Charles I was unusual among kings for having no obvious mistresses. There is research showing he had a relationship with a daughter of a courtier. It is likely he had other affairs.
His son Charles II was notorious for this mistresses and involvements with married women. His father James I was notorious for the political power of his young favorites.
James I's made his apparent lover the Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham has effectively running the kingdom when James was dying. Charles I kept him on as the 2nd most powerful man in the government, despite his being incompetent and extremely unpopular. Charles I twice dissolved Parliament to keep it from impeaching Buckingham. Buckingham was assassinated by an army officer, who was viewed as a hero by most. Obviously Charles' handing of this was terrible, and many kings would have immediately thrown Buckingham out of the government, and maybe had him arrested and maybe executed. Any of that would have been a popular move.
Going to war with Scotland to make it use the Church of England prayer book sparked the Civil War. The implications were bad. It not only threatened to force the Anglican religion on Scotland, but also threatened to make Scotland subservient rather than an equal kingdom under the same king.
The Church of England had tried to keep Puritans and Catholics in the Church by force of law and by allowing differing theology. Puritans and other strong protestants felt threatened by the attack on Scotland as well as by the king's Arminian or high church policy and Roman Catholic wife. Many thought the king and / or people around him were trying to make Britain Roman Catholic.
Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and James I had been able to take a middle approach and avoid religious war as occurred in France and Germany. Charles I unecessarily upset the balance and brought on civil war.
His son Charles II was notorious for this mistresses and involvements with married women. His father James I was notorious for the political power of his young favorites.
James I's made his apparent lover the Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham has effectively running the kingdom when James was dying. Charles I kept him on as the 2nd most powerful man in the government, despite his being incompetent and extremely unpopular. Charles I twice dissolved Parliament to keep it from impeaching Buckingham. Buckingham was assassinated by an army officer, who was viewed as a hero by most. Obviously Charles' handing of this was terrible, and many kings would have immediately thrown Buckingham out of the government, and maybe had him arrested and maybe executed. Any of that would have been a popular move.
Going to war with Scotland to make it use the Church of England prayer book sparked the Civil War. The implications were bad. It not only threatened to force the Anglican religion on Scotland, but also threatened to make Scotland subservient rather than an equal kingdom under the same king.
The Church of England had tried to keep Puritans and Catholics in the Church by force of law and by allowing differing theology. Puritans and other strong protestants felt threatened by the attack on Scotland as well as by the king's Arminian or high church policy and Roman Catholic wife. Many thought the king and / or people around him were trying to make Britain Roman Catholic.
Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and James I had been able to take a middle approach and avoid religious war as occurred in France and Germany. Charles I unecessarily upset the balance and brought on civil war.
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