Welcome back to "This Day in Scottish History." I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn our focus to a pivotal figure in British history, born on this day, November 19, 1600, in the grandeur of Dunfermline Palace in Fife—Charles Stuart, the future King Charles I. His life, reign, and downfall would cast a long shadow over Scotland, England, and Ireland.

Born as the second son of King James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark, Charles was not initially destined to rule. His early years were shaped by frailty; he was a weak and sickly child who remained in Scotland when his parents relocated to England in 1603 following James’s accession to the English throne. By the time Charles joined his family in England in 1604, he had begun to overcome many of his early health challenges, though he retained a stammer throughout his life.

The trajectory of his life shifted dramatically in 1612 with the sudden death of his elder brother, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. Charles became heir apparent, assuming the titles of Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay. Later, in 1616, he was formally invested as Prince of Wales. Despite these honors, Charles’s upbringing was overshadowed by comparisons to his late brother, known for his charisma and vigor, qualities Charles seemed to lack. Nevertheless, he honed his skills as a horseman, marksman, and patron of the arts, developing traits that would later define his court.

Charles ascended the throne in 1625, following the death of his father, and his reign was immediately marked by tension. A staunch believer in the divine right of kings, he viewed his authority as unassailable and resisted efforts by Parliament to limit his powers. His choice of advisors, most notably the Duke of Buckingham, his financial policies, and his religious decisions fueled discontent. His marriage to Henrietta Maria of France, a Catholic, deepened divisions in a kingdom already riven by sectarian conflict.

Religious strife, always a volatile issue in Scotland, reached a boiling point during his reign. Charles’s attempt to impose an English-style prayer book on the Scottish Church provoked widespread resistance. This culminated in the Bishops’ Wars of 1639 and 1640, which eroded royal authority and set the stage for the broader conflicts of the British Civil Wars. These wars saw Scotland, England, and Ireland embroiled in a violent struggle over governance, religion, and sovereignty.

Charles’s inability to reconcile his belief in absolute monarchy with the growing demands for parliamentary authority led to the English Civil War in 1642. Over the next several years, his forces clashed with those loyal to Parliament. Despite his efforts, Charles suffered a series of defeats, culminating in his capture in 1646. The political drama intensified when Charles negotiated secretly with various factions, attempting to exploit divisions among his opponents.

In 1649, Charles was tried and convicted of high treason by a court that questioned the very notion of monarchic immunity. On January 30 of that year, he was executed in a shocking public spectacle outside the Banqueting House in London. His death was unprecedented—a reigning monarch tried and executed by his own subjects—and sent shockwaves throughout Europe.

Charles’s execution and the subsequent abolition of the monarchy marked a profound turning point in British history. His legacy is complex. To his supporters, he was a martyr for royalist principles and the Church of England. To his detractors, he was a tyrant whose stubbornness plunged the kingdoms into chaos. The monarchy itself would be restored in 1660 under his son, Charles II, but the scars of the civil wars would linger.

Born in the ancient halls of Dunfermline Palace, Charles Stuart’s life reflects the profound interweaving of Scottish and British history. From his early years in Scotland to his dramatic downfall as king, his story embodies the enduring struggles over power, faith, and governance that shaped the British Isles.

Thank you for joining us today. Tomorrow, we’ll delve into another chapter of Scotland’s rich and varied past. I’m Colin MacDonald, and until then, Haste Ye Back.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com