The English Civil War

This section explores the English Civil War. The English Civil War was a pivotal conflict that fundamentally reshaped the relationship between the monarchy and Parliament. By 1642, Charles I and Parliament were in open conflict, and the King’s decision to leave London and raise his battle standard in Nottingham marked the official beginning of the war. Despite early hopes, the fighting soon reached a stalemate, with neither side able to decisively overpower the other. However, the arrival of the New Model Army, led by Oliver Cromwell, shifted the balance of power, and the Royalist forces were ultimately defeated. In the end, Charles I was captured, and England’s monarchy was brought to its knees.

The Cavaliers

Those who supported King Charles I were known as Royalists, or more commonly, Cavaliers.

• The term Cavalier comes from the Spanish word caballero, meaning armed trooper or horseman. It reflected the Royalist tendency to fight mounted on horseback, particularly among the aristocracy.
• The Cavaliers were typically gentry and wealthy landowners, who wanted to preserve the traditional social hierarchy and maintain the power of the monarchy over Parliament.
• Geographically, most of the King’s support came from the north and west of England, regions where royalist sentiment was stronger and where many large estates were located.

The Roundheads

On the opposing side, those who fought for Parliament were known as Parliamentarians or Roundheads.

• The term Roundhead was coined due to the distinctive short, cropped haircuts of the Parliamentary supporters, particularly the London apprentices who had become prominent in Parliament’s struggle against the King.
• The Roundheads were a broad mix of people, including merchants, traders, and small landowners, many of whom were frustrated with Charles I’s heavy taxation and his attempts to bypass Parliamentary control over spending.
• Support for Parliament was strongest in the south of England, especially London, where the economy was dominated by trade and commerce, and where the Parliamentary cause had significant backing.

The conflict often divided families and communities, with some choosing sides based on personal, political, or religious beliefs. In many areas, there was significant internal strife, as people struggled to reconcile their loyalties to the King or to Parliament.

Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army

A key figure in the Parliamentary cause was Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan and a strong advocate for the abolition of the monarchy.

• Cromwell was the Member of Parliament for Cambridge and was deeply committed to seeing the monarchy dismantled in favour of a republic. His dedication and organisational skills made him one of the leading figures in Parliament’s military campaigns.

Creation of the New Model Army:

• In February 1645, Cromwell played a crucial role in establishing the New Model Army, Britain’s first professional army. Unlike previous armies, which were often poorly organised and undisciplined, the New Model Army was highly structured, disciplined, and ideologically motivated.

Key Features of the New Model Army:

• Skilled Soldiers: The army consisted of battle-hardened soldiers, many of whom were devout Protestants with strong religious convictions.
• Merit-based Promotion: Unlike traditional armies, where promotion often depended on social status, Cromwell’s army promoted soldiers based on ability and achievement. This led to a more effective and capable force.
• Religious Influence: Every regiment had its own religious minister who helped ensure that soldiers stayed true to their beliefs and the cause they were fighting for.
• High Pay: Soldiers in the New Model Army were paid better than in previous armies, which helped ensure their loyalty and morale.

The creation of the New Model Army not only revolutionised military tactics and discipline but also played a decisive role in determining the outcome of the war.

The Battle of Naseby

On 16 June 1645, the New Model Army, led by Cromwell, engaged in the Battle of Naseby, which marked a turning point in the war.

• The Battle of Naseby, fought near the village of Naseby in Northamptonshire, was the first major engagement for the New Model Army. It resulted in a decisive victory for the Parliamentarians.
• The Royalist forces were routed, and Charles I’s army was effectively destroyed. This victory shattered the Royalist hopes of winning the war and significantly boosted the morale of the Parliamentarians.
• After Naseby, the Royalist strongholds, such as Bristol and Oxford, fell into Parliamentarian hands, and by 1647, Charles I himself was captured, bringing the war to a turning point.

The Second Civil War

Even after Charles I’s capture, conflict was not over, and the Second Civil War erupted due to political and religious developments.

Charles’s Negotiations:

• While a prisoner, Charles I attempted to negotiate with Parliament and sought to end the war. However, he also secretly pursued a strategy to gain Scottish support for his cause, promising to establish a Presbyterian Church in England similar to the Church of Scotland if the Scots would support him against Parliament.

Scottish Invasion:

• In 1648, the Scottish army, backed by Charles I, invaded England in an attempt to reinforce the Royalist cause and re-ignite the civil war. This led to the Second Civil War.
• However, the Scottish army was defeated at the Battle of Preston in 1648, marking the final defeat of Royalist military efforts.

Division within Parliament:

• The Scottish invasion and Charles’s continued attempts to incite rebellion convinced many Roundheads that Charles could not be trusted. They felt that negotiating with him would be dangerous and that he should be punished rather than pardoned.

By the time the Second Civil War ended, Charles I was firmly in the hands of Parliament, but the political divisions between the king and Parliament had escalated to the point where negotiations were no longer seen as possible. His continued pursuit of his royalist cause, even after being captured, solidified the belief among many Parliamentarians that he was a tyrant unfit for rule.

The end of the war and the execution of Charles I in 1649 marked the dramatic conclusion of the English Civil War and the start of a brief period without a monarchy. This period, known as the Commonwealth, would radically change the course of British history.