The Civil War
Estimated that 62,000 soldiers killed during this war, of these 28,000 were fighting for
parliament, 34,000 for the king. 3.7% of the population in the country were killed. Really
bloody war for the country. A war unlike any other the country is yet to experience. The
consequences from it are huge.
Origins of the civil war
the origins of the English Civil War are complex and intertwined. England had managed to
escape the Reformation relatively unscathed, avoiding much of the heavy fighting that raged
in Europe as Catholic and Protestant forces battled in The Thirty Year War. However, the scars
of the Reformation were still present beneath the surface and Charles did little to avert public
fears about his intentions for the religious future of England.
Money had also been an issue from the outset, especially as the royal coffers had been
emptied during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. These issues were exacerbated by
Charles’s mismanagement of the public coffers and through introducing new and ‘unfair’ taxes
he simply added to the already growing anti-Crown sentiment up and down the country.
These two points demonstrate the fact that Charles believed in his Divine Right, a right to rule
unchallenged. Through the study of money, religion and power at this time it is clear that one
factor is woven through them all and must be noted as a major cause of the English Civil War;
that is the attitude and ineptitude of Charles I himself, perhaps the antithesis of an infallible
monarch.
Early key developments
Charles is secretly dealing with Irish Catholics in 1643.
Parliament must ally with the Scots to get the upper hand in the war.
By end of 1644, apparent that parliament is no longer divided, there is a clear split between
Presbyterians (no bishops no religious toleration) and independents (want more tolerant
national church).
Independents
More tolerant national church (No of different protestant groups emerge in Britain,
independents are tolerant of these but have a limited form of toleration towards Catholics,
Jews, Muslims)
Mistrust the scots and want to win the war to impose cast-iron limitations on the king’s
power
Support for Cromwell in his feud with Manchester
Desire for a merger of the parliamentarian armies to bring about an outright victory in the
war
Presbyterians
Desire an intolerant Presbyterian church
Willing to ally with scots and were willing to accept the unconstitutional return of the king
Support for Manchester in his feud with Cromwell
, Real religious divide between the two sides
Puritans were almost definitely fighting for parliament, and Catholics were almost definitely
fighting for the king.
The two groups differ over what to do with Charles.
Parliamentarians wanted the kings’ prerogative powers to be reduced and real constitutional
change. NO ONE IS THINKING OF EXECUTING IN YEARS 1642-46, making things that happen in
1646-49 very significant to understanding why Charles was eventually killed. These are not
fighting to kill the king, they're wanting limitations to Charles' power and real influence in the
church
Royalists were fighting to restore the kings’ prerogative powers, un do what the long
parliament had passed.
Social lines however didn’t determine who they supported, a real mix of all classes fighting on
both sides.
Most of the country was neutral
Geographically
Parliament occupied most of the south and the royalists occupied most of the north.
The fact that london was in the south, and parliament occupied this was key. Parliaments
holding of london gives them a huge advantage over the civil war. It is by far the largest urban
economy in the country, economic powerhouse of britain.
Its been estimated by historians that londoner payed as much as ¼ to 1/3 of all money
received by parliament in the form of taxes. On top of this major businesses, co operations etc
which offer loans to parliament on a scale that royalist individuals cannot match. - money
The english civil war is better called 'the war of the three kingdoms' not just an english civil
war.
Why did the royalists’ early advantage, secured in 1642 and 1643, begin to slip?
Scottish support of parliament. Pym bringing presbytarians into england during the civil war
was controversial among the parliamentarians
Charles' treachery
Further evidence of The popish plot, evidence that there is nothing charles won't do to seize
power.
Later found out that charles had been trying to strike underhand deals with the irish
catholics.
Cromwell gains a reputation as an amazing commander from his men who look up to him as a
sort of military god, making him in this sense a napolionic figure.
he is an MP in parliament, meaning his influence straddles the army and parliament, making
him a really significant figure in years to come.
Was wanted so all parliamentarian armies were merged as a solution for the problems over
the king’s rule.
Came about to prevent treachery.
Estimated that 62,000 soldiers killed during this war, of these 28,000 were fighting for
parliament, 34,000 for the king. 3.7% of the population in the country were killed. Really
bloody war for the country. A war unlike any other the country is yet to experience. The
consequences from it are huge.
Origins of the civil war
the origins of the English Civil War are complex and intertwined. England had managed to
escape the Reformation relatively unscathed, avoiding much of the heavy fighting that raged
in Europe as Catholic and Protestant forces battled in The Thirty Year War. However, the scars
of the Reformation were still present beneath the surface and Charles did little to avert public
fears about his intentions for the religious future of England.
Money had also been an issue from the outset, especially as the royal coffers had been
emptied during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. These issues were exacerbated by
Charles’s mismanagement of the public coffers and through introducing new and ‘unfair’ taxes
he simply added to the already growing anti-Crown sentiment up and down the country.
These two points demonstrate the fact that Charles believed in his Divine Right, a right to rule
unchallenged. Through the study of money, religion and power at this time it is clear that one
factor is woven through them all and must be noted as a major cause of the English Civil War;
that is the attitude and ineptitude of Charles I himself, perhaps the antithesis of an infallible
monarch.
Early key developments
Charles is secretly dealing with Irish Catholics in 1643.
Parliament must ally with the Scots to get the upper hand in the war.
By end of 1644, apparent that parliament is no longer divided, there is a clear split between
Presbyterians (no bishops no religious toleration) and independents (want more tolerant
national church).
Independents
More tolerant national church (No of different protestant groups emerge in Britain,
independents are tolerant of these but have a limited form of toleration towards Catholics,
Jews, Muslims)
Mistrust the scots and want to win the war to impose cast-iron limitations on the king’s
power
Support for Cromwell in his feud with Manchester
Desire for a merger of the parliamentarian armies to bring about an outright victory in the
war
Presbyterians
Desire an intolerant Presbyterian church
Willing to ally with scots and were willing to accept the unconstitutional return of the king
Support for Manchester in his feud with Cromwell
, Real religious divide between the two sides
Puritans were almost definitely fighting for parliament, and Catholics were almost definitely
fighting for the king.
The two groups differ over what to do with Charles.
Parliamentarians wanted the kings’ prerogative powers to be reduced and real constitutional
change. NO ONE IS THINKING OF EXECUTING IN YEARS 1642-46, making things that happen in
1646-49 very significant to understanding why Charles was eventually killed. These are not
fighting to kill the king, they're wanting limitations to Charles' power and real influence in the
church
Royalists were fighting to restore the kings’ prerogative powers, un do what the long
parliament had passed.
Social lines however didn’t determine who they supported, a real mix of all classes fighting on
both sides.
Most of the country was neutral
Geographically
Parliament occupied most of the south and the royalists occupied most of the north.
The fact that london was in the south, and parliament occupied this was key. Parliaments
holding of london gives them a huge advantage over the civil war. It is by far the largest urban
economy in the country, economic powerhouse of britain.
Its been estimated by historians that londoner payed as much as ¼ to 1/3 of all money
received by parliament in the form of taxes. On top of this major businesses, co operations etc
which offer loans to parliament on a scale that royalist individuals cannot match. - money
The english civil war is better called 'the war of the three kingdoms' not just an english civil
war.
Why did the royalists’ early advantage, secured in 1642 and 1643, begin to slip?
Scottish support of parliament. Pym bringing presbytarians into england during the civil war
was controversial among the parliamentarians
Charles' treachery
Further evidence of The popish plot, evidence that there is nothing charles won't do to seize
power.
Later found out that charles had been trying to strike underhand deals with the irish
catholics.
Cromwell gains a reputation as an amazing commander from his men who look up to him as a
sort of military god, making him in this sense a napolionic figure.
he is an MP in parliament, meaning his influence straddles the army and parliament, making
him a really significant figure in years to come.
Was wanted so all parliamentarian armies were merged as a solution for the problems over
the king’s rule.
Came about to prevent treachery.
