English Civil War

Article: Thomas Hobbes and the English Civil War

The following link is to an interesting article on Thomas Hobbes and the English Civil War – worth a read.

For more, visit:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46523998/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.T0nLDoeHFKU

Today in History – 9 May 1671

England: Thomas Blood Attempts to Steal the Crown Jewels

On this day in 1671, Colonel Thomas Blood attempted to steal the crown jewels of England in a daring robbery that went wrong very quickly. The attempted robbery took place in the Tower of London where the jewels were on public display.

The whole of Blood’s life is interesting, as he continually pops up in the chronology of England’s history during the period of his life (1618-1680). He plays a role in the civil war, was a major player during an Irish revolt against Charles II, was involved in an attempted assassination or two and his attempted theft of the crown jewels.

An account of his life can be found at the Internet Archive:
http://www.archive.org/details/remarksonlifedea00londrich

 

Today in History – 23 April 1661

England: Charles II Crowned in Westminster Abbey

Following the death of Oliver Cromwell in 1658, political events led eventually to the restoration of the English monarchy and the ascension of Charles II to the throne of England, Scotland and Ireland. His father, Charles I, was executed by Oliver Cromwell at Whitehall on the 30th January 1649 towards the end of the English Civil War and Charles fled the country. With the death of Cromwell and the collapse of the English Commonwealth, Charles was invited to return to England and did so with great public fanfare on the 29th May 1660. He was crowned in Westminster Abbey on the 23rd April 1661.

For more on Charles II, visit:
Charles II