Personal Rule

King Charles I dissolved Parliament in 1629 to begin his ‘Personal Rule’.

The Personal Rule, or Eleven Years’ Tyranny, lasted until April 1640, with the King ruling Britain without Parliament. He’d already dissolved three Parliaments by his third year as King!

Charles used the Royal Prerogative to do this, and realised that, as long as he didn’t start a war, he could continue to rule without a Parliament.

Royal Prerogative is a body of customary authority, recognised by the UK. The monarch is regarded internally as the absolute authority and holds many of the executive powers of the British government. Since the 19th century, the Prime Minister or the cabinet’s agreement is required before this can be declared.