Back to the video list: History of the British Isles

 

The conflict between king and parliament intensified during the 17th century in England and culminated in the Civil War. At the end of the war the monarchy was temporarily abandoned and Oliver Cromwell ruled as a military dictator.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 22 Aug 1642 – 03 Sep 1651
  • Location: England, Scotland & Ireland
  • Event: Civil war between Royalists & Parliamentarians

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • Charles I (1600 – 1649)
  • Charles II (1630 – 1685)
  • Oliver Cromwell (1599 – 1658)
  • Sir Thomas Fairfax (1612 – 1671)

 

Background

  • Charles I (reign: 1625-1649 ) believes in the Devine Right of Kings & reigns without a parliament from 1629 to 1640 (“Eleven Years‘ Tyranny“)
  • Charles tries to establish his understanding of the high church in the society, esp. against Puritans, Presbyterians & Catholics (also see: The English Reformation)
  • 1539 – 1640: Charles loses the Bishops’ War when he tries to establish the Anglican Church in Scotland
  • Nov 1640 : Charles convenes a parliament after he fails to independently raise taxes
  • 1641: The parliament & Charles struggle for power
  • Jan 1642: Charles’ failed attempt to arrest members of parliament during a coup d'état causes outrage in London & England
  • The population is split into royalists & parliamentarians

 

History

The First Civil War

  • Jan 1642: Charles II flees to the north after a failed coup d'état
  • 22 Aug 1642: Charles raises his standard at Nottingham
  • 23 Oct & 13 Nov 1642: Charles withdraws to Oxford after the Battles of Edge Hill & Turnham Green
  • 30 Jun 1643: Yorkshire is under royalist control after the victory in the Battle of Adwalton Moor
  • Jul 1643: The royalists hold the south-west of England, take Bristol & win the Battles of Landsdown & Roundway Down
  • 28 Jul 1643: The parliamentary army wins the Battle of Gainsborough with Cromwell’s newly formed Ironsides
  • 10 Aug – 05 Sep 1643: Charles sieges Gloucester without success
  • 13 Aug – 02 Sep 1644: The royalists win the Battle of Lostwithiel & secure their control over south-west England
  • 20 Sep 1643: The parliament wins the Battle of Newbury & secures control over London
  • 11 Oct 1643: The parliament wins the Battle of Winceby & takes control over Lincoln
  • 04 Jul 1644: Mit schottischer Hilfe siegt die Parlamentsarmee bei Marston Moor & kontrolliert Nord-England
  • 1645: The parliament forms the professional & national New Model Army under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax & his deputy Oliver Cromwell
  • 14 Jun 1645: Decisive victory of the New Model Army in the Battle of Naseby
  • 1646: Charles flees to the Scottish army but is handed over to the parliament

 

The Second Civil War & Trial against Charles II

  • 28 Dec 1647: Charles forges a secret alliance with the Scots
  • 1648: The New Model Army repulses a Scottish invasion & oppresses royalist uprisings
  • 1648: The parliament discusses the future role of Charles as king
  • Dec 1648: Coup d'état of New Model Army ("Pride‘s Purge“) which removes all of the royalist & moderate members from parliament
  • 30 Jan 1649: Charles is executed for treason
  • Fairfax resigns & opens the way to power for Cromwell
  • Feb – May 1649: The rump parliament abolishes the monarchy & establishes the Commonwealth (republic)

 

The Third Civil War

  • 1649: Gaelic & royalist uprisings in Ireland
  • 15 Aug 1649: Cromwell arrives in Dublin
  • 03 – 11 Sep 1649: Cromwell successfully lays siege on Drogheda & massacres approx. 3,500 inhabitants
  • 1649 – 1653: Suppression of the Irish rebellion & redistribution of the Catholic possessions
  • 23 Jun 1650: Charles II arrives in Scotland & gathers royalists & Presbyterians
  • 22 Jul 1650: Cromwell arrives in Scotland
  • 03 Sep 1650: Cromwell wins the Battle of Dunbar & conquers Scotland
  • 03 Sep 1651: Cromwell defeats the English-Scottish Army in the Battle of Worcester
  • Charles II hides in the Royal Oak & flees to France

 

Consequences & Impact

  • The war causes a high loss of life:
    • England: approx.  4 %
    • Scotland: approx.    6 %
    • Ireland: approx. 40 %
  • The monarchy is temporarily abolished in England, Scotland & Ireland (Interregnum):
    • 1649-1653 & 1659-1660: Commonwealth / republic
    • 1653-1559: Protectorate (Cromwell acts as military dictator)
  • The English Civil War & Interregnum strengthen the parliament & therefore are an important step towards the constitutional monarchy in Great Britain / the United Kingdom
  • 1660: The parliament reinstates Charles II as king