British royalty. He had a happy childhood, gallant, careless, good-humored and irresponsible, a fine sportsman who loved the outdoors. When his father, Charles I, was executed on 30 January 1649, he was proclaimed king a month later at 18 but was exiled for nine hard years in France while Cromwell held England. When Cromwell died in 1658, the English people became dissatisfied with the protectorate and invited Charles to return. He was welcomed to London on his 30th birthday and restored to the throne in 1660, the first of the restored Stuart line.
The first parliament granted him wide powers. The important events of his reign included two wars with the Dutch, the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, the Rye House plot and the passage of the Habeas Corpus Act. Charles defended the crown for 25 years against threats of revolution, however he was a procrastinator and often chose pleasure before business. He was frivolous, superficial and licentious and his court is considered the most immoral in English history.
Upon his restoration, he took 19-year-old Barbara Villiers as his mistress and established her as the Duchess of Cleveland. She maintained her position for 13 years until he tired of her extravagance and tantrums and took another mistress. He married Catherine of Braganza in May 1662. He had no legitimate heirs, though many mistresses and some 14 kids.
He died of Bright’s Disease on 6 February 1685, London
Link to Wikipedia biography