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Following our August issue cover feature on the Civil War, who do you think was responsible for starting the conflict between king and parliament in the 1640s?

Charles’s policies undoubtedly exacerbated tensions. Yet, there were structural problems in England, and parliament became more critical of the king post-1637. Following the Scottish and Irish rebellions, Charles had alienated his support and instigated civil war. @ marmonsette It’s never who, it’s what. And always a plural answer. @JenHistoryCW11 War broke out due to the tenacity of Pym & the junto mixed with the king’s stubbornness. Charles made a lot of mistakes but the extreme actions of some MPs after 1640 made it impossible for Charles to consider working with them as they offered no way for him to maintain power. @ RogueRoyalle Given Charles’s growing taxation (among other things), I’d say he actually brought the entire situation upon himself. I still would have been a royalist, though. @ gibgod Charles I. He revived old laws & taxes without parliament’s agreement, dismissed them when they complained, only recalled them because he needed money for his war, which they refused unless he dealt with their complaints, which he ignored & instead tried to arrest their leaders! Lewis von Stieglitz Parliament. The system was based on patience, but the radicals wouldn’t wait. @RuSnow8 Charles I for his arrogant (and by then outdated) belief in the divine right of kings

and parliament for using his failings to enforce their stance

@ GrittySpheres Firstly can I say I really enjoyed reading the article. As to your question, maybe the fact that people generally were becoming better informed and so were no longer willing to accept the unquestioned rights of the king.