Charles II was a man of many strengths and weaknesses. His reign marked a period of solidity after the turmoil of the English Revolution. It was those strengths and weaknesses that helped to maintain this solidity.
Charles II was the second son of King Charles I and Henrietta Marie of France. Charles II was pronounced the Prince of Wales from birth. In 1641 Charles II took his seat in the House of Lords where he attained an insignificant military command in the early campaigns of the first civil war of the English Revolution. As a teenager he fought Parliament's Roundhead forces until his father's execution in 1649. Upon his father's execution Charles II assumed the title of king in Scotland, parts of Ireland, and England, then ruled by Oliver Cromwell. Shortly after he accepted the Scottish crown, Charles II marched a Scottish force of 10,000 men into England. As he attempted to invade England he was proclaimed king along the areas he invaded. However, his army was defeated by Cromwell in Worcester on September 3, 1651. Following this defeat Charles II fled to France and for eight years he wandered aimlessly throughout Europe.
In April 1660 Charles II announced that he would accept a parliamentary government and grant amnesty to his political opponents. This announcement was followed with the request by the new Parliament for the return of Charles II. And on his thirtieth birthday, May 29, 1660, Charles II arrived at Whitehall to claim his throne. Charles II was crowned king of England on April 23, 1661. As a king Charles II was extremely tolerant of his father's persecutors in fact only nine of the conspirators were executed. However, contrary to his father, Charles II was also very tolerant of religious affairs. Although, England was delighted to have a monarch again the royal powers of the monarchy were severely limited by the Parliament. Thus, forcing Charles II to finance his administration from customs taxes and a bountiful pension provided by Louis XVI.
