King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1660–85) son of Charles I. After his father’s execution in 1649 Charles was declared king in Scotland and then crowned there in 1651, but was forced into exile the same year, when his army attempted to invade England and was defeated by Cromwell’s forces at Worcester. He remained in exile on the Continent for nine years before he was restored after the collapse of Cromwell’s regime. Charles displayed considerable adroitness in handling the difficult constitutional situation, but continuing religious and political strife dogged his reign. Although he failed to produce a legitimate heir, he moved to ensure the Protestant succession by arranging the marriage of his niece Mary to William of Orange.