From 1681 until his death in 1685 Charles II ruled without a Parliament, and his personal rule forms the central subject of this book. The author discusses the

The reconstitution of the royal court in 1660 brought with it the restoration of fears that had been associated with earlier Stuart courts: disorder, sexual lib

Charles II's use of access to his person as a political tool was a feature of his reign. At first he believed this access was an important part of uniting the k

In the climactic part of his three-book series exploring the importance of public image in the Tudor and Stuart monarchies, Kevin Sharpe employs a remarkable in

For a ruler in Henry's vulnerable position, parliament helped to restore royal authority by securing the good governance that legitimated his regime. For his su