This key facts covers Key Evidence: The Court within Charles II's Court for GCSE History. Revise Charles II's Court in Restoration England 1660-1685 for GCSE History with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 3 of 16 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 Key Evidence: The Court
| Aspect | Details | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Whitehall Palace | Centre of royal court. Lavish entertainments, balls, plays. | Showed power and magnificence; attracted nobles |
| Mistresses | Barbara Villiers, Nell Gwyn, Louise de Kérouaille (French) | Influenced patronage; Louise seen as French spy |
| Fashion | Extravagant wigs, embroidered coats, high heels | Sharp contrast to Puritan dress; French influence |
| Royal touch | Charles touched over 90,000 people to "cure" scrofula (a skin disease caused by tuberculosis, believed to be healed by a king's touch) | Reinforced divine right (the belief that kings ruled by God's authority); showed royal accessibility |
| Newmarket | Charles started regular horse racing there | Still the home of British horse racing today |
Practice questions for Charles II's Court
Why was Charles II known as the 'Merry Monarch'?
Why was Nell Gwyn particularly popular with ordinary Londoners compared to Charles II's other mistresses?
Quick recall flashcards
Who was Nell Gwyn?
Charles's most popular mistress — former orange seller and actress. Beloved by crowds as a Protestant Englishwoman. Famous quote: 'Pray, good people, be civil. I am the Protestant whore.'
Who was the Earl of Danby?
Charles's chief minister 1673-78. Anglican Tory who tried to build a royalist-Anglican alliance. Impeached 1678 over French negotiations. Later helped organise the Glorious Revolution of 1688.