How did the Stuart Kings Govern?
James I King of England Stuart Dynasty was Scottish Elizabeth I Queen of England never married and had no children James VI was the son of Mary Queen of Scots who was Elizabeth’s cousin Made him Elizabeth’s closest male Protestant relative 1603 Elizabeth died and James I became King of England and Ireland
English Monarchs Most English Kings and Queens ruled as they saw fit Expected their subjects to support their decisions Support included providing money in the form of taxes and loans to pay for wars and palaces Most monarchs tried to bypass any restrictions on them
Stuarts and the Divine Right Stuarts believed in the divine rights of kings Believed they were destined to rule and their power came from God They could not be questioned by ordinary people Absolute monarchs
Stuart Kings were Absolute monarchs Irritated by English ideas about ruling within the law and consulting parliament which had been established in the Magna Carta hated that parliament held the right to set taxes and monarchs had to ask for money
Charles I Believed in the divine right of kings The king had to answer to no one tyrant Less willing to compromise with parliament then his father Enjoyed extravagance In conflict with puritans Would try to force parliament to give him money
Religious Troubles Puritans were a powerful group and did not trust Charles I Felt he was lenient towards Catholics (married a Catholic and allowed church decoration and rituals that offended puritans)