In the early days of the American colonization, the region today known as North Carolina State (USA), remained under British influence while the Spaniards focused their efforts in the southern region of Florida.
It was Sir Walter Raleigh who, in the XVI century, founded two settlements in the coast. One of them named after him: Raleigh (nowadays the capital of North Carolina). But he can’t be considered as the founder of North Carolina because the aforementioned attempts to colonize this land failed and even the British territory was still known as Virginia.
It was not until the reign of Charles II of England, in fact the North Carolina founder that the British succeeded in the domain of this land. By a Royal Chart 1663, he conceded the privilege to settle the area to eight noblemen.
In the Raleigh area they tried to run the new colony of Carolina, named after the king’s father, Charles I, but their attempts failed amidst internal disputes. This led the king himself, Charles II, to take over personal rule of the territory, that later split in South and North Carolina in the year 1729.
The king was born in London in May 29th, 1630, but he was not regarded as the crown prince because England was ruled by Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector that defeated Charles’ father (the king Charles I) in a civil war.
It was not until Cromwell’s death that prince Charles achieved to be crowned in 1660, restoring this way the Stuart family on the rule of England. He remained there until his death in February 6th, 1685, but his reign was not easy.
Even expanding the British influence, with the foundation of the first colonies, he had to face two infamous and expensive wars against the Netherlands. Also, the population suffered a plague in 1665 and a year later, great parts of London became dust after a big fire.
But these were not his only problems: he was a Catholic in the edge of Anglican power, but he could avoid religious troubles by giving the Anglican more power and restoring them as main Church against the latter hegemonic religion under Cromwell, the puritans.
Not only had he constantly had to face disputes against him by the Parliament, the organ who ruled England after the Civil War under the commandment of Oliver Cromwell. Charles II tried to restore absolutism in his figure, but ended his days in a permanent negotiation over the king’s features, fortunately to the Stuarts he avoided the Parliament to rule over England again by letting his brother James be the new king.