Dive into the dramatic trial of King Charles I for treason, a pivotal moment that redefined power dynamics and accountability in governance. Explore the motivations of lead prosecutor John Cook and the legitimacy struggles faced by the court. Discover Thomas Hobbes' philosophical perspectives on authority during turbulent times. Reflect on Charles I's refusal to recognize the court and its devastating consequences. Plus, uncover the often-ignored suffering of women in historical trials, hinting at the roots of today’s societal issues.
01:03:40
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Trial of Charles I: Not Foregone
The trial of Charles I was not a predetermined show trial but an uncertain, improvised political event.
The trial originated the modern concept of holding rulers accountable for tyranny.
insights INSIGHT
Choices Facing Charles's Captors
The captors of Charles I faced multiple options: trial, assassination, exile, accommodation.
The choice of a public trial was a deliberate attempt to establish legal legitimacy for regime change.
insights INSIGHT
Trial Sought Legal Legitimacy
Trying Charles I in a military tribunal risked England resembling a military state.
The court aimed for legitimacy rooted in English governmental tradition, not mere martial law.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this book, I.F. Stone delves into the trial of Socrates, presenting a nuanced and critical view of the events. Stone argues that Socrates was not a martyr for free speech and democracy but rather a critic of Athenian democracy who advocated for rule by autocratic dictators. The book examines the political earthquakes in late fifth-century Athens that led to Socrates' prosecution and execution. Stone also critiques Socrates' methods and philosophy, suggesting that he undermined faith in Athenian democracy and that his death was a result of his own actions and contempt for the city's institutions. Despite this, Stone condemns Athens for executing Socrates, highlighting the contradiction between the city's ideals of free speech and its actions.
LEVIATHAN
Thomas Hobbes
Published in 1651, 'Leviathan' by Thomas Hobbes is a comprehensive treatise on political philosophy. The book is divided into four main parts: 'Of Man,' 'Of Commonwealth,' 'Of a Christian Commonwealth,' and 'Of the Kingdom of Darkness.' Hobbes argues that the natural state of humans is one of conflict and anarchy, and that the best way to achieve peace and security is through the establishment of a commonwealth governed by an absolute sovereign. This sovereign, which Hobbes terms the 'Leviathan,' has supreme authority over all aspects of governance, including law, religion, and public offices. Hobbes' work is a foundational text in social contract theory and continues to influence political thought to this day.
Today’s political trial is perhaps the most consequential in English history: the trial and execution of King Charles I for treason in January 1649. How could a king commit treason when treason was a crime against the king? How could a court try a king when a king has no peers? How could anyone claim to speak for the people after a civil war when so many people had been on opposite sides? The answers to these questions would cost more than one person his life – but they would also change forever the prospect of holding tyrants to account.
Out now on PPF+: Part 2 of David’s conversation with Robert Saunders about the 1975 European referendum and the question of why it all ended up so differently in the Brexit referendum of 2016. Sign up now to get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus
David’s new 20-part series Postwar – about the 1945 general election and the making of modern Britain – is available now on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002d8v1
Next time: The History of Bad Ideas: Austerity w/Mark Blyth
Past Present Future 
