The trial of Charles I took place in January 1649. The King was accused of being ‘a tyrant, traitor, murderer and a public and implacable enemy to the Commonwealth of England’.
Only 68 out of 135 judges turned up for Charles I’s trial and none of them wanted to be chief judge, so this job was given to a lawyer called John Bradshaw.
Activities
Activity 1: What was it like to be the chief judge in the trial of Charles I?
Watch the short film in which an actor is interviewed in role as John Bradshaw, the chief judge in the trial of Charles I.
As you watch the film, try to answer the following questions:
- Why did many other people turn down the role of chief judge at the trial of Charles I?
- How did Charles I behave during his trial?
- What does John Bradshaw think about the fairness of the trial?
Activity 2: Was Charles I’s trial fair?
Activity 3: The Execution of Charles I
Charles I was executed on 30th January 1649.
Watch the short film (1min 23) in which an actor is interviewed in role as Charles I’s executioner.
As you watch the film, try to answer the following questions:
- Why did the executioner accept the job?
- Why did he wish to remain anonymous?
- What did the executioner do to ensure he remained anonymous?
Activity 4: The ‘martyrdom’ of Charles I
Watch the video in which the curator at the National Civil War Centre talks about Eikon Basilike, a book by Charles I published 10 days after his execution.
- What was the purpose of this book?
- A martyr is a person who is killed because of their beliefs. How do you think the Royalists were able to use this book to portray Charles I as a martyr?