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King Charles II Stuart

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Monarch

The Resume

    (May 29, 1630-February 6, 1685)
    Son of King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria
    King of England (1660-1685)

Why he might be annoying:

    He is often thought of as a lazy King, preferring to engage in his many hobbies (tennis, walking, hunting) rather than his kingly responsibilities.
    His court was very informal, unlike his father's, which was very formal and reserved.
    Many of his courtiers were often in drunken, disoriented states.
    He had many mistresses and fathered many illegitimate children.
    He never went anywhere without a trail of spaniels following him.
    He brought the dogs to serious meetings and would sit and play with them, seemingly oblivious to the important matters being discussed.
    Once, one of his spaniels bit one of his Cavaliers, who proclaimed, 'God bless your Majesty, but God damn your dogs!'
    He was very tall for a man during the 17th century, believed to be well over six feet.
    He loved to experiment with different chemicals and some suspect it was the exposure to toxic agents which led to his stroke and subsequent death.

Why he might not be annoying:

    While his father was shy and very reserved, Charles II was a fun-loving, easy-going guy.
    Charles I's incompetence, which ultimately led to civil war, forced Charles II into exile.
    He was concealed by many ordinary citizens while Oliver Cromwell's army searched for him. He hid in many places, including barns, attics and even an oak tree.
    Eventually Cromwell died and Charles came back to be crowned king in what is known as The Restoration.
    His mother, Henrietta Maria, said of him when he was born: 'He is so dark I am ashamed of him.' Later, he would modestly proclaim, 'odd's fish, I am an ugly fellow!'
    He loved dogs, his favorite breed bearing his name as we know it today (Cavalier King Charles spaniel).
    He loved watching horse races and was himself an accomplished jockey.
    In 1685 he suffered what many say was a stroke and was subjected to many painful remedies by his royal physicians. He was bled via a vein in his arm, red hot irons were applied to his feet and head, odd concoctions from the kingdom's animals and flowers were forced down his throat.
    The doctors mistakenly thought his condition was improving and when it didn't, they began the whole painful process all over again. Despite their attempts to cure him, he died within days.
    He was able to out-smart an entire army by hiding in a tree.

Credit: Nights of Thunder


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 34 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 39 Votes: 28.21% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 79 Votes: 56.96% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 99 Votes: 48.48% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 271 Votes: 52.40% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 36 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 75 Votes: 56.00% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 36 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 45 Votes: 64.44% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 68 Votes: 63.24% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 98 Votes: 55.10% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 208 Votes: 62.98% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 257 Votes: 62.65% Annoying