King Charles the Second

A biography of Charles II, English monarch during the Restoration era.

The young prince, Charles, fled for his life as his father's kingdom crumbled around him. Forced to escape the Battle of Worcester with only a handful of loyal followers, he faced a perilous journey through hostile territory. His mother, Henrietta Maria, a Catholic queen in a Protestant land, had already been driven into exile, leaving her children vulnerable to capture. Charles's escape from the Royal Oak tree in Boscobel became legendary, but the true danger lay in his survival against overwhelming odds. The young king's journey from fugitive to monarch would shape the course of English history, as he navigated treacherous political waters and religious conflicts. His path to the throne was paved with narrow escapes and desperate gambits, all while his mother's Catholic faith and his own Protestant upbringing created a complex legacy. This is the story of a king who defied the odds to reclaim his birthright.