Who Killed King Charles I? by Mark Turnbull
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Lectures & Tours
Event Description
Discover more about the pivotal event that shaped our history
The execution of King Charles I on 30 January 1649 is one of the key anchor points in our history.
There is the snappy anecdote that he wore two shirts to avoid shivering from the cold day, which brings this moment to life in a very personal - and chilling - way.
The act was carried out in central London, right outside the Palace of Whitehall, on a scaffold ringed by troops of the New Model Army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Oliver Cromwell. Their General, Thomas Fairfax, had disassociated himself with the killing of the king.
Yet for all the public display that surrounded the king's last moments, the two executioners responsible for despatching him were masked. As a result, their identities have been hidden from history.
Historian Mark Turnbull, biographer of King Charles I and his nephew Prince Rupert, will discuss the candidates that have been put forward over the centuries and discuss his own research, which adds a new name to the list of suspects - a Leicestershire man no less.
Discover more about the pivotal event that shaped our history and the great mystery that lies at its heart!
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