King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell

King Charles I of England was proud and handsome. King Charles I was crowned in 1625, when Oliver Cromwell was 26 years old.

King Charles I appearance: what did King Charles I look like?

Charles I was a slim and elegant man who looked something of the dandy, with:

• long wavy hair to his shoulders,
• a pointed Van Dyke beard,
• a curly moustache, and
• jeweled earrings hanging from his aristocratic lobes.

Charles I and the Parliament

Charles was perpetually trying to get more money out of Parliament, sometimes to launch wars, so he could take the wealth of other nations, such as Spain, and sometimes just to finance his luxurious court.

Charles had summoned the Parliament and asked them to raise taxes, a request that was denied. The Lords certainly didn't want to pay more taxes, although they were willing to let the farmers and businessmen pay more. But the House of Commons, which represented these businessmen, strongly objected on their own behalf. Everyone was well aware that increases in taxes seldom benefited the nation but greatly benefited the King and his friends, who built more and more beautiful palaces, and adorned themselves with elaborate clothes and jewels, while most of the people in England had barely enough to eat.

The second and Third Parliaments

Annoyed by Parliament's lack of cooperation, the King simply disbanded it and called for a new election. The second Parliament proved to be just as uncooperative as the first. Furious, King Charles dismissed that Parliament too and called for a third. In the meantime, he tried to borrow money and raise funds by other means.

King Charles I of England and his soap monopoly

At one point he set up a soap manufacturing monopoly, requiring the people of England to purchase soap from only one company, which in turn was required to share its profit with the crown. This company steadily raised its prices while reducing the quality of the soap. Soon they were producing something that wasn't even akin to soap and which not only failed to remove dirt, but caused blisters. When the King refused to remedy the situation, there were "soap riots" all over England and he lost the good will of a large percentage of his subjects.

The profits from the soap monopoly still weren't adequate, so King Charles confronted the third Parliament and grimly warned them not to debate and criticize, but to simply supply the funds he needed to rule England. Again, he was refused.

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