23. Eikon basilike

Basilika : the works of King Charles the Martyr : with a collection of declarations, treaties, and other papers concerning the differences betwixt His said Majesty and his two houses of Parliament : with the history of his life, as also of His tryal and martyrdome. 2nd ed. (London : printed for Ric. Chiswell ..., 1687)

Eikon Basilike (Portrait of the King) was one of the most successful political publications of the 17th century. It appeared at the end of the English civil war when the government of England had been seized by the army and was run at a military dictatorship under Oliver Cromwell. In January 1649, the army put the King, Charles I, on trial before a “court” comprising people who could be relied upon to find him guilty and sentence him to death.

A few days after the King’s execution, Eikon Basilike was available for purchase in London. It was written in the first person and sets out a detailed justification and defence for the King’s actions during the civil war. It was an immediate publishing success and went through 40 editions in English in its first year after publication. Several different publishers were responsible (mainly anonymously) and the size ranged from substantial library editions down to small readily concealed editions. It was also translated into Latin, French, German, Dutch and Danish for distribution in continental Europe. It played an important part in ensuring that the Cromwellian military regime was never generally accepted as the legitimate government of England.

In 1658, Oliver Cromwell died and his regime collapsed as easily as did some of the communist regimes of Eastern Europe in our own times. The monarchy was restored amid popular acclaim and the King’s eldest son, now Charles II, was crowned in London in May 1660.

Following the Restoration, another edition of Eikon Basilike was published in London. This time, there was an unmistakeable note of celebration. It was published in 1662 in two large folio volumes containing not only Eikon Basilike, but also a variety of other writings and speeches of Charles I and a highly sympathetic biography by Richard Perinchief.

Another large folio edition was produced about 25 years later in 1687. By this time, political circumstances had changed yet again. Charles II had died in 1685 leaving no legitimate children. His brother James succeeded him as James II. But James II was a Roman Catholic and it was widely feared that he would attempt (and indeed was attempting) to introduce Roman Catholicism as the official religion in England. Various attempts were made to exclude him from succession and he was eventually forced to flee. However this was not before another large folio edition of the works of his father, Charles I, had been produced. Although not quite as grand as the 1662 folio edition, it was well calculated to bring support for the Stuart succession.

The Monash Library is fortunate to have examples of both the 1662 and 1687 folios including Eikon Basilike and of the other works of Charles I. The 1687 folio has the better plate and has been chosen for the exhibition.