King Charles I succeeded his father James I in 1625 from when political and religious upheaval dogged his reign before his authoritarian rule eventually led to civil war and ultimately his execution.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, King James VI of Scotland claimed her throne along with a new title: King James I of England.
During his bloody reign he faced numerous attempts on his life including the nefarious Gunpowder Plot and the continuing 30 years war on the continent.
Oliver Cromwell's commonwealth came to an end soon after his death and, in 1660, the exiled King, Charles, returned to London with an enormous fanfare only to face the dual tragedies of the worst outbreak of plague in generations and the Great Fire of London.
In 1685 King James II succeeded his brother to the throne. As the last of the Stuart Kings he would reign for only 3 years until none other than his own daughter, Mary, brought about his downfall.
