Final answer:
Charles I's belief in divine right and royal prerogative caused political instability by alienating Parliament and the Puritans, leading to fiscal chaos, religious persecution, civil wars, and the weakening of England both domestically and in European affairs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charles's Belief in Royal Prerogative and Political Instability
Charles I's firm belief in the divine right of kings and the royal prerogative led to significant political instability in England. His view that the monarchy had the right to govern without the consent of Parliament caused rifts within the political system. This was exacerbated by his marriage to a Catholic princess and his support for religious policies that favored Catholicism, which was perceived as a threat to the Anglican establishment and the English people's traditional religion and civil liberties. Charles's attempt to rule without Parliament, known as the 'eleven-year tyranny', resulted in fiscal disaster and brought about a series of conflicts including civil wars and ultimately the 'Glorious Revolution' which established parliamentary sovereignty over the monarchy.
Under Charles's reign, England struggled domestically with severe division, as nonconformists faced persecution, and internationally by failing as a leader in European affairs. The fiscal chaos stemming from his failure to work with Parliament led to a weakened state that his brother James would inherit. The political climate during his rule was marked by continuous conflict, culminating in the English civil wars and the eventual constitutional changes of the 'Glorious Revolution' which ultimately limited the power of the monarchy, emphasizing a transition to a parliamentary system where the king's power was not absolute.