Western History 101:What happened during the English Civil War?

The evolution of England into a powerful agent of liberalism (albeit in the form of constitutional monarchy) owes much to the English Civil War that engulfed the island between 1642 and 1651. The war erupted between the various Parliaments and the Royalist forces (backing King Charles I). At stake was the future direction that the governance of England would follow. The final victory by the Parliamentary forces represented the death knell for absolute monarchy in England.

Historians divide the war into three stages – the first (1642-1646), the second (1648-1649) and the third (1649-1651). In the first two stages the Royalists (Cavaliers) stood in opposition against the Long Parliament while in the third war the monarchy was challenged by the Rump Parliament.

What follows is an outline of some of the key events in the lead up to the war.

1625 – Charles I marries the catholic Henrietta Maria, the daughter of Henry IV of France. This was not viewed as a popular move in England.

1626 – Charles needs money to finance continental wars. He recalls Parliament.

1628 – Charles re-issues Thirty Nine Articles into Church of England. This was seen as a favourable move towards Rome and was scorned by Protestants.

1628 – Parliament issues grievance petition to Charles. At the center is war taxation issues.

1629 – Parliament takes a strong stance against Charles over religion and taxation. Issues the Three Resolutions. Charles dismisses Parliament. Several Members of Parliament will be arrested.

1630-1640 – Charles faces opposition in Scotland over his common prayer book. The taxation issue still dominates the discourse and Charles is forced to recall Parliament after an eleven year period of tyranny. Short Parliament meets for three weeks in 1640. Charles dismisses it.

1640 – Oliver Cromwell is elected to Parliament for a second time. He leads the voices pitted against Charles. Cromwell attacks Charles on both the taxation and church corruption issue. Charles battles the Scots. Long Parliament meets. Charles needs Parliament to grant him his money to fight the Scots.

1641 – Triennial Act is passed. It allows the Parliament to be summoned without royal approval. Revolts break out in Ireland. Grand Remonstrance is issued by Parliament. This outlines Parliament’s grievances with the king.

1642 – Charles clamps down on Parliament (arrests several MPs). Country moves towards civil war. Parliament takes control of the Militia. Civil War standard is raised on the 22^nd August 1642.

The Royalists had some early victories in the war ( Ripple Field, Tewkesbury, Chewton Mendip, Chalgrove Field, Landsdowne Hill, Bristol, Yorkshire, Adwalton Moor and Roundaway Down). However fortunes turned with Parliamentary (Roundhead) victories at Newbury, Marston Moor and Naseby. The New Model Army of Parliament proved to be a very capable force. Charles was captured in 1646 (he surrendered to the Scots), escaped and then recaptured. The Rump Parliament was called in 1649, it gave Parliament the right to make new law without the king. Charles was put on trial and then executed in 1649. The final Roundhead victory was secured at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

The English Civil War resulted in a Republican Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. The monarchy would be restored under Charles II in 1660 but by that stage political power had greatly shifted to favour Parliament. The Glorious Revolution would legally seal Parliamentary power in 1688.

                                                                     Oliver Cromwell

                                                                            Charles I