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Phil Hannum's avatar

The lessons learned from the events you survey remain in the Commonwealth of Virginia, along with its motto today, “Death Ever to Tyrants”

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Jane Dougherty's avatar

And then after a dose of Puritanism they made his son king. Unbroken monarchy ever since.

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Ray Tabler's avatar

Don’t remember which movie Alec Guinness played Charles I in, but darn if he don’t look just like the guy.

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Karen's avatar

Very interesting to learn

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Judith Stove's avatar

Thanks, Chen Malul, a fine and stimulating account. The King acquitted himself strongly in his trial. And monarchy continued to have a mysterious appeal: the 'martyrology' of Charles, the mementoes - mourning rings, locks of hair, etc - retain some kind of tragic glamour.

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Graeme Macbeth's avatar

> I stand for the liberties of my people more than all those who pretend to be their judges

History has vindicated him on that, at least in the popular imagination. The subsequent regime of OIiver Cromwell is remembered as a time of totalizing Puritanism, with Major Generals banning theaters and Christmas parties and witchfinders roaming the land hanging inoffensive elderly women. Not for the first or last time in history, "political" liberty somehow made regular people less free to live their lives.

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Scarecrowz's avatar

The English did and the King deserved it. he was conspiring to raise a scottish army to fight the parliamentarians after he had already capitilated. he acted like conservatives paroguing parliament because he didn't get his way and arresting anyone that dared defy him. Watch the movie, Cromwell. that should be enough to give you the story.

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catfish rushdie's avatar

And, if I am not mistaken, the Brits had a kind of proto-guillotine contraption back in the 17th century, way before 1789.

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Chen Malul's avatar

As I remember it, he was decapitated with an axe. And his executers - father and son - wore false beards so they won't be recognized (which worked well for them after Cromwell died and the republic collapsed - the king's son couldn't find them when he got the crown).

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Michele Aucoin Schroeder's avatar

Thats nothing to be proud of …

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David Perlmutter's avatar

In the 1970 film biography of Cromwell, Sir Alec Guinness played Charles I. Looking at those paintings makes me understand why he got the part- doppleganger town.

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Chen Malul's avatar

I didn't see that movie - would you recommend it? I did love the old British series about one family on both sides of the conflict, By the Sword Divided. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/By_the_Sword_Divided

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David Perlmutter's avatar

It's good- but it depends on how you feel about Richard Harris ranting and raving for most of the movie as Cromwell.

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