Abstract

The English Civil War was the outlet for years of frustration against the status-quo political regime, and allowed, in the chaos, the expression for a variety of beliefs and values. One of the many factions in the conflict were the Royalists, those for one reason or another, supported the rule of Charles I. Despite the vast amount of research in the English Civil War, little attention is given to the Royalist views and beliefs and the common image that arises is a group defined by nepotism, elitism, and corruption. This survey seeks to recover a more complete image of Royalist perspective in the era of conflict by examining a variety of primary published sources, such as books, pamphlets and poetry, from a variety of people with differing statuses and lives. This analysis of said primary sources yields the Royalists own views and conceptions of beliefs that complicate and challenge the typical assumptions about Royalism and its adherents. In doing so, it adds to a growing body of work examining all levels and sections of belief within England and provides a more nuanced image of the political situation at the time. 

Keywords: Royalism, English Civil War, Charles I, Political Ideology, Anglicanism, Sir Robert Filmer, Kingship, Parliament, Absolutism

How to Cite:

Ocon, D., (2024) “Visions for Merrie England: A Survey Examination of Royalist Views and Beliefs in the English Civil War”, Iowa Historical Review 10(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2373-1842.31819