What do Niccolò Machiavelli, the decapitation of King Charles I of England, and income inequality have in common? Here, Phillip Min Kong argues that it is the 1642-1651 English Civil War that binds the three together.
King Charles I of England in three positions. Painting by Sir Anthony Van Dyck.
The English Civil War is one of the most notable civil wars in history, but what caused this huge war to happen, and what were its effects not only in history but also in modern society?
The English Civil War is one of the most significant civil wars in history because of the heroic acts of Parliament that changed England during the 1600s in ways that endure to today. By expanding democratic institutions, Parliament evened the gap between England’s rulers and its citizens and ushered in the start of a better monarchy and a more equal society. Why then did Charles I need to lose his head?
Background
The English Civil War started in 1642 and continued until 1651; the main issue between King Charles I and Parliament was the role of monarchy. Charles I was a strong believer of the divine rights of kings, a concept supported by Jacques Bossuet that stated the full authority of the monarchy and the right to rule came directly from God. Parliamentary forces disagreed, but though they sought increased power, they also had no intention of deposing Charles I. When the “long Parliament,” so named for their extended dismissal, was summoned by Charles I to pass financial legislation, events did not unfold as planned. Not only did Parliament ultimately win, but also the conflict led to Charles I being executed and replaced by Oliver Cromwell, who eliminated anti-Parliament forces and ensured no monarch could again rule without Parliament's power. However, in an uncanny echoing of Charles I, Cromwell soon began to dangerously take on the trappings of the monarchy, declaring himself Lord Protector of England, and even having his son installed in that position after his death. This attempt was soon thwarted by the restoration of the Long Parliament in 1659, and the restoration of King Charles II under a constitutional monarchy in 1660.
Niccolò Machiavelli
In 1513, the Italian Diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli published his book The Prince, in which he asserted that it is better to rule unscrupulously. More than one hundred years later, his theories would play out far from his home country. As history proceeded from the English Civil War, the new constitutional monarchy represented a step towards democracy when compared to the rules of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell. When Charles I was executed and the new republic of the Commonwealth of England was created, the notion that the divine rights of kings gave the monarch's full authority was directly turned on its head. Yet, a monarchy continues to this day in the United Kingdom. This relates to how the Parliament requested more power, not complete elimination of a king. The monarchy today in the United Kingdom is called a constitutional monarchy. Just as Parliament sought in the 1600s, the making and passing of legislation became strictly dependent on elected representatives. The sovereign head of state, the king or queen, could no longer make, change, and delete laws at their whim. The English king Charles I - and later Cromwell - attempted Machiavellian rule in some ways, but each was too corrupt to think of English citizens over himself; consequently, income inequality combined with social divisions, unscrupulously (or not) caused Charles to lose his head and the monarchy to lose its power.
Income inequality
However, this did not solve one of the root problems that not only contributed to the English Civil War, but also lasts to this day in modern society: income inequality. One of the main reasons for the English Civil War breaking out was England’s debt. Before King Charles’ reign, his father, James I was wasting resources for his own benefit; Charles was no different. Parliament’s consent was needed to raise taxes to pay off these debts; however, Parliament refused. Charles dismissed Parliament once again and unsuccessfully sought alternative income sources, earning only the hatred of the English people. Combined with another disagreement in the form of religious differences - the Protestant Parliament greatly disapproved of Charles’s marriage to a Catholic queen, and was worried about a potential Catholic heir to the throne - the threat to Charles was amplified and civil war ensued. While the English Civil War’s effects directly addressed some causes of the civil war, other problems, like income inequality, persisted because even though the leadership of the country started to come from Parliament, Parliament was still largely full of nobles. Since the nobles were happy with their income and life, even after the civil war, there was no need to change what was already pleasing to them.
Modern context
Therefore, there are still lessons that can be learned from the English Civil War, especially considering the current climate of income inequality and increasing political polarization in the world today. When we take into account widespread economic inequality, coupled with a president in the US who has threatened not to leave office, many of the same issues that caused the English Civil War are still prevalent in the world today. The current income inequality in the United Kingdom is growing. English democracy separates the power in a way that is healthy for the country, but must soon deal with rising economic populism, or even another kind of government system that may soon appear. The rise of economic populist political forces like Donald Trump and the UK’s Brexit vote bear resemblance to the same forces that produced political change in the English Civil War. However, thanks to democracy, while the continuing political conflict and social divisions seem likely to cause some politicians to lose power, they can thank the English Civil War that they will keep their heads.
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