This course will examine one of the most constitutionally significant, and controversial, moments in British history – the execution of King Charles I on 30th January 1649 after he had been found guilty of treason against his own people. Was a monarch who had broken his coronation oath to protect his people unworthy of his position, or should he be able to enjoy absolute power? Using a combination of petitions, newsbooks, official reports, Parliamentary legislation, and propaganda, we will explore why the trial was necessary to end the British Civil Wars, the timeline of the event itself, whether Charles ever had a chance to save himself, and the impact of his execution across seventeenth-century Europe.
The Trial and Execution of Charles I
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Courses starts: 19 Jan 2026
Week 1: The Civil Wars of 1642-1649
This session will begin by exploring the conflict between King and Parliament, which began with Charles I raising his standard in Nottingham in 1642. We will explore the various attempts to end the conflict through peace negotiations, why they ultimately broke down, and why it became necessary to take drastic measures to subdue the King.
Week 2: Constructing a Death Sentence
This session will begin with the Putney Debates of 1647, where radical factions within the New Model Army began advocating for the abolition of the monarchy. We will briefly follow Charles’s attempts to escape captivity, and why Parliament ultimately made the decision to put him on trial. We will assess whether Pride’s Purge of 1648, which excluded many moderate MPs from sitting in the House of Commons, had an impact on the legality of the trial, and analyse the charges that were levied against Charles; who wrote the document, was there a precedent for this, and what was the King being accused of?
Week 3: The Trial of Charles I
This session will begin with a question of whether the trial of Charles I was a foregone conclusion. Did the commissioners know from the start that a death sentence would be passed, or did Charles have opportunities to save himself? We will then use the official transcripts of the trial, starting on 20th January, as well as reports published in both royalist and parliamentarian newsbooks, to learn what happened each day leading up to the sentencing on 27th January. We will conclude by returning to our opening question of whether the trial was predetermined; do students feel the same way as they did at the start of the session, or have opinions changed?
Week 4: The Lives of the Regicides
Although Charles I lost his head, many other lives were impacted by the events of January 1649, not least the men who were involved in the trial. This session will explore what happened to some of the key players, including Isaac Dorislaus, John Bradshawe, Henry Ireton, and Oliver Cromwell. How did the trial continue to impact their lives?
Week 5: National and International Responses to Regicide
The final session will assess the impact the execution of the King had, both in Britain and abroad. How did the country cope with the abolition of monarchy and the lack of a figurehead after 700 years of being used to kings? Was the general public supportive of the execution, outraged, or indifferent? What impact did this have on foreign relations, and how did the monarchies of Europe react?
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Preparatory reading
- Why was Charles I Executed? / Holmes, Clive
- The English Civil Wars, 1640-1660 / Worden, Blair
Certification
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £180.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Dr Charlotte Parsonson-Young
Dr Charlotte Parsonson-Young has a PhD in English Civil War sequestration from Royal Holloway, University of London. She was a genealogist and social historian at Sticks Research Agency for over a decade, where she has worked on programmes such as 'Who Do You Think You Are?' and 'Tracing Your Roots'. She was an Honorary Visiting Fellow in English Local History at the University of Leicester before joining the Department for Continuing Education, where she teaches genealogy and early modern British history. She is also a Professor of History for Wake Forest University's study abroad programme in London, and the Vice Chair of the Cromwell Association.
Course aims
Students will gain knowledge of the significance of the trial of Charles I.
Course objectives:
1. Learn the basic timeline of the British Civil Wars
2. Analyse primary and secondary sources relating to the events of 1649
3. Engage in discussions about the social and political impact of regicide
Teaching methods
The teaching methods for this course will be a combination of lecture and seminar, with students expected to engage with primary and secondary material provided to them either in class or in advance.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course students will:
1. Understand why the breakdown in relations between the King and Parliament led to the King's execution
2. Be able to engage with both primary and secondary texts
3. Feel confident in expressing their own opinion about the significance of the regicide, and how that view fits into the published scholarship on the topic
Assessment methods
This course is non-accredited, so there are no assessments.
Application
Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Level and demands
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.