Charles I's 'Eleven Years' Tyranny'
History: KS3, topic 10.1.3
Charles I’s ‘Eleven Years’ Tyranny’
Parliament was not called between 1629 and 1640. This was called the ‘Eleven Years’ Tyranny’.
Personal Rule
- During these eleven years, Charles I ruled England without Parliament.
- This is called ‘personal rule’.
- Charles I set up a ‘Court of the Star Chamber’ to punish any opponents.
Raising money
- Without Parliament, Charles I had to raise money in a different way.
- Charles I began to use old laws. For example the ‘Distraint of Knighthood’.
- This stated that anyone earning £40 a year should be a knight, if they were not they had to pay a fine.
- Charles I also decided to raise taxes on his own. His ‘ship money’ tax was very unpopular.
Religious policy
- During the Eleven Years’ Tyranny, Charles I had appointed William Laud as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
- Laud believed in a branch of Christianity called Arminianism (this was considered similar to Catholicism).
- Laud introduced religious reforms which were very unpopular.
- Many people feared that Charles I was paving the way for Catholicism to return.
The Prayer Book in Scotland
- Charles I and Laud tried to introduce a new prayer book in Scotland.
- This was a very unpopular move and Charles I could not cope with the opposition.
- Charles I needed Parliament to gain money to send an army to Scotland.
Test yourself on Charles I's 'Eleven Years' Tyranny'
How long did Charles I's personal rule last?