Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Portrait Lives #3: Charles II

Charles was a very interesting monarch, enjoying a life full of adventures. He was born in 1630, and lived an early life of royalty. Then after his father, Charles I was executed by Parliament and kings were banned, he was on the run. He ran to other countries as well as traveling throughout England in a series of disguises because there was a 1,000 pound prince price on his head.
Kings were eventually restored in England as you might know. Charles II was crowned king at 30 years old in May 1660. He allowed women to act, resisted against Titus Oates (the best name ever) who thought Catholics were plotting conspiracies in England. He was actually was presented with the first pineapple in England, which I suppose he ate gleefully. He had tons of mistresses, one he liked to call 'Fubbs'.
2. Charles with a gun aged abt. 8 by van Dyck 

1. On the far left, Charles II is gold, aged 6 by
Anthony van Dyck












3. Charles with a sword aged about 14
by William Dobson





4. Hot Charles aged about 23
by Phillipe de Champaigne







5. Rich Charles aged about 31
by John Michael Wright














7. Charles chillin' aged 45 by Peter Lely 






6. Charles has fashion and shoes
aged about 40 by Peter Lely 





8. Old but still masuline Charles, aged 50 by Peter Lely








9. Dusty Charles aged 53 by Willem Wissing


















He died at about 55 years old on 1685. The Earl of Rochester jokingly said that the King's epitaph should read:
Here lies our sovereign lord, the king,
Whose word no man relies on,
Who never said a foolish thing,
And never did a wise one. 

Sources:
Quote from Hoyt's New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotation by Kate Louise Roberts, page 685: http://books.google.com/books?id=vusHEymIuvwC&dq=We+have+a+pretty+witty+king,+Whose+word+no+man+relies+on%3B+He+never+said+a+foolish+thing,+Nor+ever+did+a+wise+one&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Charles II: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CharlesII, a really good site that is kinda of like Wikipedia but more flexible.
May 28th: http://www.thebookofdays.com/months/may/29.htm
Fun Trivia: Charles II: http://www.funtrivia.com/en/people/charles-ii-8764.html
Charles II: http://instruct.uwo.ca/english/234e/site/bckgrnds/biogrphs/charlesii.html
Horrible Histories

Check out 

King Charles II by Antionia Fraser

Click the picture, what's the worst that could happen?




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