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Signature of Charles I of England

Charles I of England

The king's personal autograph signature, reading 'Charles R', used to authenticate royal documents and letters.

This is Charles I's own handwritten signature, used to authenticate his royal documents.

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Handwritten cursive signature in dark ink reading 'Charles R' with a flourished R, on a pale background.
Signature of Charles I, 'Charles R'. From a 19th-century collection of autograph letters.

About this source

What it is

This image shows the handwritten signature of Charles I, written as 'Charles R' with a flourished capital R. The 'R' stands for 'Rex', the Latin word for king. It comes from a collection of autograph letters published in the 19th century.

Why it matters

A royal signature like this was used to give personal authority to warrants, letters and official papers. Recognising this signature helps students identify genuine documents connected to Charles I and understand how royal power was exercised and recorded in writing.

Look closer

  • What does the style of the signature suggest about how kings wanted to be seen?
  • Why might a signature like this matter for identifying real historical documents?
  • What can't a signature tell us about the person who wrote it?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Charles I on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Photograph of a parchment document with handwritten text in brown ink, a column of signatures on the lower half, and rows of red wax seals hanging down the signature area. The text begins 'Whereas Charles Stewart'. The parchment lies on a grey background.Document

Primary source

Death Warrant of King Charles I

High Court of Justice commissioners · 29 January 1649

Title page of a 1649 printed pamphlet, 'King Charls his Speech made upon the Scaffold at Whitehall-Gate', printed by Peter Cole in London. A library stamp from the Royal Irish Academy overlays the text. Decorative floral borders frame the page.Speech

Primary source

King Charles his Speech made upon the Scaffold at Whitehall-Gate

Charles I · 30 January 1649

Title page of Eikon Basilike, 1648 reprint. Greek heading 'Eikon Basilike' above English title 'The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in His Solitudes and Sufferings', with Romans 8 'More then Conquerour, &c.', a Latin motto 'Bona agere, & mala pati, Regium est', and 'Reprinted In R.M. Anno Dom. 1648'.Book

Secondary source

Eikon Basilike

Attributed to Charles I (possibly John Gauden) · 1649

Scan of the handwritten Petition of Right manuscript on aged parchment. Ornate decorated initial letters begin with the words 'To the King's most Excellent Majestie' at top. Dense brown ink script fills most of the page, with a larger decorated 'H' initial starting the lower paragraph.Document

Primary source

Petition of Right

Edward Coke (drafting committee) · 7 June 1628

Scanned title page of 'A Perfect Narrative of the Whole Proceedings of the High Court of Justice in the Tryall of the King', printed text in black on white paper, with handwritten number 12 at top left. Imprimatur by Gilbert Mabbot, printed for John Playford, London, dated Jan. 23, 1649.Document

Primary source

A Perfect Narrative of the Whole Proceedings of the High Court of Justice in the Tryal of the King

Published by order of the High Court of Justice · 23 January 1649

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