Charles II entered London on May 29, 1660, his 30th birthday, to reclaim the thr

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Charles II Returns: England Restores Its Monarchy

Charles II entered London on May 29, 1660, his 30th birthday, to reclaim the throne of England, Scotland, and Ireland after eleven years of republican government under Oliver and Richard Cromwell. The Restoration had been negotiated through the Declaration of Breda, in which Charles promised religious tolerance, amnesty for most Parliamentarians, and recognition of property changes made during the Interwar period. The new Parliament quickly reneged on the tolerance provisions, passing the Clarendon Code that persecuted nonconformist Protestants. Charles personally was more tolerant, but his suspected Catholic sympathies and his secret Treaty of Dover with Louis XIV of France created persistent tensions with Parliament. His reign saw the Great Plague of 1665, the Great Fire of London in 1666, and the founding of the Royal Society.

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May 29, 1660

366 years ago

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