ENGLAND IN THE XVII CENTURY James I

ENGLAND IN THE XVII CENTURY

James I Stuart (1566 / 1603 – 1625) Elizabeth I, the last of the Tudors, died in 1603, and James Stuart of Scotland (James I) was declared as rightful heir. The Stuarts ruled England Scotland till the beginning of the 18 th century, thus unofficially uniting the two kingdoms.

The Gunpowder Plot (1605) Many Englishmen were dissatisfied with the new king and planned to overthrow the new dynasty. For example, in 1605 a group of English Catholics attempted to blow up the king and Parliament on the day when the annual parliamentary session was opened.

The Gunpowder Plot (1605) Guy Fawkes But the Gunpowder Plot was exposed, Guy Fawkes was caught on the spot. The parliament established the 5 th of November as a day of public thanksgiving. Guy Fawkes Night is still celebrated with bonfires and fireworks.

Guy Fawkes Night (November, 5) Remember, remember The Fifth of November, Gunpowder treason and plot, For I see no reason Why Gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot!

The King and the Parliament James’s relations with Parliament were rather complicated. The king proclaimed his “divine right” to rule as he wished, while Parliament insisted on controlling the king’s actions. James I

Charles I (1600 / 1625 – 1649) The struggle between the king and the parliament continued in the reign of Charles I. Charles needed money for wars and other purposes, and had to summon Parliament from time to time, hoping it would give its consent to introduction of new taxes. But Parliament refused to grant him money.

The Beginning of the Civil War The Parliament of 1640, which came to be known as Long Parliament (for it sat for 13 years) openly opposed the king and refused to be dismissed. Charles withdrew from London and declared war on Parliament.

The Civil War, or the English bourgeois Revolution, lasted from 1642 till 1649, and was a series of armed conflicts between Parliamentarian and Royalist armies. The king had support of the poorer West and North of England, while the parliament sympathies were strong in the economically developed South and East.

The Civil War Though at the beginning of the war the king’s army was stronger, the war finally ended with the Parliamentary victory.

The End of the Civil War Charles I was brought to public trial, declared "tyrant, traitor, murderer and public enemy" and beheaded on January, 30, 1649.

The Republic Oliver Cromwell England was proclaimed a republic, governed by Parliament in the name of the common people. In fact, real power was in the hands of the army, led by Oliver Cromwell. In 1653 he assumed the title of Lord Protector, dissolved Parliament and ruled with almost royal power.

The Republic At first people greeted the new republic, but soon it appeared that they could never be happy in it. The new leaders - the Puritans advocated an austere lifestyle. Holidays such as Christmas and Easter, theatre and dancing were banned.

The Restoration In 1660, after Oliver Cromwell died, the Restoration of the monarchy took place: Charles II was invited to rule over the country. Charles II

Tories and Whigs The Restoration parliament was mainly royalist but the first political parties appeared in it. They were known as Tories and Whigs. The Tories were mostly big landlords supporting the king. The Whigs were merchants and smaller landowners linked with commerce.

James II (1633 / 1685 – 1688) Charles II was succeeded by his brother James II, who attempted to re-introduce Catholicism into the country. He isolated himself completely, and the Tories and the Whigs united to invite to England Mary, a protestant daughter of James II, who married William of Orange, a Dutch prince.

The Glorious Revolution William of Orange (William III) The events of the year 1688 were called the Glorious Revolution. The Dutch army landed in England, but no war was fought as James preferred to flee to France. William and Mary became rulers of Britain as joint monarchs. Mary II

William and Mary signed the Bill of Rights (1689) that guaranteed free speech, free elections and frequent meetings of Parliament was declared supreme power in the state. Thus the constitutional monarchy was established in England.

English colonies in North America The 17 th century was the beginning of the future British Empire. The foundation of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 and Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 laid the foundation for British settlement in America.

Bombay and Tangier became the first English colonies in Asia and Africa

English science and philosophy Great progress was made in many branches of science, including physics, astronomy and mathematics. Francis Bacon John Locke Isaac Newton Thomas Hobbes

Literature In literature the Metaphysical poetry movement, one of the forms of the baroque style, produced powerful figures like John Donn.

Literature Another well-known poet was John Milton, the author of great poems Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained

Painting The fine arts were dominated by foreign talents, as the national school of painting hadn’t been formed yet. For example, a Dutchman Anthony Van Dyck was the most prominent portrait painter during the reign of Charles I. A. Van Dyck. Self-portrait with a sunflower

Anthony Van Dyck. Charles I with his family

Anthony Van Dyck. William II of Orange and Henrietta Mary Stuart, daughter of Charles I

Anthony Van Dyck. Sisters Wharton

Anthony Van Dyck. Charles I

Music Henry Purcell, one of the greatest English composers, became the founder of the national school of music.

Theatres reopened after having been closed during the Republic period. They got a more beautiful interior, but turned to be an aristocratic pastime, serving the tastes of the royal court.

Architecture In English architecture classicism became the predominant trend.

Inigo Jones (1573 – 1652) Queen’s House Banqueting House, London a house in Greenwich

Christopher Wren (1632 – 1723) St. Paul’s Cathedral, London

London churches, designed by Christopher Wren Mary-le-Bow St. James St. Steven’s Walbrook

Wren’s architecture in Greenwich