10. The First Civil War 1642 - 46

Question 1

Start of Civil War

Answer 1

On 22nd of August 1642, Charles declared war on parliament by raising his standard at Nottingham.

Question 2

Civil War in Scotland

Answer 2

Started with Bishops wars and Scottish rebellions in 37. Solemn League and Covenant signed in 43, alliance between parliament and covenanters, alienating moderate Scottish nobles into aligning with Charles, such as Earl of Montrose. He won several victories in 44-45 but saw little support and was eventually defeated by a 6,000 strong covenanter army returning from England at Philiphaugh in September 45.

Question 3

Civil War in Ireland

Answer 3

Many old English and Gaelic Irish joined the rebellion in May 42 and formed a confederation. They fought the protestants in Ulster and Dublin under Earl of Ormond’s command. In April 42, 10,000 Scots entered the Earl of Ormond’s command. By late 43, they controlled the North and Dublin. In September, Ormond signed a 1-year truce and Charles brought 22,000 troops, both Catholic and Protestant, to England to aid in the war in 43-44. This made the alliance between Scots and parliament stronger due to fear of Catholicism. Ormond signed a peace in March 46. Owen Roe O’Neill, a representative of the Irish, defeated the Scots at Benburb.

Question 4

Civil War in England

Answer 4

Royalists failed to take London at Turnham Green in November 1642, but saw many victories throughout 43 such as at Adwalton Moor. Parliament won the significant battle of Marston Moor in July 44, but was not decisive. Led to parliament reorganising their forces under Cromwell and Fairfax into the NMA. NMA smashed royalists at Naseby in June 45 resulting in chances of victories being squashed. Charles surrendered on the 5th of may 46 to the Scots who handed him over to Parliament, and the war ended in June with royalists being crushed.

Question 5

Royalist Strengths

Answer 5

-Led by a recognised institution and lawful leader
-More support from wealthy aristocracy and gentry (Earl of Newcastle) with military experience
-Focused objective of taking London
-Military aid from abroad (Prince Rupert in Germany)
-War Council of Oxford good at managing war

Question 6

Royalist weaknesses

Answer 6

-Poorer areas of control
-Local militias were hostile due to royalist lootings
-Commissions of array dubiously legal
-Poor authority of Oxford war council, couldn’t act decisively
-Indecisive leadership of Charles and his generals
-Initial generals appointed based on loyalty, appointing of competent ones split royalist council
-Division between royalists councils over total victory (Maria) and compromise (Hyde)
-Agreements with Catholics to aid him upset PN, 117 Catholic Colonels
-Relied on foreign aid which eventually ended

Question 7

Parliamentary strengths

Answer 7

-Pym established committee of both Kingdoms in aiding in funding the war effort. The assessment in Nov 42 saw a new tax
-Pym united parliament together and was influential in creating the alliance with the Scots in 43. Scots sent 21,000 to England
-London provided the printing press for propaganda, financial services, trained bands, a large port, an industrial centre and its administration
-Appointing loyal community representatives
-Negotiations with clubmen
-Richer area
-Navy let them block Charles’ foreign aid
-New model army was professional and well-motivated, meaning they were in a better position to fight.

Question 8

How many died in the civil war?

Answer 8

3.7% of England’s population