Personal Rule

Definition

The period from 1629 to 1640 when Charles I governed without calling Parliament.

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Paper 2

The period from 1629 to 1640 when Charles I governed England without calling Parliament.
In 1629, Charles dissolved Parliament. His Personal Rule lasted until 1640. Governing without Parliament avoided confrontations with MPs, but it also meant that Charles had to find ways to raise revenue without parliamentary grants.
Revise: Divine Right and Authority

Paper 2, Paper 3

1
Explain causes through connections: the Scottish religious crisis led to war and financial pressure. Distinguish the Short Parliament, which ended Personal Rule before the defeat of 1640, from the Long Parliament summoned after that defeat.
2
Treat 1660 as both change and continuity: royal government returned, but restrictions on methods used during Personal Rule remained. The Restoration did not make Parliament fully dominant.

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Charles I’s government without Parliament between 1629 and 1640.

In March 1629, he dissolved Parliament and began eleven years of Personal Rule, governing without it.