Charles II issues the Royal Declaration of Indulgence, suspending execution of Penal Laws against Protestant nonconformists and Roman Catholics in his realms.source
  • 1672March 15 – King Charles II of England issues a Royal Declaration of Indulgence, suspending execution of Penal Laws against Roman Catholics in his realms; this is withdrawn the following year under pressure from the Parliament of England.source
  • 16738 March – under pressure from Parliament, King Charles II withdraws the Royal Declaration of Indulgence.source
  • 1673November 9 – King Charles II of England removes Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, from his position as Lord Chancellor.source
  • 1675April 13 – King Charles II of England suspends Parliament after just nine weeks when the members refuse to vote additional funding to him.source
  • 167513 April – Parliament refuses to vote funds for Charles II and is suspended after sitting for just nine weeks.source
  • 1675August 10 – King Charles II of England places the foundation stone of the Royal Greenwich Observatory near London; construction begins.source
  • 1675September 22 – King Charles II of England orders the setting up of a commission to determine the cases of Connacht transplanters.source
  • 1677February 15 – Four members of the English House of Lords embarrass King Charles II at the opening of the latest session of the "Cavalier Parliament" by proclaiming that the session is not legitimate because it had not met in more than a year. The Duke of Buckingham, backed by Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Salisbury and Baron Wharton, makes an unsuccessful motion to end the session. When the four Lords refuse to apologize, they are arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London.source
  • 1677September 10 – Henry Purcell is appointed a musician to the court of Charles II of England.source
  • 1678September 6 – Titus Oates begins to present allegations of the "Popish Plot", a supposed Roman Catholic conspiracy to assassinate king Charles II of England. Oates applies the term Tory to those who disbelieve his allegations.source
  • 16786 September – Titus Oates first presents sworn allegations of the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to assassinate King Charles II. On 28 September before the Privy Council he makes allegations against numerous Jesuits and Catholic nobles. Oates applies the term Tory to those who disbelieve his allegations.source
  • 1679January 24 – King Charles II of England dissolves the "Cavalier Parliament", after nearly 18 years.source
  • 167924 January – King Charles II dismisses the Cavalier Parliament after nearly 18 years in an attempt to avoid the impeachment of Lord Danby by the House of Commons.source
  • 1679July 12 – In England, the "Habeas Corpus Parliament" (or "First Exclusion Parliament") is dissolved, while in recess, by King Charles II. The King exercises his royal prerogative of dissolution to prevent the parliament from passing a bill that would exclude non-Anglicans from the succession to the English throne, specifically the king's Roman Catholic brother, James, Duke of York, as part of the Exclusion Crisis.source
  • 1680April 30 – The first French Huguenots in the New World arrive at Charleston, South Carolina, as 45 of the religious exiles arrive at Oyster Point on the ship Richmond, after being sent there by King Charles II of England.source
  • 1680June 22 – The Sanquhar Declaration, written by Richard Cameron, leader of the Covenanters who oppose the control of religion in Scotland by King Charles, is read aloud by Richard's brother Michael Cameron at the public square in the village of Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire.source
  • 1681March 4 – In order to settle a debt of £16,000, King Charles II of England grants a land charter to William Penn, for territory west of Delaware River in America between 40° N and 42° N, later to be called Pennsylvania.source
  • 1681December 22 – King Charles II of England signs a warrant for the building of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London for wounded and retired soldiers.source
  • 1683March 22 – Great fire in Newmarket, Suffolk, England, consuming half the houses and forcing King Charles II (who is in residence) to flee the town.source
  • 1683June 12 – The Rye House Plot to assassinate Charles II of England is discovered.source
  • 168312 June – the Rye House Plot to assassinate Charles II is discovered; at least 11 people will be executed for their connections with it.source
  • 1683July 21 – The gruesome execution of Lord Russell, for his role in the 1683 Rye House Plot to assassinate King Charles II of England, is carried out by the royal executioner Jack Ketch, who wields his axe in a manner requiring multiple blows to make Russell suffer as much as possible during the beheading.source
  • 1683December 7 – Algernon Sidney, opponent of King Charles II of England and author of the rebel tract Discourses Concerning Government is beheaded after having been arrested on June 25 and found guilty on November 7.source
  • 1684January 5 – King Charles II of England gives the title Duke of St Albans to Charles Beauclerk, his illegitimate son by Nell Gwyn.source
  • 16845 January – Charles II gives the title Duke of St Albans to Charles Beauclerk, his illegitimate son by Nell Gwyn.source
  • 1685February 6 – Catholic James Stuart, Duke of York, becomes King James II of England and Ireland, and King James VII of Scotland, in succession to his brother Charles II (1660–1685), King of England, Scotland, and Ireland since 1660. James II and VII reigns until deposed, in 1688.source
  • 16856 February – James II becomes King of England, Scotland and Ireland upon the death of Charles II.source
  • 1685February 6 – King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland (born 1630)source
  • 1685June 11 – Monmouth Rebellion: James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, illegitimate son of King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland, lands at Lyme Regis with an invasion force brought from the Netherlands, to challenge his uncle, James II, for the Crown of England.source
  • 168511 June – Monmouth Rebellion: James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, illegitimate son of King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland, lands at Lyme Regis with an invasion force brought from the Dutch Republic to challenge his uncle, James II, for the Crown of England.source
  • 1685July 15 – James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, illegitimate son of Charles II of England (beheaded) (born 1649)source
  • 1687November 14 – Nell Gwyn, English actress, a mistress of Charles II of England (born 1650)source
  • 168714 November – Nell Gwynne, actress, a mistress of Charles II of England (born 1650)source
  • 1688February 17 – James Renwick, the last of the Covenanters in Scotland to be martyred for opposing the authority of King Charles II, is publicly hanged at Grassmarket square in Edinburgh.source

18th century

  • 1705December 31 – Catherine of Braganza, widowed queen consort of Charles II of England and regent of Portugal (born 1638)source
  • 1709October 9 – Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland, English mistress of Charles II of England (born 1640)source
  • 1718February 17 – Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield, illegitimate daughter of King Charles II of England (born 1664)source
  • 1734November 14 – Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth, French-born mistress of Charles II of England (born 1649)source

Named in the same entries