Charles 1Charles was born on 19 November 1600, in Fife, Scotland. His mother was Anne of Denmark. His father was King James VI of Scotland, soon to be James I of England as well.
Charles start in life was not the best he could have had as he was a sickly, weak child. Not only did he have trouble learning to walk he also suffered from a stammer. He was by nature a shy and reserved person. Charles was classically educated and interested in the arts. Like his Ftahre before him he spent vast sums of money on musicians to entertain his court and buying works of art, a fact that would was a factor in his strained relationship with parliament. It was never his destiny to be King, but as often happens fate took a hand in matters and in 1612 his elder brother Henry died, leaving Charles as heir to the throne. |
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon on 25 April 1599. He was the only surviving son of Robert Cromwell (d. 1617) and his wife Elizabeth Steward (d. 1654). His family were local landowners and considered to be minor gentry.
Cromwell had his own problems as a young man which lead directly to his belief that his destiny had been decided by God. Cromwell attended the local grammar school and then went on to study at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. In August 1620, Oliver Cromwell married Elizabeth Bourchier, daughter of Sir James Bourchier a London merchant, at St Giles Church, Cripplegate in London. They were to have nine children, including Richard Cromwell, who succeeded Oliver as Lord Protector. Oliver Cromwell lived in Huntingdon, managing the family estate. He was a country gentleman with a modest income. Later they moved to a farm in St Ives. In 1628 Oliver Cromwell suffered what modern academics have interpreted as a bout of depression. It was around this time that Oliver Cromwell had his religious conversion to the Puritan faith. |
Places in Northamptonshire with links to the war
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