Greg Jenner

We've got King Charles popping up in To Kill a King. There was Blackout of the Cavalier years. Probably you're thinking of Roundheads versus Cavaliers or Oliver Cromwell and his ugly wart or Charles I being beheaded. But how did a civil war actually start? And just how long is a long parliament? Let's find out.

We've got King Charles popping up in To Kill a King. There was Blackout of the Cavalier years. Probably you're thinking of Roundheads versus Cavaliers or Oliver Cromwell and his ugly wart or Charles I being beheaded. But how did a civil war actually start? And just how long is a long parliament? Let's find out.

The British Civil Wars or the War of the Three Kingdoms or the English Civil War or... I mean, there's loads of names for it, but they started in 1642. They lasted about a decade. But today we're going to do the prequel. So, John, where do we start our story? Do we start with Charles?

The British Civil Wars or the War of the Three Kingdoms or the English Civil War or... I mean, there's loads of names for it, but they started in 1642. They lasted about a decade. But today we're going to do the prequel. So, John, where do we start our story? Do we start with Charles?

So, Toussaint, King Charles I comes to the throne, 1625. Do you think he learns from daddy's mistakes?

So, Toussaint, King Charles I comes to the throne, 1625. Do you think he learns from daddy's mistakes?

I think that's a pretty good guess. John, things just get worse for young Charles, don't they?

I think that's a pretty good guess. John, things just get worse for young Charles, don't they?

One of the grievances is Charles has married Princess Henrietta Maria of France, who, of course, was a Catholic. This was a provocative move at the time where religious tensions were high. There's also a weird thing called Toussaint. Tell me if you've heard of this before. Tonnage and poundage.

One of the grievances is Charles has married Princess Henrietta Maria of France, who, of course, was a Catholic. This was a provocative move at the time where religious tensions were high. There's also a weird thing called Toussaint. Tell me if you've heard of this before. Tonnage and poundage.

We've got the third parliament of 1628 called where, again, he's trying to raise money because there's a subsidy bill, John, isn't there? And forced loans, there's martial law, the petition of rights, there's tonnage and poundage again. The subcommittee are in charge of the tonnage and poundage thing and they just suddenly decide to be a subcommittee about Catholicism.

We've got the third parliament of 1628 called where, again, he's trying to raise money because there's a subsidy bill, John, isn't there? And forced loans, there's martial law, the petition of rights, there's tonnage and poundage again. The subcommittee are in charge of the tonnage and poundage thing and they just suddenly decide to be a subcommittee about Catholicism.

And Charles is annoyed at this and he demands an adjournment.

And Charles is annoyed at this and he demands an adjournment.

And the king responds by imprisoning nine MPs. That's not good news, right? John, you can't imprison MPs. Can you?

And the king responds by imprisoning nine MPs. That's not good news, right? John, you can't imprison MPs. Can you?

Toussaint, do you want to guess how long this personal rule no Parliament is?

Toussaint, do you want to guess how long this personal rule no Parliament is?

Sensible guess. It's 11 years.

Sensible guess. It's 11 years.