8. King Charles I Was Interred At Windsor Castle... But Parliament Forgot About Him And His Remains Were Only Rediscovered In 1813
It is fair to say that King Charles I (reigned March 27, 1625-January 30, 1649) did not have a happy life - and unfortunately for him he was unable even to have a dignified resting place. Famous for losing the Civil War and then being beheaded on January 30, 1649, Charles was originally buried - with head sewn back on to body, both of which were embalmed - in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, because he was refused a resting place at Westminster Abbey by the 59 commissioners who ordered his execution. Interred alongside King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour in a private vault, the original intention was for Charles I's son (King Charles II) to construct an elaborate royal mausoleum in Hyde Park, London, to house the body. However, Charles II instead pocketed the money given to him for the project by parliament, and it was not until 1813 that workmen stumbled on the vault, discovering a velvet-draped coffin with Charles I's name on it. The body and head were then examined at Windsor in 1813, confirming that the king had been killed by a clean slice. At least the death was quick then...
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
