Why did Charles II of England succeed Charles I of England?
Execution of the king, abolition of the monarchy, then restoration by Parliament in 1660. Son — Charles I's eldest surviving son.
The short answer
Charles I was executed on 30 January 1649 and England abolished the monarchy. Scotland proclaimed his son king at once, but in England eleven years of Commonwealth and Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell followed. After Cromwell's death the regime collapsed, and the Convention Parliament invited Charles II back; he entered London on 29 May 1660.
Who they were
Key points
- Interregnum in England, 1649–1660: Commonwealth, then Cromwell's Protectorate
- Restoration invited by the Convention Parliament after the Declaration of Breda (April 1660)
- Charles II's reign was later dated from his father's death, as if the gap had not happened
Sources
- Charles II of EnglandRestoration of 1660
- Interregnum (England)The period without a monarch
Explanation written and reviewed by HistorIQly · reviewed 2026-09-18. Part of the House of Stuart family tree. Background on Wikipedia.