| Timeline |
| 1600 |
Born 19 November |
| 1604 |
Leaves Scotland to live in England |
| 1612 |
His elder brother, Henry, Prince of Wales, dies |
| 1616 |
Investiture as Prince of Wales at Westminster |
| 1623 |
Travels to Spain to look for a bride |
| 1625 |
Ascends the throne on 27 March; marries Henrietta Maria by proxy in June |
| 1626 |
The Act of Revocation is passed in Scotland reforming ownership of Church lands; Parliament attempts to impeach Buckingham and is dissolved by Charles |
| 1627 |
England goes to war with France, but at La Rochelle the Duke of Buckingham fails to relieve the besieged Huguenots |
| 1628 |
The Petition of Right is presented to the King, he agrees under protest |
| 1629 |
Charles dissolves Parliament; appoints Laud & Wentworth as advisers to rule without Parliament |
| 1632 |
Issues charter for colony of Maryland |
| 1633 |
William Laud appointed Archbishop of Canterbury |
| 1636 |
Issues the Book of Canons reorganizing the Scottish Church along English lines; the General Assembly abolishes Charles I's reforms & re-establishes Presbyterianism |
| 1637 |
Scots sign National Covenant |
| 1639 |
First Bishops' War between Charles I and the Scottish Church; ends with Pacification of Dunse |
| 1640 |
Charles summons Short Parliament, which lasts three weeks; Long Parliament summoned, which lasts until 1660 |
| 1641 |
Triennial Act ; the Star Chamber and Court of High Commission are both abolished; Catholics in Ireland revolt - ~30,000 Protestants massacred; Grand Remonstrance of Parliament to Charles I |
| 1642 |
Charles fails in his attempt to arrest five leading members of the Commons, including his chief critic, John Pym; Civil War begins |
| 1643 |
Solemn League and Covenant is signed by Parliament |
| 1645 |
Formation of Cromwell's New Model Army; Charles I defeated by Parliamentary forces |
| 1646 |
Charles I surrenders to the Scots |
| 1647 |
Scots surrender Charles I to Parliament; he escapes to the Isle of Wright; makes secret treaty with Scots |
| 1648 |
Scots invade England and are defeated by Cromwell; Presbyterians expelled from Parliament (the Rump Parliament); Treaty of Westphalia ends Thirty Years' War |
| 1649 |
Charles is beheaded on 30 January |
