To Kill a King is an UK 2003 English Civil War film directed by Mike Barker, starring Tim Roth and Dougray Scott. It relates the relationship between Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax in the post-war period from 1648 until the former's death, in 1658. It deals with the corruption of Parliament leading to many arrests of MPs who have allegiances to the King. One is tortured. This leads to the creation of the Rump Parliament. King Charles I's conspiracies to remain as King are uncovered leading to his arrest, trial and execution at Whitehall in January 1649. Cromwell then becomes Lord Protector.
Production
Filming was in Britain and at locations including Ham House, Dover Castle (doubling as the Tower of London), Harrow School, and Hampton Court Palace.
Cast
Tagline
- It takes a traitor and a hero...
Real version of events
The film depicts Fairfax as taking no part in public life after refusing to sign the warrant for the trial of Charles I. In the film, he publicly walks into the House of Commons and escorts his wife, who is sitting in the public gallery, out of the Chamber. This is not an historically accurate portrayal of events, which are recorded below:
Fairfax became increasingly concerned at events leading up to the King's trial because, as commander-in-chief, all the Army's actions were carried out in his name. He claimed to have had no knowledge of Pride's Purge until after it had taken place. Although he was appointed a commissioner of the High Court of Justice, Fairfax did not attend the King's trial. When his name was called, his wife Anne famously cried out: "He hath more wit than to be here," before being forcibly removed from the courtroom. After the death sentence on the King had been passed, Fairfax attempted to postpone the execution, but his efforts were ineffective. During the execution itself, Fairfax is said to have been detained at a prayer meeting by Cromwell and Colonel Harrison.
In March 1649, Fairfax was re-appointed Lord-General of Commonwealth land forces in England and Ireland. He dealt firmly with the Leveller Mutinies of April and May 1649, insisting upon the execution of Robert Lockyer after the Bishopsgate mutiny, and that of three Leveller ringleaders arrested at Burford. Fairfax remained in England during Cromwell's Irish campaign of 1649. In 1650, he resigned as commander of the New Model Army after declining to lead a pre-emptive invasion of Scotland against Charles II and the Covenanters during the Third Civil War. Fairfax stated that he would fight to the death to resist any invasion of England, but was reluctant to attack a country linked by the Solemn League and Covenant. Command of the New Model Army passed to Oliver Cromwell and Fairfax played no part in the great victories of Dunbar and Worcester.
Fairfax lived quietly in retirement during the Commonwealth and Protectorate years at his Yorkshire home of Nunappleton Hall, where he applied himself to literary pursuits and religious devotions. In 1657, his daughter Mary married the Duke of Buckingham. Cromwell's government regarded the marriage with suspicion because of Buckingham's connections with the exiled Charles II, and ordered Buckingham's arrest in 1658. Fairfax travelled to London to intercede for him. He quarrelled bitterly with Cromwell a few days before the Protector's death [in the film, there is a scene in which the two undergo a reconciliation].
After the collapse of the Protectorate in 1659, Fairfax entered into communication with General Monck and agreed to raise the county of Yorkshire on his behalf when Monck marched against Lambert. Fairfax seized York from Colonel Robert Lilburne on 1st January 1660, the day that Monck marched from Coldstream. Fairfax's support brought most of the Army over to Monck and enabled him to march unopposed to London. Although Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester attempted to impose conditions on Charles before agreeing to the Restoration, Monck insisted that he alone would negotiate with the King. Elected as MP for Yorkshire in the Convention Parliament, Fairfax provided the horse that Charles II rode at his coronation. After the Restoration, Lord Fairfax took no further part in public life. He lived quietly in Yorkshire until his death at Nunappleton on 12 November 1671. He was buried alongside Lady Fairfax at Bilborough parish church near York.
External links
