** English Civil War








The English Civil War: The Wars (1642-51)


Figure 1.--This painting depicts the council of war held by King Charles I the day before the first battle of the English Civil War. The King is meerting with his commanders Prince Rupert (seated) and the Earl of Lindsey, pointing to the map. Charles was so confident of victory that he brought his children, the oldest princes--the future Kings Charles II and James II) along to share in the fun. They are depicted playing with a dog. Click here for a closer view. The King seems oddly disprscted by the pretty serving maid. We are not sure what the artists untentiions were. The artist was Chares Lsndseer and he painted the scene (1845). Landseer's more famous younger brother, Edwin, painted the dogs. The dogs were subsequently cut out and sold separately. The painting was repaired by an unknown artist.

The new Parliament would not support the King against the Scotts or the Irish. They understood that once the King possessedf a powerful army, they would be at his mercy. Charles moved to break the deadlock, in effect to stage a coup d'etat against Parliament Charles attempted to arrest five parliamentarian leaders (January 4, 1642). The King supported by soldiers burst into Parliament, but found the leaders there had been spirited away. London was a center of support for Parliament. Charles thus left London. The King and Parliament began ammassing armies. Their goals differed. Parliament had no desire to dethrone the King and establish a republic. Most saw monarchy as the natural order of society. They simoly wanted a limited monarchy. They wanted Charles to accept the limitations on his power that had evolved over centuries in England. Charles for his part wanted to destroy Parliament as an effective institution and rule as in France as an absolute monarch. The country as a whole was largely apathetic. The armies involved were realtively small, only 13,000 men on each side in 1642. The Civil War was not a simple matter of artistocrats fighting the gentry and middle class. Many families were split by the War. Some English men quickly decided who to support. Many agonized over the decession. Charles launched the War, raising his standard at Nottingham (August 1642). The Parlimentary forces were commanded by Robert Devereux (3rd Earl of Essex). The War began with many experienced military commanders supporting the King. Charles marched on London, the center of Parliament's support, in an effort to achieve a quick victory. The first engagement between Charles and the Parlimentarian army under Essex was at Edgehill (October 23, 1642). The battle was inconclusive. Bttles were fought all over England. The early fighgting favored the Royalists, but were notvdecisive. Gradually Parlimentarin commnders gained experience and the initial royalist advantage was lost. Fairfax formed the New Model Army which achieved crushing victories at Naseby (June 14) and at Langport (July 10). These decisive battles essentially destroyed Charles' effective military force

Marshalling forces

King Charles and Parliament began ammassing armies. Their goals differed. Parliament had no desire to dethrone the King and establish a republic. Most saw monarchy as the natural order of society. They simoly wanted a limited monarchy. They wanted Charles to accept the limitations on his power that had evolved over centuries in England. Charles for his part wanted to destroy Parliament as an effective institution and rule as in France as an absolute monarch. The country as a whole was largely apathetic. The armies involved were realtively small, only 13,000 men on each side in 1642. The areas of support varied for the two sides. Royalist support was strongest in the North, West and Wales. Parliament was stronger in the more prosperous South and East, including London. Parliament as a result of this regional division held most of the principal ports. Merchants domibated the ports which were depedant on commerce. Merchants for the most part tended to see threir interested better served by Parliament. Parliament had access to greater resoyrces, dominating the more populace and richest areasa of England. They also had the authority to levy and collect taxes. Charles had to depend on his personal resources and donations from his partisans.

Family Divisions

The Civil War was not a simple matter of artistocrats fighting the gentry and middle class. Many families were split by the War. Some English men quickly decided who to support. Many agonized over the decession. Many famiklies had divided loyalties with sons fighting fathers and brothers fighting brothers. A goof example of a family caught up in the War was the Cliffords.

First War (1642-46)

The new Parliament would not support the King against the Scotts or the Irish. They understood that once the King possessedf a powerful army, they would be at his mercy. Charles moved to break the deadlock, in effect to stage a coup d'etat against Parliament. Most historians date the Civil War to The English Civil to when King Charles I raised an army to deal with the Trish rising There was a rising in Ireland which began a year earlier--the Rebellion of 1641. Irish rebels has risen against the Protestant Settlers in rhe Ulster Planations--the Rebellion of 1641. That was not, howver, where the King planned to use his army. He planned to use it in England against Parliament. And he raised the against the wishes of Parliament. Charles launched the War, raising his standard at Nottingham (August 1642). Initially northern and western England, together with much of Ireland, supported the King. The southeast (including London), the Royal Navy, and Scotland joined the Palimentarian cause.

1642

Parliament and the King were at an inpass. It was becoming clear that there was no political solution, it would have to be decided in the field of battle. The new Parliament would not support the King against the Scotts or the Irish. They understood that once the King possessedf a powerful army, they would be at his mercy. Charles moved to break the deadlock, in effect to stage a coup d'etat against Parliament, Most historians date the Civil War to The English Civil to when King Charles I raised an army to deal with the Irish rising There was a rising in Ireland which began a year earlier--the bloody Rebellion of 1641. Irish rebels has risen against the Protestant Settlers in rhe Ulster Planations--the Rebellion of 1641. That was not, howver, where the King planned to use his army. He planned to use it in England against Parliament,. And he raised the against the wishes of Parliament. Charles launched the War, raising his standard at Nottingham (August 1642). The Parlimentary forces were commanded by Robert Devereux (3rd Earl of Essex). The War began with many experienced military commanders supporting the King. Charles marched on London, the center of Parliament's support, in an effort to achieve a quick victory. The first engagement between Charles and the Parlimentarian army under Earl of Essex was at Edgehill. Charles decided to march on London to force a decisive confrontation with Parliament's main army, before it was well organized. The two armies unexpectedly found themselves close by at Edgehill (Octoiber 22). The next day, the Royalist army attacked from Edgehill to force a battle. The Parliamentarian artillery began a cannonade. Both armies were composed of inexperienced, poorly trained recruits. Many were still poorly armed. Soldiers on both sides, fled or fell out to loot enemy baggage. As a result,neither army was able to gain a decisive advantage. After the battle, the King resumed his march on London, but was not strong enough to overcome the defending militia before Essex's army could reinforce them. The inconclusive result of the Battle of Edgehill mean that neither the Royaklists or the Parlimenbtarians were able to sciore a quick victory. Leaving tgime to recruit, train, and arm gheir firces. The war woulkd last 4 years with bttle fouught the lkength a breathbof England. As the battle was inconclusive. Charles continued his march on London, but was stopped at Turnham Green. Charles then withdrew to Oxford. There he established his headquarters and continued to operate from Oxford for the entire war.

1643

Numerous battles were fought all over England in 1643 with the King's forces significantly improving their position. The royalist forces gained am important victory at Adwalton Moor (June 30), giving them control of Yorkshire and the north--a primary area of Royalist support. The Royalists also achieved important victories at Lansdown and Roundway Down (July). These victories in the southwest enabled the Royalist commander Prince Rupert to take Bristol, one of the few important seaports in Royal hands. Parliament scored an important victory at Winceby (October 11), giving them Lincoln. One of the largest battles was fought at Newbury (September), but proved inconclusive. Both sides seeing that their forces were inadequate to achieve victory, sought ways of improving their position. Parliament formulated the 'Solemn League & Covenant', which offered the Scots religious reforms in exchange for their support. Charles negotiated a cease-fire against the Catholics in Ireland, enabling him to concentrate his forces in England.

1644

The war continued in 1644, but there were fewer Royalist victories and the tide began to change in favor of Parliament. The Parliamentarians won important victories. First at Nantwich in the northwest (January 25). Royalists had captured most all of Cheshire, with only the Parliamentarian garrison at Nantwich resisting. Sir Thomas Fairfax marched to rescue of the besieged garrison nwith 5,000 man force of Lincolnshire men. Fairfax was intercepted near Necton by a Royalist army of 3,500 men commanded by Lord John Byron. A bloody 2 hour battle followed in which the Royalists were defeated. Fairfax captured thei artillery and senior Royalist officers. It meant that the King had lost the northwest which he had thought he had won. The victory greatly aided the reputation of Thomas Fairfax as a key Oarlimebtarian commander. Parliament secured another victory at Cheriton in the south (March 29). Sir William Waller's Army of the Southern Association defeated a Royalist force jointly commanded by the Earl of Forth and Sir Ralph Hopton. This permaently ended Royalist hopes of retaking southeast England and forced the King onto the defensive for the rest of the year. Cheriton is less celebrated than Marston Moor, one Royalist advisor saw it as equally disastrous. [Hyde] Parliament secured the allegiance of the Scottish Covenanters, who sent an army into the north east. These results had the impact of distracted the Royalists and weakened their forces around Oxford--the King's wartime capital and stronghold. The Parliamentarian armies of the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller threatened to surround and lay seige on Oxford (June). King Charles made a famous night march and escaped to Worcester. He was still in some danger. Then Essex and Waller (who rarely agreed) conferred at Stow-on-the-Wold and unwisely decided to divide their armies (June 6). Waller continued to shadow the King, Essex marched into the West Country, to relieve Lyme which was besiged by the Royalists and then to secure Devon and Cornwall for Parliament. With the Parlimentarian forces weakened, the King to doubled back and return to Oxford to raise ollect reinforcements. He then gained a victory Waller at Cropredy Bridge (June 29). Waller's army was composed of sothernrs (London and the southeast) and were unhappy about serving o far from hime. The defeat, desertions, and threatened mutinies, was crippled for some time. The King chose to march east after Essex's army. It was a critical error because of what was going on in the north. Parliament supported by the Scotts gained an critically important victory at Marston Moor (July 2). The combined forces of the English Parliamentarians under Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester with the the Scottish Covenanters under the Earl of Leven defeated the Royalists commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine and the Marquess of Newcastle. This gave Parliment York and much of the north--a major change in the balance of power. This meant that the King lost much of the manpower from the northern counties which were strongly Royalist in sympathy. He also losing access to the European continent and support from France through the ports on the North Sea coast. Although the Royalists would fare better in the south, the loss of the north was to prove fatal to the Royalist cause in 1645 when the King tried unsuccessfully to link up with the Scottish Royalists under the Marquess of Montrose. The King in the West Country won at Lostwithiel It was long drawn out confrontation (August 21-September 2). It was fought around the town of Lostwithiel and along the River Fowey valley in Cornwall. A Royalist army led by Charles defeated a Parliamentarian force commanded by the Earl of Essex. [Mackenzie] ssex and most of the cavalry escaped, aome 5,000 Parliamentarian infantry had to surrender. The Royal Navy was unable to evacuate them by sea. The Royalists had no way of feeding them, so they were given a pass back to the Parlimentarian lines. Only about half survived the month-long trek to Southampton. [Royle, pp. 304-06] It was one of Parliament's worst defeats. The West Country remained in Royalist hands until 1646. A second major battle was fought at Newbury (October 27). After the victory at Lostwithiel, King Charles began probing the Parliamentarian defences at Plymouth then marched back across the southern counties of England to relieve several garrisons (including Banbury, Basing House and Donnington Castle, near Newbury), which had been isolated while he had been campaigning in the West Country. [Young and Holmes, p. 214.] The combined Parlimentarian army gained a tactical victoy, but gained no real strategic advantage, amother indecisive battle.

1645

As late as 1645, the war could have gone eitherway, but Parliment had gained imprtant battles. Parliamentary commanders had gained increasing experience as the War progressed, reducing the initial Royalist advantage with experienced field commanders. Until 1645, the war had been fought on both sides by militias. Then Parliament authorized Fairfax to form the New Model Army, England's first truly professional army (early-1645). Here Oliver Cromwell was an jmortant aide. It was Fairfax's New Model Army that smashed the Roylist forces at Naseby (June 14) and at Langport (July 10). These crushing defeats essentially destroyed Charles' effective military force and ended the Civil War with a resounding Parlimentarian victory. Fairfax was the most important Parlimentarian military commander. After the Battle of Naseby he became effectively the military dictator of England.

1646

Charles disbanded his remaining miitary force. Oxford, the center of royal support, had to surrender to Parliament. Charles fled north, putting himself in the hands of his old nemesis--the Scotts. This ended the First War. The Scotts were more than happy to ransome Charles to Parliament. Charles was held at Holmby House. Parliament drew up proposals to describe the conditions under which Charles might govern in the future.

Dissent in the Army

Assuming that the war was over, Parliament began to disband the army. Discontent developed within the army over matters like pay arrears of pay and living conditions. The issues involved were much like those raised by the Continental Army after the American Revolutionary War. Continental Army commanders wanted to seize power from Congress until disuaded by General Washington. In England, the opposite occurred. Commanders resisted disbanding until these issues were resolved. The Army kidnapped Charles seeing control over the King as a way of improving their bargaining position. Charles managed to escape to the Isle of Wight. The Army was increasingly inclined to take matters into their own hands. The Army marched to London (August 1647). Commanders debated the next step at Putney.

Second War (1648)

The Second War was a much shorter affair. Charles was still not resoved to sharing power with Parliament. No longer under the control of either Parliament or the Army sought to take advantage of the developing conflict between Parliament and the Army. Charles negotiated an agreement with the Scots, granting church reform (December 28 1647). Charles engineeered Royalist rebellions in areas of support. The Scotts invaded again, this time in support of Charles (July 1648). The rebellions and the Scottish Army were easily defeated by the poweful, experienced Army that Parliament had built.

Leadership of the Army

Sir Thomas Fairfax was Parlimenbt's most effective commander throughout the War. And he was the major force in creating the New Model Army. He was, hoiwever, soon overshadowed by a subordinate -- Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was more politically adroit than Fairfax and he favored radical action against the King which many in the Army supported. Fairfax became disenchantged with Crimwell and publicly refused to take part in Charles's show trial. Eventually he resigned, leaving England in Cromwell's hands. As a result, of this and his honorable battlefield record along with his active role in the Restoration of the monarchy after Cromwell's death, Fairfax was exempted from the retribution Charles II exacted on many other leaders of the revolution.

Sources

Hyde, Edward Hyde. (1st Earl of Clarendon). History of the Rebellion. Most books have a simple date of publication. Not this one. Clarendon wrote the original History 1646-48) , but it only reported events to March 1644. After his banishment by Parliament he wrote his autobiographical Life (1668-70). Then in 1671 he revised the History incorporating the Life into it and writing new sections covering events after March 1644.

Mackenzie, John. "Battle of Lostwithiel". BritishBattles.com. (2020).

Royle, Trevor. Civil War: The Wars of the Three Kingdoms 1638-1660 (Abacus: 2006 ed.)

Young, Peter and Richard Holmes. The English Civil War ( Wordsworth Military Library: 1974).






CIH







Navigate the Chilkdren in History Website:
[Return to Main English Civil War page]
[Return to Main early war page]
[Return to Main 17th century war page]
[About Us]
[Introduction] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Climatology] [Clothing] [Disease and Health] [Economics] [Freedom] [Geography] [History] [Human Nature] [Ideology] [Law]
[Nationalism] [Presidents] [Religion] [Royalty] [Science] [Social Class]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Children in History Home]





Created: 1:16 AM 7/25/2021
Last updated: 1:16 AM 7/25/2021