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.
Guy Fawkes’ plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill the King will live forever as one of history’s most audacious acts of treason. After an eleventh hour tip-off, the plotters were discovered, tortured and executed. Superb recreations and reconstructions tell the full dramatic story.
He was the last King of America and the first of Australia, a champion of science art and music whose reign ushered in the industrial revolution and whose political battles helped shape the monarchy today.
And yet George III will forever be remembered as The King Who Went Mad.
