Charles II of England

Charles II of England was king of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 to 1685. He became king after a long period of conflict known as the English Civil War and the rule of the Commonwealth of England. Charles II was the son of Charles I of England. His return to the throne is called the Restoration, which means bringing back something that had been removed.

Charles II was born in 1630. His early life was shaped by war. During the English Civil War, his father fought against Parliament and was defeated. In 1649, Charles I was executed. After this event, England became a republic and had no king. Charles II lived in exile, which means living outside his own country, for several years in places such as France and the Netherlands.

The Commonwealth ended after the death of Oliver Cromwell and the collapse of his government. In 1660, Parliament invited Charles II to return. He agreed to certain limits on his power and became king. This event is known as the Restoration. The monarchy, the House of Lords, and the Church of England were restored at this time.

Charles II ruled during a period of major events. In 1665, London suffered the Great Plague, a deadly disease that spread quickly. In 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the city. After the fire, large parts of London were rebuilt using stone and brick instead of wood.

During his reign, Charles II worked with Parliament, although disagreements continued. Political groups began to form, including the Whigs and the Tories. These were early political parties. Charles II did not have legitimate children, meaning children born within marriage, so his brother James, Duke of York was next in line to the throne.

Charles II died in 1685. He was succeeded by his brother, who became James II of England. Charles II is remembered mainly for restoring the monarchy after a time without a king and for ruling during a period of recovery after years of war and change.