Charles I's Failed Arrest of Five MPs and the Road to the English Civil War

In January 1642, Charles I attempted to arrest his opponents in the House of Commons with armed troops, but they had already escaped, and the Speaker refused to assist him. This led to his humiliation and subsequent retreat to Nottingham, where he declared war on Parliament. The ensuing conflict spanned from 1642 to 1651, culminating in the imprisonment and execution of Charles I by Parliament and the establishment of a republic until Charles II's restoration in 1660. For 11 years, Charles ruled without Parliament, generating revenue through levies after disbanding sessions from 1625 to 1629. The 1628 Petition of Right, which he later dismissed, prohibited taxation without consent. Financial difficulties and wars, including the First and Second Bishops' Wars, exacerbated the Crown's debts. Puritans, such as Oliver Cromwell, aligned with Parliament, while Catholics supported the Royalists.