Parliament's Military Organisation

Cards (10)

  • Militia Ordinance and Committee of Safety enabled Parliament to raise an army – traditional way
  • There was no natural chain of command as in essence this was a rebel army
  • Put under the aristocratic command of Earls of Manchester and Essex to give it some legitimacy
  • 1643Parliament in danger of losing war militarily and faced increasing problem of localism/ regionalism
  • Led to the creation of Eastern Association. A regional army under one commander with anindependent income. This became the engine of the Parliamentary army
  • Military setbacks and the failure to defeat King lead to a heated political debate
  • Resolved by the Self –Denying Ordinance and creation of New Model Army (NMA)
  • NMA was a national army under professional officers, under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax
  • It was charged with winning war – split political and military sides. Its victory at Naseby 1645 ensure Parliamentary success
  • Parliament reorganised its military to ensure victory in the field