English Civil Wars: Kings vs. Parliament

The English Civil Wars (1642-1651) were a fierce political and military struggle between the Royalists, who supported King Charles I and later his son, Charles II, and the Parliamentarians, who sought to limit the king's power. The conflict ended with Parliament's victory, the execution of Charles I, and the temporary abolition of the monarchy, marking a significant shift in England’s governance.

Key Facts

The wars lasted from 1642 to 1651 and involved England, Scotland, and Ireland, sometimes called the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Royalists, known as "Cavaliers," backed King Charles I and his son.

Parliamentarians, called "Roundheads," aimed to reduce royal authority and avoid a Catholic resurgence.

Oliver Cromwell led the Parliamentarian New Model Army to victory.

King Charles I was tried for treason and executed in 1649.

England became a republic under Cromwell, who ruled as Lord Protector.

The monarchy was restored in 1660 under Charles II after Cromwell's death.

Historical Context

The wars erupted from long-standing tensions about royal versus parliamentary power, religion, and governance. Charles I’s belief in his divine right to rule clashed with Parliament's growing insistence on constitutional limits to the crown’s authority.

Historical Significance

The English Civil Wars fundamentally altered the balance of power in England, playing a crucial role in the development of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The execution of a reigning monarch shocked Europe and set a precedent for challenging absolute rule, influencing political thought well beyond England’s borders.

English military and political leader Oliver Cromwell was born on this day in 1599 near Cambridge.⁠

Cromwell served as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1653 until his death, acting simultaneously as the head of state and head of government. One of the most controversial figures in the history of the British Isles, Cromwell was called a 'military dictator' by Winston Churchill but a 'hero of liberty' by writers and historians such as John Milton, Thomas Carlyle and Samuel Rawson Gardiner.⁠

Featured here is a silver and gold pocket watch said to belong to him, which can be seen on display in the Ashmolean Story Gallery (Gallery 2) when we are open.⁠

.Jacobs, Alan. How to Think: a Survival Guide for a World at Odds. New York: Currency, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 2017.  

Battle of Marston Moor

The Battle of Marston Moor near York on 2 July 1644 was one of the most important engagements of the English Civil Wars (1642-1651). The Parliamentarians won the battle which, involving over 45,000 men, was the largest of the First English Civil War (1642-1646). Instrumental in the victory and making his first starring appearance in the pages of history was one particular 'Roundhead' cavalry commander: Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658).