![]() ![]() ![]() Mistresses and Illegitimate childrenĪnother common practice in France that Charles quickly adopted back at home was the tradition for the monarch to have a maîtresse-en-titre, a woman who held the official position of the King’s chief mistress. But Charles, true to his nature, was excessively open about his many illicit affairs. ![]() Until now, most English monarchs, though they had private mistresses, were much more subtle about their affairs. The public nature of Charles’ adultery was a whole new issue for many to contend with. “I am never to forget the unexpressable luxury, and prophanesse, gaming, and all dissolution, and as it were total forgetfullnesse of God (it being Sunday Evening) which this day sennight, I was witnesse of the King, sitting and toying with his Concubines Portsmouth, Cleaveland, and Mazarine: etc: A French boy singing love songs, in that glorious Gallery, whilst about 20 of the greate Courtiers and other dissolute persons were at Basset round a large table, a bank of at least 2000 in Gold before them… it being a sceane of uttmost vanity.” The palaces were a merry-go-round of adultery, with women playing an equally active role as men.Ī diary entry from the courtier John Evelyn, a supporter of the monarchy and Charles II, but a fierce critic to his court, summed up palace life well: The ladies of the court were having a great time too – they were encouraged to be witty, intelligent, brazen, and sexually liberated rather than following the outdated ideals of women who were passive, obedient, and virtuous. Charles surrounded himself with young, bawdy courtiers - rakes and libertines, as they were known - who were concerned more with having fun through gambling, drinking, womanising and partying than anything else like work or family. The upshot of all this was that at Whitehall, pleasure, entertainment and free love reigned supreme. On his return to England, he brought many of the French trends with him, and turned the previously dry and plain English court into a hedonistic palace of pleasure. While in exile, Charles had spent considerable time at the French court, which was notorious across Europe for its decadence and sexually active courtiers and ladies. Theatres were re-opened with women on the stage for the first time, public taverns were drawing in men and women from across society, the king and his courtiers brushed shoulders with the common folk in the city parks, and the court especially was host to raucous parties and illicit encounters. The arrival of the king saw London become the new fashionable, social hub of the country and the playground of the nobility. But for others some of the changes proved a little too extreme.Ĭharles II was nicknamed the ‘Merry Monarch’ for good reason indulgence, exuberance and pleasure became the new aspirations of the upper classes. His return to England was celebrated with street parties, bonfires, ceremonies and parade, and the royal procession through the streets of London and his coronation day were so successful that they were reported to have taken place without one drop of blood being spilled.įor many people the return of Charles represented a shift in the cultural and social landscape of England one that moved away from the old regimes, and towards a new way of modernity and prosperity. In 1660, to the fanfare of public joy and excitement, Charles II returned from his long stay in exile to be crowned king. But now, their prince had returned, and Charles II ascended to his throne on the wave of support for the monarchy that had been abolished just eleven years earlier. The country had been shaken by the English Civil Wars, the execution of Charles I, and the puritan Interregnum and military rule of Oliver Cromwell. The Restoration, a term used to mark the re-establishment of the monarchy in 1660 after the Interregnum and parliamentary rule, often includes the entirety of Charles II’s reign, which ran from 1660 – 1685. Forget the Tudors, the Stuarts are where it’s at for scandal, betrayal, and power trips… not to mention a healthy dose of sex, adultery and illegitimate children! The Restoration Charles II is one of the most enigmatic and colourful monarchs in British History. ![]()
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