Regicide is the purposeful killing of a monarch, often associated with a violent change in political regime such as a revolution; the term can also refer to the person responsible for the killing. The word derives from Latin roots meaning of a monarch and killer. The practice was historically far more common before clear rules of succession were established: one estimate found that roughly 21.8 percent of monarchs reigning before 1200 died by regicide, compared with about 6 percent of those reigning between 1200 and 1800. Regicide has taken varied forms, from covert killing to the formal judicial execution of a deposed monarch after a public trial, as with the 1649 execution of Charles I of England, and documented instances span Britain, France, Mexico and Russia among other nations.
Facts
Classification CodeIn England, regicide was prosecuted as high treason; the Rump Parliament's House of Commons passed a bill creating a special High Court of Justice to try Charles I on that charge. 1 Typical PenaltyConvicted regicides in England faced execution; several men convicted of regicide after the Restoration, including Thomas Harrison and John Jones, were executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered. 1 Elements of OffenseRegicide is the purposeful killing of a monarch, often associated with a violent change in political regime such as a revolution; the term can also refer to the person responsible for the killing. 1 Notable ExampleCharles I of England was tried before the High Court of Justice and found guilty on 27 January 1649, with his death warrant signed by fifty-nine commissioners; he was beheaded at Whitehall days later. 1 Jurisdiction VariationIn the British tradition, regicide specifically denotes the judicial execution of a king after a formal trial, reflecting the precedent set by the trial and execution of Charles I of England, a narrower sense than covert killing of a monarch used elsewhere. 1 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 Connections
Sources
1. Regicide (Wikipedia)
Lead section
Regicide is the purposeful killing of a monarch, often associated with a violent change in political regime such as a revolution
Terminology section
In the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial, reflecting the historical precedent of the trial and execution of Charles I of England.
Trial of Charles I section
The House of Commons of the Rump Parliament passed a bill setting up a High Court of Justice in order to try Charles I for high treason
Execution of Charles I section
Charles was found guilty on Saturday 27 January 1649, and his death warrant was signed by fifty-nine commissioners.
Restoration regicides section
hanged, drawn and quartered
In Group: Assassination, Political and Extrajudicial Killing, Lead sentence
Regicide is the purposeful killing of a monarch and is often associated with a violent change in the regime, as in a revolution.
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.