Cavalier Poet

Cavalier Poet

Cavalier Poets is a broad description of a school of English poets of the 17th century, who came from the classes that supported King Charles I during the English Civil War. The Cavalier poets existence was because King Charles was a connoisseur of the fine arts and therefore demanded their creation, i.e. masques, poetry, and drama. Charles needed these poets to create that which he craved, fine art. These poets in turn grouped themselves with the King and his service, thus becoming Cavalier Poets.

A cavalier, was traditionally a mounted soldier or knight but the term was applied differently to those who supported Charles, meant to portray them as roistering gallants. It was meant to belittle and insult, however it became the term to which those who supported Charles was applied. They were separate in their lifestyle and divided on religion from the Roundheads, who supported Parliament, consisting often of Puritans (either Presbyterians or Independents).

The best known of the Cavalier poets are Ben Jonson, Robert Herrick, Richard Lovelace, Thomas Carew, and Sir John Suckling. Most of the Cavalier poets were courtiers, with notable exceptions. For example, Robert Herrick was not a courtier, but his style marks him as a Cavalier poet.