Page 28 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

26  INTRODUCING L ONDON

Restoration London

Civil War broke out in 1642 when the mercantile class
demanded that some of the monarch’s power be passed to
Parliament. The subsequent Commonwealth was dominated
by Puritans under Oliver Cromwell. The Puritans outlawed
simple pleasures, such as dancing and theatre, so it was small
wonder that the Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II
in 1660 was greeted with rejoicing and the release of pent-up Extent of the City
creative energies. The period was, how ever, also 1680 Today
marked with two major tragedies: the Plague
(1665) and the Great Fire (1666).

St Paul’s was
destroyed in the
fire that raged as far
west as Fetter Lane
(map 14 E1).
London Bridge
itself survived,
but many of the
buildings on it
were burned down.

Oliver Cromwell
He led the Parliamen-
tarian army and was
Lord Protector of the
Realm from 1653 until
his death in 1658. At
the Restoration, his body
was dug up and hung
from the gallows at
Tyburn, near Hyde
Park (see p213).

Charles I’s
Death
The king was
Charles I beheaded for
His belief in the tyranny on a
Divine Right of freezing day
Kings angered (30 January
Parliament and 1649) outside
contributed to Banqueting
the Civil War. House (see p84).

1623 Shakespeare’s
First Folio published 1642 Civil War starts
when Parliament
1625 James I dies, succeeded defies the king
by his son Charles I
1620 1630 1640 1650
Feathered
helmet worn 1649 Charles I
1605 Guy Fawkes leads failed attempt executed,
to blow up the King and Parliament by Royalist Commonwealth
cavaliers.
established

026-027_EW_London.indd 26 21/03/17 2:24 pm