Charles I Imprisoned at Carisbrooke

1647-1648

During the English Civil War, King Charles I fled to the Isle of Wight in November 1647, hoping to negotiate with Parliament from a position of relative freedom. He placed himself under the protection of Colonel Robert Hammond, the Parliamentary governor of the island, at Carisbrooke Castle. Instead of the freedom he expected, Charles found himself a prisoner. He was held at Carisbrooke for over a year, during which he made several failed escape attempts, including one in which he became stuck in the bars of his window. While imprisoned, Charles continued secret negotiations with the Scots and various Royalist factions, but Parliament's patience ran out. He was removed from the island in late 1648, tried for treason and executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649. The rooms where he was held can still be visited at the castle.