C.2

• Charles I personality

  - Ascended throne in March 1625

  - as adult had a stutter and Scottish accent

  - didn't fit mould of argumentative bold ruler like predecessors

  - Married Henrietta Maria French Catholic princess

  - rigidly believed in Divine right
• Charles I aims

  - maintain law and order between his kingdoms

  - defend kingdoms from external threats

  - provide effective religious leadership

  - Ensure financial/economic stability
• Henrietta Maria value for France

  - French king Louis XIII hoped the match would strengthen an anti-Spanish alliance

  - Marie de Medici (her mother) hoped this marriage would protect English Catholics
• Henrietta Maria's growing political influence

  - the arrival of French ambassador Marquis de Chateauneuf helped consolidate her position

  • he gathered a faction around her which provided pro-French balance to the pro-Spanish faction forming around Laud and others

  - Marie de Medici orchestrated the turn in Henrietta's position in late 20's and 30's

  - the 1/5 of Catholic English gentry found Henrietta a fellow Catholics presence comforting

  - Prevailed on Protestant of Earl of Holland to secure freedom of arrested priests in early 1630's
• Henrietta's Masques


  - participated which caused consternation

  - Puritans felt it was ungodly and the participation of a woman immoral

  - Prynne (puritan writer) attacked 'women actors' as 'notorious whores'

  - Ben Jonson (Catholic) wrote favourably if her and compared her to Mary in his Epigram to the Queen
• Buckingham and the inner sanctum

  - His physical attributes and charm allowed him to dominate James I

  - His influence almost destroys the functionality of the inner sanctum

  - distributed royal favour in his factions
• Caroline Court

  - Court became more orderly

  - Buckingham dominated patronage

  - the way to gain access to monarchy was through proximity to court

  - Charles desire to bring order and decency isolated him from some
• Charles demonstrations of Royal Authority

  - made significant use of Hampton court which was associated with might of Henry VIII

  - invested in furniture and tapestries

  - made use of Surveyor- general, Inigo Jones who designed many buildings including banqueting house at Whitehall

  - Invested in ceiling by Ruben's consisting of two canvas including: 'The Apothesis of James I
• Divine Right Kings


  - "Apotheosis of James I"reveals depth of his convictions of royal authority

  - Charles was more subtle but inflexible about divine right than his father

  - Charles aimed to be an solute ruler like brother in law Louis XIII of France