The Trial of King Charles I - video animation for YouTube

The Trial of King Charles I is among the most significant events in British political history. Parliament wanted to show that the king was not the victim of an arbitrary and unlawful killing, but had been publicly found guilty of treason and war crimes by a duly appointed court.

A High Court of Justice was established by the Rump Parliament, with John Bradshaw as President and John Cooke as Solicitor General among 67 commissioners. The trial in Westminster Hall lasted seven days from 20th January 1649, and was watched by perhaps as many as 4,000 or 5,000 onlookers.

The court tried repeatedly to get Charles to answer the charge brought against him, but the king refused recognise the legitimacy of the court. Because the defendant would not enter a plea, it was impossible for a regular trial to proceed. Thus, the entire trial became a debate about the legtimate basis of power, in which Charles claimed as king to represent law and liberty, while Bradshaw claimed that Parliament represented true sovereignty.

This YouTube video can only show a short sample of the full debate but, drawing on transcriptions from the original records, it gives an insight into the arguments involved.

[HanzGrozny]

Your videos are underrated
Fantastic work keep it up

[antoniodorado]

Very nicely done. The king was a stubborn but brave felllow

[Fireheart]

King's strategy; deny authority of the court, ignoring the fact that they have power to execute him.

[Peter_bread]

POV: you have been sent here by your teacher.

None the less great and helpful vid :)

[jongrant]

Lex rex versus rex lex. That is the debate

[ufotalk]

Charles I was the first sovereign citizen