King Charles II Photos

Ruled England 29 May 1660 - 6 February 1685. Charles II became King of Great Britain after the execution of his father, Charles I, in 1649. Apart from one major, but unsuccessful, effort to take his throne by force he remained in Europe until the Restoration (1660) when he was invited by Parliament to return to England after the death of Oliver Cromwell (self-named Lord Protector of England). Charles II was a popular King because he reversed many of the religiously based restrictions Cromwell had imposed. Charles II spent much of his time enjoying popular entertainment such as cards and theatre. Some people were wary of Charles II's religious beliefs because, while his father was Protestant, his mother & his wife were Roman Catholic by birth. While Charles had many children, whom he recognized and ennobled, by his various lovers, they were not eligible to succeed him because they were illegitimate. Charles & his wife, Catherine of Braganza were childless.