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The Cult of the Royal Martyr

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Byron S. Stewart
Byron S. Stewart
Affiliation:
Professor of History, Central Missouri State College, Warrensburg, Missouri
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Extract

In 1660 not only did the institution of monarchy return to England but also the “Image of the King” was restored. The monarchy had to be defined again, but the image persisted and entered the mythology of English history. By decapitating Charles I, Parliament and the army created a myth which covered all the flaws in the king and revealed only the virtuous martyr. The Cult of the Royal Martyr was formed around this myth of the sanctified personality of Charles. Charles the Good was martyred to the factious spirit of the Puritans. He was a martyr for the church; and as such, instead of being a dead king, he became a living defender of the church and the monarchy. He was the patron saint of all who wished to criticize puritanism or to support the monarchy.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , June 1969 , pp. 175 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1969

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References

1. This paper is based upon research into some 300 sermons preached on the anniversary of the death of Charles I. These sermons vary greatly in quality and content. The great majority were preached before the House of Commons or the House of Lords. A list of most of these sermons can be found in The British Museum General Catalog of Printed Books and many are located in the Henry E. Huntington Library.

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13. Ibid., p. 107.

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