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The term “English Civil War” appears most commonly in the singular form, despite the fact that historians frequently divide the conflict into two or three separate wars.
English Civil War
King Charles I of England ruled the country without a Parliament from 1629 to 1640. When Parliament met in 1640 it attacked the King's chief ministers and introduced laws to limit the King's power. The King had to agree at first. But the House of Commons tried to cut down his powers even more; so, in January 1642, Charles tried to arrest the five men who chiefly opposed him. He failed. The Parliamentary leaders prepared to fight against the King while Charles left London to raise armies to defeat Parliament.
On both sides, country gentlemen came with horses and servants to join the armies which were formed. Other soldiers were taken from the militia, men who had to do some training each year and who were armed with muskets or with pikes. Parliament controlled the navy and the chief ports, so King Charles was unable to get the assistance he required from abroad.
The first part of the Civil War lasted from 1642 to 1646. At first the King was successful. In 1642 a Parliamentary army was defeated at Edgehill in Warwickshire, and the King's dashing nephew, Prince Rupert, nearly reached London. Parliamentary forces held out in several parts of the country and prevented the success of the King's plan to send three Royalist armies to surround and capture London in 1643. Parliamentary forces led by Oliver Cromwell held the East of England. In 1643 the Scots entered the war on Parliament's side and in 1644 joined with Parliamentary armies in defeating the Royalists at Marston Moor near York. The King lost the North of England.
In 1645 Parliament set up the “New Model Army” under Lord Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. This was well-equipped and well-trained. It was the first English army to have a uniform “the red coat”. It defeated the King's forces at Naseby, and in 1646 the King surrendered.
In 1648 war began again when the Scots invaded England in support of King Charles. Cromwell and the New Model Army beat them at Preston. Other Royalist forces were put down. After this the King was tried and executed.
