Regicide: the basis for regicide and the King’s response

The idea

The regicide of Charles I in January 1649 was driven by the New Model Army's conviction that Charles was a 'man of blood' who had deliberately waged war against his people. Following the Second Civil War, radicals like Cromwell and Ireton concluded that no settlement was possible while Charles lived, leading to Pride's Purge and the creation of the Rump Parliament. The legal basis for the trial rested on the assertion that the King had committed treason by breaking his covenant with the people. In response, Charles I steadfastly refused to enter a plea or recognise the legitimacy of the High Court of Justice. He argued eloquently that a sovereign could not be tried by an illegal court, transforming his public image into that of a royal martyr.

What earns the marks

• Explain the religious and political justifications for the regicide, particularly the concept of Charles as a 'man of blood' responsible for the Second Civil War.
• Detail the role of the Army and Pride's Purge in creating a compliant Rump Parliament willing to establish the High Court of Justice.
• Analyse the legal arguments presented by the prosecution, framing the King's actions as treason against the people of England.
• Evaluate Charles I's defence strategy, specifically his refusal to plead and his dismantling of the court's legal and constitutional authority.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Stating that the majority of Parliament supported the King's execution.

  Put it right: Specify that the Army had to forcefully purge Parliament (Pride's Purge) to leave a small, radical minority (the Rump) willing to proceed with the trial.

• Claiming Charles I defended his actions during the Civil War at his trial.

  Put it right: Clarify that Charles refused to enter a plea or defend his past actions, focusing entirely on challenging the legal jurisdiction of the court.

• Assuming the regicide was a long-held goal of the Parliamentarians.

  Put it right: Emphasise that executing the King was a last resort that only gained traction after the Second Civil War and the failure of multiple settlement attempts.

Exam tips

• Quote Charles's assertion that he stood for the 'liberty of the people of England' to illustrate how he successfully reframed his position during the trial.
• Discuss the Remonstrance of the Army (1648) as key evidence for the ideological basis and military pressure driving the regicide.
• Analyse the impact of Charles's dignified response on public opinion, noting how it complicated the new republic's search for legitimacy.