Unhappy King Charles!

1642 and England is about to go to war with itself

In the autumn of 1642 the long foreshadowed clash between the English Parliament and the supporters of the Royal Prerogative was brought to a head. At Nottingham, before a generally uninterested audience, King Charles I (the “Man of Blood”) raised the Royal Standard indicating all who took the field against him were traitors and rebels. Parliament sought to defeat the King militarily (or rather the King’s evil counsellors for we are His Majesty’s most faithful servants) so as to overturn the Royal Prerogative in matters of tax and defence.

In so doing it had the support of by far the majority of the aristocracy, the merchant class and the anti-papists. The King’s aim was to defeat Parliament and establish his control of funding so as to permit the full flowering of his (he thought) divinely sanctioned powers.

Into this heady brew came Papists (seeking freedom of religion), Protestant sectaries, rebellious Irish nobles, Scots Presbyterians (fresh from victory in the Bishop’s Wars) and many other parties. Fortunately for England, the great nations of Europe were otherwise engaged.

Unhappy King Charles! allows two players to decide whether Commons or Cavalier shall rule in England. Both seek to establish control over the country and of its economic structures. They seek not only to defeat their opponents in battle but also to seize control of the local government of England and Wales.

Components:

• 110 Cards
• One game map
• Two full-colour countersheets
• Rulebook
• Scenario/Playbook
  1 Player Aid Card