What do you make of the treatment of Charles I’s corpse, from death to disinterments? Let me know below and remember to check me out on Patreon at

I’m an embalmer… and since you asked, it is completely implausible that they found blood when Charles I was disinterred. It is even more implausible that his brain was intact inside his skull. If his head had been sewn back on, it would be evident in the remaining skin on his neck. I agree with your opinion that he was embalmed immediately after his death or he would not have been identifiable when he was disinterred. We modern embalmers could learn much from our medieval brethren.

Oh, I know this one!!! A "sewer" was a high status servant who directly served the king at table. The monarch's personal wait-staff if you will. Occasionally also doubled as the monarch's food-taster.

As a professional radio broadcaster for several decades I want to commend your extremely clear and pleasing voice over skills. Keep up the good work!

The Parliamentarians and Oliver Cromwell treated him with more respect than his family members and future royals. I find that disturbing. I’m glad his tomb was found and then interred so he can rest in peace. Thank you for the history lesson. I liked your personal thank you. Have a lovely weekend.

I think Charles II & then James II’s lack of action in respect to their fathers reburial (I don’t think his other kids really had any power over the situation, and all but one died before 1660 was out) was probably political. The restoration required Charles II to officially forgive a lot of people who were involved in his father’s death, to make many concessions etc. it’s unlikely that the Puritan faction still hanging around would have been happy with a grand funeral to rebury the former king. Unfortunately Charles II or James II couldn’t really express any public grief about their fathers death, although the fact that Charles I was a very loving father suggests that they would have been devastated by his death (in fact a contemporary witness said that Charles II supposedly burst into tears and ran into his bedroom when he heard of his fathers death)

It would appear that during the Victorian Era, digging up an old king was a sure fire way to get ahead.

I've been on a History Calling binge watch for the past few days and have watched nearly every video of yours. There are few history creators that put as much effort and research into videos as you do, thank you for making such high quality content!

Apart from having his head unceremoniously removed from his shoulders, poor old Charles was moved around from pillar to post, had bits and pieces removed from his body for people to crow over and show their friends. You've got to feel a bit sorry for him 😏!

I thought treason was something that was committed against the king, how does the king himself be found guilty of treason??

I always found the tale of Charles I to be immensely tragic. He ruled over a fractious kingdom rife with division. One may be inclined to criticise many aspects of his style of rulership, but I’d argue he was no worse or more heavy handed than any of his continental contemporaries. He certainly didn’t deserve his death, at the hands of his own rebellious parliament no less. Cromwell himself was a monster with well bloodied hands, and a stifling autocrat. On a happier note though, I’m really loving your videos and their style. You manage to demonstrate the plain humanity of historical figures that are otherwise shrouded in the politics of their age, and detached in the public consciousness from the reality of flesh and blood that defines us all, even after death.

I cannot imagine looking at the body of anyone, let alone a king, and thinking, "Let me take some of them home with me!" Disgusting behavior. Absolutely unhinged.

Informative and interesting video. Alec Guineas plays an excellent Charles I in the 1970’s film Cromwell.

Loved the pictures you took, very cool. Desecration of a corpse is horrible. To say I have a souvenir from such a place shows the black side of peoples hearts. How do you forget where someone is buried in such a enclosed place? It’s not not you are searching a cemetery by any means. I even remember where I buried my first goldfish for crying out loud. Thank you for another fine video, OT.

King Charles I is buried in St George's Chapel at Windsor next to Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. I never understood why people can't just leave the dead buried and quit desecrating their remains using pieces of their corpses for their own vanity,avarice, and greed. Such stories draw my ire.

Thank you for these meticulously researched videos. It's obvious that a tremendous amount of work has been done!

This was very interesting. I knew he was interred at Windsor but was never aware of how he got there and the "stops" along the way. Actually, given the circumstances surrounding his death, I'm amazed that any of his remains even survived.

I am so appreciative of all the work you put into these episodes! Each one is a gem! Thank you.

I really enjoy these videos about royal corpses. It’s something I would never have thought to look into, but they’ve really piqued my morbid curiosity. Thank you for the interesting content! I really enjoy the videos about famous jewelry as well 😊

Your videos always merit a second (or third) viewing, HC. Love the personal footage. You're putting that camera to good use. 👏👏