FIRST CIVIL WAR 1642-46
COMMONS SUPPORTED LORDS SUPPORTED
C1 – 1/3 P – 2/3 C1 – 2/3 P – 1/3
P stronger in the south and C1 stronger in the north but there were pockets of resistance dotted
throughout enemy territory.
EDGEHILL OCTOBER 1642 – first major battle. Begun by C1’s attempt to recover London. It was P’s greatest
asset due to geographical location/material resources. Oxford could never compete, even politically.
R marched down south from Nottingham w/army drawn from north/Wales/midlands support.
R were blocked by P forces at Edge Hill (south Warwickshire).
Battle was indecisive, but left path open to London.
C1 chose to delay, BAD DECISION = gave P enough time to organise its defence and turn London into a
stronghold.
3 weeks later, R reach the outskirts of London at Turnham Green. P forces led by Early of Essex
confronted them.
C1 declines to fight and withdraws to Oxford (R headquarters).
SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT SEPTEMBER 1643 – R’s plan was to
separate R armies in the north, the west and Kent to secure their areas for
C1 and THEN attack London in a pincer movement. Partially successful.
Prince Rupert (C1 nephew) took Bristol but key areas like Gloucester and
Plymouth were still P’s making the planned pincer move impossible. R’s
successes P’s fears that it lacked the resources to sustain the war. Pym
urged an alliance w/Scottish Presbyterians. September 1643, English
Parliament enters the Solemn League and Covenant w/Scots on the terms that:
Scottish Covenanters help P defeat R = P agree to impose Presbyterianism as England’s State religion.
Chances of C1’s defeat BUT it split P and divided it from its own army. P was now formally committed to
replace one of its State religions (Anglicanism) with Presbyterianism. Those fighting for P in order got a free
established Church felt betrayed. Also, caused major shift between P/army relations as the army was a
political/religious force also. As war progressed, P army began to represent the Protestant sects
(Independents, represented by Cromwell) who deeply wanted freedom of worship and hated the idea of
having to conform to a centralised State Church. MP’s who wanted to replace the Laudian Anglican Church
with the Presbyterian State model had the upper hand now.
CROMWELL – natural military genius. Organised the Eastern Association New Model army (invincible,
renown for discipline/fighting ability/religious passion). P’s leaders were incapable of winning a decisive
victory and Cromwell criticised them for this. His relations w/P’s military leaders (Essex/Manchester) were
strained as they clashed attitudes. He wanted an all-out war, whereas they didn’t (aristocratic background) as
they’d rather compromise than win against someone who gave them their statuses.
MARSTON MOOR JULY 1644 – near York. Biggest battle of the war. This was where Cromwell showed his
tactical skill as a cavalry commander and his troops’ determination that made P win.
Scottish forces enter England under the terms of the Solemn League.
C1 responds by bringing 10,000 Protestant troops from Ireland to swell the R numbers.
Anglo-Scottish P forces came face to face w/C1’s Anglo-Irish army. In terms of troops (27,000:18,000)
Rather than taking advantage of victory, Essex/Manchester delayed for months by moving their armies
elsewhere which gave R a chance to recover and for war to carry on for another 2 years. This failure made
most of P accept Cromwell’s idea that victory could only be achieved if all forces adopted the New Model
army’s dedication. The less determined commanders had to give up their positions after the issue of the Self-
denying Ordinance (April 1645). They were replaced by fully committed generals. However, Thomas Fairfax
became commander-in-chief and Cromwell became 2nd in command.
COMMONS SUPPORTED LORDS SUPPORTED
C1 – 1/3 P – 2/3 C1 – 2/3 P – 1/3
P stronger in the south and C1 stronger in the north but there were pockets of resistance dotted
throughout enemy territory.
EDGEHILL OCTOBER 1642 – first major battle. Begun by C1’s attempt to recover London. It was P’s greatest
asset due to geographical location/material resources. Oxford could never compete, even politically.
R marched down south from Nottingham w/army drawn from north/Wales/midlands support.
R were blocked by P forces at Edge Hill (south Warwickshire).
Battle was indecisive, but left path open to London.
C1 chose to delay, BAD DECISION = gave P enough time to organise its defence and turn London into a
stronghold.
3 weeks later, R reach the outskirts of London at Turnham Green. P forces led by Early of Essex
confronted them.
C1 declines to fight and withdraws to Oxford (R headquarters).
SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT SEPTEMBER 1643 – R’s plan was to
separate R armies in the north, the west and Kent to secure their areas for
C1 and THEN attack London in a pincer movement. Partially successful.
Prince Rupert (C1 nephew) took Bristol but key areas like Gloucester and
Plymouth were still P’s making the planned pincer move impossible. R’s
successes P’s fears that it lacked the resources to sustain the war. Pym
urged an alliance w/Scottish Presbyterians. September 1643, English
Parliament enters the Solemn League and Covenant w/Scots on the terms that:
Scottish Covenanters help P defeat R = P agree to impose Presbyterianism as England’s State religion.
Chances of C1’s defeat BUT it split P and divided it from its own army. P was now formally committed to
replace one of its State religions (Anglicanism) with Presbyterianism. Those fighting for P in order got a free
established Church felt betrayed. Also, caused major shift between P/army relations as the army was a
political/religious force also. As war progressed, P army began to represent the Protestant sects
(Independents, represented by Cromwell) who deeply wanted freedom of worship and hated the idea of
having to conform to a centralised State Church. MP’s who wanted to replace the Laudian Anglican Church
with the Presbyterian State model had the upper hand now.
CROMWELL – natural military genius. Organised the Eastern Association New Model army (invincible,
renown for discipline/fighting ability/religious passion). P’s leaders were incapable of winning a decisive
victory and Cromwell criticised them for this. His relations w/P’s military leaders (Essex/Manchester) were
strained as they clashed attitudes. He wanted an all-out war, whereas they didn’t (aristocratic background) as
they’d rather compromise than win against someone who gave them their statuses.
MARSTON MOOR JULY 1644 – near York. Biggest battle of the war. This was where Cromwell showed his
tactical skill as a cavalry commander and his troops’ determination that made P win.
Scottish forces enter England under the terms of the Solemn League.
C1 responds by bringing 10,000 Protestant troops from Ireland to swell the R numbers.
Anglo-Scottish P forces came face to face w/C1’s Anglo-Irish army. In terms of troops (27,000:18,000)
Rather than taking advantage of victory, Essex/Manchester delayed for months by moving their armies
elsewhere which gave R a chance to recover and for war to carry on for another 2 years. This failure made
most of P accept Cromwell’s idea that victory could only be achieved if all forces adopted the New Model
army’s dedication. The less determined commanders had to give up their positions after the issue of the Self-
denying Ordinance (April 1645). They were replaced by fully committed generals. However, Thomas Fairfax
became commander-in-chief and Cromwell became 2nd in command.
