English Civil War
Ch. 2 (p. 35-38)
Yesterday’s Review
What were the three main things Charles
and Parliament argued over?
– Money (taxes, Ship Money, spending)
– Power (Divine Right of Kings, censorship,
punishment without trial, political prisoners)
– Religion (Archbishop Laud, Catholic wife,
trying to force Scots to convert to Anglicanism)
Preparing For War
1642: King Charles I flees to Nottingham
and begins to raise an army
Parliament does the same in London
– No standing English army at this time
Parliamentarians vs. Royalists
– Parliamentarians also called “Roundheads”
– Royalists also called “Cavaliers”
Royalists/Cavaliers
Many came from noble families
Trained militarily and used to riding
Experienced military commanders
– Prince Rupert (Charles’ nephew)
• From Germany
• Dashing and elegant (just like the city)
• Expert cavalry commander
Parliamentarians/Roundheads
Earl of Essex and Duke of Manchester
initially in charge of the army
Troops were local militia
– Farmers, townspeople
– Little to no military experience
Controlled the English Navy
Controlled South England and London
– Richest part of the country
Parliament During the War
1642: War begins and many MPs leave to
support Charles
– Had voted against Grand Remonstrance
Parliament left to the Puritans and
Presbyterians
– Disagree over religious matters
The Early Stages of the War
King Charles and the Royalists are initially
winning
– Prince Rupert’s cavalry very successful
• Impresses Roundhead officer named Oliver Cromwell
– Only small battles though, nothing major yet
Parliament makes an alliance with the Scots
– Scots attack Royalists from the north,
Parliamentarians attack from the south
The Rise of Oliver Cromwell
Impressed with Rupert’s cavalry, trains his
own professional cavalry unit
– Nicknamed “Ironsides” after Cromwell
Defeat Rupert’s cavalry at the Battle of
Marston Moor
Parliament models whole army after the
Ironsides, puts Cromwell in charge
– Calls it the New Model Army
The New Model Army
War Rages On
Irish join Charles and the Royalists
– Ireland mostly Catholic
– Puritan Parliament more anti-Catholic than
Charles
Scots (but not all) still on Parliament’s side
New Model Army is a formidable force
– Disciplined, well armed and armoured
1645: Royalists finally defeated at the
Battle of Naseby, lose Civil War
The Battle of Naseby
Royalist Defeat
After the Battle of Naseby
– Charles surrenders to the Scots, taken to Scotland
• Hopes they’ll be more lenient than Parliamentarians
– Remaining Royalists surrender
– 1646: Parliament controls all of England
Charles tries to bargain with the Scots
– Scots want England to become Presbyterian in
exchange for Charles to remain king
– Charles can’t agree, so turned over to Parliament
Charles Back in England
Parliament split over Charles’ fate
– Presbyterians: want Charles as king, but with
limited powers
– Puritans: didn’t want monarchy, preferred a
republic (country run by elected government)
Charles tries to gain support, play sides
against each other
– Writes to Scots to rescue him
– Briefly escapes before being recaptured
Charles Stirs Up More Trouble
1648: Royalist Scots invade England to free
Charles, fight Roundheads
– Second Civil War
– Only one major battle (won by Roundheads)
Presbyterian MPs close to deal with Charles
– New Model Army leaders against any deal, kick
Presbyterian MPs out of Parliament
• Called “Pride’s Purge” (Colonel Pride in charge)
– Remaining Parliament called “Rump Parliament”
A Decision Made (Finally)
Puritan Rump Parliament decides on
Charles’ fate
– Charge him with treason and put him on trial
– Punishment for treason is death
– Determined to establish a republic
How can you charge a king with treason?
Charles on Trial
Charles refuses to acknowledge legality of
his trial
– Who were these mere politicians to judge him?
– Sat in dignified silence most of the trial
Charles found guilty of treason
– 30 January 1649: beheaded publicly in London