Eikon Basilike in Special Collections

Welcome to the Special Collections Guide to the Eikon Basilike

This guide provides an overview of the editions and resources on the Eikon Basilike held in the Literature and Rare Books collection in Special Collections and University Archives at the University of Maryland, that are available in the Maryland Room in Hornbake Library.

The Pourtrature of His Sacred Majestie in His Solitudes and Sufferings, more commonly know as the Eikon Basilike, was an autobiography attributed to King Charles I of England (1600-1649). It was published ten days after the King was beheaded by Parliament in the aftermath of the English Civil War. It provides a fascinating look at English politics and history, biography and representation, printing, and the power of a text over time.

If you have any questions about the Eikon Basilike or the various copies held in Special Collections, contact us.