The King's Revenge

Don Jordan

• Publisher: Pegasus Books
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9781681771687
• eBook ISBN:
  9781681772028
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Historical Biographies
• Index: History

When Charles I was executed, his son made it his role to seek out retribution, producing the biggest manhunt Britain had ever seen, one that would span Europe and America and would last for thirty years. When he ascended to the throne in 1660 as Charles II, his search for revenge intensified, with show trials in London and assassination squads scouring foreign countries. Many of the most senior figures in England were hanged, drawn and quartered; imprisoned for life; or consigned to a self-imposed exile, in constant fear of the assassin's bullet.History has painted the regicides and their supporters as fanatics, but among them were exceptional men, including John Milton, poetic genius and political propagandist; Oliver Cromwell's steely son-in-law, Henry Ireton; and the errant son of an earl, Algernon Sidney, whose writings helped inspire the founders of the American Revolution. Cromwell himself was subjected to the most bizarre symbolic revenge when—though long-dead—his body was disinterred and beheaded.Set in an age of intrigue and betrayal, The King's Revenge brings these remarkable figures vividly to life in an engrossing tale of ambition, double agents, and espionage.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Contents
• Preface
• 1. The Watchtower
• 2. ‘That Man of Blood’ – January 1647–January 1649
• 3. A Wicked Design – 8 January–27 January 1649
• 4. Execution – 29 January–7 February 1649
• 5. Propaganda and Assassination – January 1649–October 1651
• 6. ‘The Honour of Dying for the People’ – April 1653–August 1658
• 7. After Oliver – September 1658–October 1659
• 8. The Invader – October 1659–February 1660
• 9. The Round-up Begins – February–April 1660
• 10. Exodus – April–May 1660
• 11. Death List – May–September 1660
• 12. ‘The Guilt of Blood’ – 8–12 October 1660
• 13. Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t – 13–19 October 1660
• 14. Disinterred – November 1660–April 1661
• 15. Bloodhounds – May–September 1661
• 16. On the Word of a King – September 1661–July 1663
• 17. The Tightening Net – 1663–1665
• 18. Plans to Invade and Hopes Dashed – 1665–1692
• 19. Epilogue: the Legacy of the Regicides
• Appendix I: The Regicides and their Fate
• Appendix II: People
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgements
• Illustrations
• Index
• Copyright