What year did James II take the throne and why were English Protestants scared of him? Great Britain’s King Charles II spent his early years in exile after his father, Charles I , was executed. Charles II : "The Merry Monarch" The restored king, Charles II, was not at all like his father. Charles II was a polarizing figure. In 1642, when he was twelve years old, the three kingdoms of his father Charles I, England, Scotland, and Ireland, dissolved into civil war. Stuarts and Restoration London historian Rebecca Rideal answers some of the key questions about the Restoration and the rule of Charles II. He was invited back to be king of England in 1660. Ronald Hutton looks for the real Charles II. Known as "the Merry Monarch," Charles II was king of Great Britain and Ireland from 1660 to 1685. What did Charles II do in the English Civil Wars? The Merry Monarch kept the royal show on the road. Why was he known as the merry monarch? When did things start to go wrong for Charles II? How much do you know about the former King Was the Restoration period of English history a tragedy or comedy, or both? What happened during the Great Fire of London? How did Charles II die? Charles II’s reign was marked by disasters such as the plague and the Great Fire of London , and he lived an extravagant lifestyle. Tall and dark, he was casual and easy-going. Popularly referred to as the ‘Merry Monarch’, Charles II was known for his lively and exuberant nature, which prevailed in his court as well, that mostly functioned on hedonism and cavorting style. Charles II was known as the Merry Monarch. His love of entertainment and his easy going manner won him the nickname the `Merry Monarch ` When James II took the throne in 1685, many English Protestants were worried that a Catholic leader would punish them. King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland (1630-1685) Charles II was known as the Merry Monarch because he loved the kinds of pleasures that many puritans had tried to outlaw. He was cheerful, witty and fond of a good time. This could be attributed to the liveliness of his court as well as a relief that the reign of Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans was over. After so many years of Puritan rule, the people welcomed a king who loved the theatre, horse riding and spectacular mistresses. Charles was also a lover of sports , he played golf , he also pionnered yachting in England , he was a patron of horseracing and rode in races himself , he won a race over 4 miles at Newmarket course , he founded the Palace House Stables . He is known as the Merry Monarch in reference to both the liveliness and hedonism of his court as well as the relief to return to normality after ten years of puritan rule. Restored king, Charles II: `` the Merry Monarch because he loved kinds... 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