| DATE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
| 1600 | Born November 19, second son of James VI of Scotland. |
| 1603 | James VI succeeds Elizabeth I, becoming James I of England. |
| 1612 | Death of elder brother, Prince Henry - Charles becomes heir apparent to the throne of England. |
| 1616 | Created Prince of Wales. |
| 1625 | Comes to the throne, marrying a French princess, Henrietta Maria. |
| 1628 | Forced to accept demands of the Petition of Right, forbidding taxation without Parliament's consent. |
| 1629 | Dissolves Parliament, finally outraged by troublesome parliaments. |
| 1637 | MP John Hampden sent for trial for refusal to pay Ship Money. English Book of Common Prayer introduced in Scotland. |
| 1639-1640 | War with Scots. |
| 1640 | Forced to recall Parliament. |
| 1641 | Abolition of Ship Money. |
| 1642 | Attempt to arrest five radical MPs fails. Royal standard raised in Nottingham, August 22. First battle of the Civil War, October 23, at Edgehill, is inconclusive. |
| 1645 | Decisive Royalist defeat in June at Battle of Naseby. |
| 1647 | Imprisoned on the Isle of Wight at Carisbrooke Castle. |
| 1649 | Tried on the charge of having "traitorously and maliciously levied war against the present Parliament". Found guilty of high treason. Beheaded January 30 in Whitehall. England declared a republic. |
