Royal revenge!
King Charles II’S hunt for the men behind his father’s execution...
The execution of King Charles I in 1649 was an unprecedented chapter in English history that saw the country briefly become a republic. But what became of the men who brought about this seismic change?
Sky History’s three-part docudrama Royal Kill List re-enacts the story of how, after the monarchy was restored in 1660, the late king’s son Charles II launched a manhunt to bring the 59 signatories of his father’s death warrant to justice, with actors Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale), Jared Harris
(The Crown) and Sheila Atim (The Pale Horse) commenting on the action.
‘This is the story of how a king’s desire for revenge pushes his country to the brink,’ says Joseph of the bloody tale that begins with the beheading of Charles I after losing the Civil War between the so-called Roundheads and Cavaliers.
New king, new orders
However, after only a decade of the republic, the monarchy was restored, bringing to an end Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell’s oppressive Puritan regime.
‘King Charles II orders celebrations that were banned under Cromwell,’ explains Sheila. ‘England under the new king will be one long party!’
But behind the scenes, Charles wants revenge, and the fate of the first to be tried is chilling.
‘They will be hung, drawn and quartered, and their butchered bodies sent to the four corners of the kingdom,’ says Joseph.
As the manhunt continues, vengeful Charles even has guilty parties who have already died exhumed and posthumously executed.
‘Charles has decided what kind of king he’ll be,’ says Joseph. ‘There’ll be no more compromise, only revenge.’