A Child's History of the World by Virgil M. Hillyer
Chapter 71: A King Who Lost His Head
After James, Charles I, his son, became king of England. He agreed with his father that kings had a divine right to rule and felt that whatever the king said should be law. The people did not agree with this, and instead of just dragging him off like King John to sign a charter, they began to fight him.
A man named Oliver Cromwell led the people who were fighting against the king. Those opposed to the king wanted a Parliament to lead the people so that their interested were fairly represented. These people dressed plainly and sensibly as they gathered to fight, while the king's men, who were mostly nobles, dressed ostentatiously with lace and large hats decorated with long feathers. The king's men feasted and drank to prepare for battle, while the army of the people prayed and fasted to prepare. Eventually, the people won the war against the king. Oliver Cromwell became the Protector of England, which really just meant that he acted as the king. King Charles was tried for treason and beheaded, something that seems overly harsh and unnecessary as we look back on it.
Oliver Cromwell ruled sternly with an eye to justice. After he died, his son became Protector in his place. However, Cromwell's son was not smart and competent as Oliver had been, so he was removed from office. Instead, the people placed yet another Stuart king on the throne, Charles II, son of Charles I. The people forgot their dislike for the Stuarts it seemed. Charles II was called the Merry Monarch, as he was fond of eating and drinking and having a good time.
The plague came through London around this time and killed many, many people. In fact, it might have gone on killing people if the Great Fire hadn't come through in 1666. The fire burned down thousands of houses and hundreds of churches, while helped to kill the disease. Buildings had been built of wood before the fire, but when London was rebuilt, buildings were made of stone and bricks.
After Charles II, the final Stuart monarchs reigned, William and Mary. They gave their power over to the people so that it was truly the Parliament who ruled the country. And so, William and Mary were the last truly reigning king and queen of England.
Chapter 72: Red Cap and Red Heels
While the Stuarts were ruling in England and claiming the Divine Right of Kings, in France their were two more King Louis. The first was King Louis XIII. He was king in name, but a man named Cardinal Richelieu was the one actually making all the decisions. The Cardinal was a leader of the Catholic church in France, and to show his position he wore a red cap and a red robe.
Though Cardinal Richelieu was Catholic, he started a war against another Catholic country, Austria. He took the side of the Protestants because he wanted to have power over Austria. This war lasted thirty years and so came to be called the Thirty Years' War. Much of the fighting was done in the country of Germany, and one interesting participant in this war was the King of Sweden, sometimes called the Snow King or the Lion of the North. Though many kings fighting in this war were fighting for power, the king of Sweden was fighting for what he believed was right, and he ended up dying for his cause, though his side won the war. The Treaty of Westphalia decided that each country's monarch could decide that country's religion.
During the Thirty Years' War, the plague broke out in Germany also. A small town called Oberammergau prayed to be spared and that if they were, they would put on a play every ten years about the life of Jesus Christ. The town was spared and to this day they put on a Passion Play every ten years that draws crowds from all over the world.
The next king of France was Louis XIV. He believed, like King James and Charles I of England, in the Divine Right of Kings and said "I am the state." He strutted about like a peacock, dressed with fancy clothes, red high heeled shoes that made him look taller and more important, carrying a cane and walking with his elbows out and his toes turned out. He gather people around him that were the best at what they did and upheld a lavish court. Those who were not included in his court had to pay taxes to support all the lavish finery, and of course those on the outside did not put up with that for long.
