The First Civil War, 1642-46

Question 1

What position was Charles I in at the start of the war, in 1642? Why?

Answer 1

He was in a strong position at the outbreak of the war - he had the support of most of the nobility and the gentry, and many royalist generals were professional soldiers who had fought in the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48).

Question 2

What was the first major battle of the war? What happened? - 1642.

Answer 2

Edgehill in Warwickshire - didn’t give either side a clear victory, but allowed royalist forces to march south, hoping to take London - the king’s armies were held up at Turnham Green by a large band of volunteers who prevented the royalist from taking the capital.

Question 3

What happened in 1643?

Answer 3

• Royalist forces were organised to make a three-pronged attack on London from the north, the south-west and the west
• But parliament’s control of the navy thwarted this plan
• The naval bases of Hull, Plymouth and Gloucester provided strongholds for parliamentary forces and deterred royalist commanders from moving against London

Question 4

1644 - Why did the civil war start to turn in parliaments favour?

Answer 4

• Their control of superior finances and resources.

- In 1643, the Scots had concluded the Solemn League and Covenant, promising parliament help from the Scottish army

Question 5

What was the second major battle of the war, which was the largest ever fought on English soil?

Answer 5

Marston Moor in Yorkshire - was a comprehensive victory for the parliamentary forces.

Question 6

1645 - which 2 significant developments confirmed the growing strength of the parliamentary position?

Answer 6

• Under the Self-Denying Ordinance, all members of parliament agreed to resign their military commanders and were replaced by generals of proven military ability
• Parliamentary forces were reorganised into a single army, the New Model Army - it was placed under the command of a professional soldier, Sir Thomas Fairfox, with Oliver Cromwell given command of the cavalry

Question 7

1645 - Why was the New Model Army crucial in parliament’s conduct of the war?

Answer 7

• In the final key battle of the war, at Naseby in June, royalist forces were completely overwhelmed
• During the rest of the year the New Model Army defeated royalist forces in the west and south-west

Question 8

What happened in 1646?

Answer 8

• The royalist forces lost ground throughout the country
• Charles left his stronghold at Oxford and surrendered to the Scots
• Oxford fell to parliamentary forces in June, bringing the First Civil War to an end