Chapter 10: The First Civil War: England, Scotland, Ireland

• The Solemn League and Covenant (1643)


  A military alliance between the English Parliament and Covenanters
• Consequences of the Solemn League and Covenant

  Alienated some Scottish nobles to the point that some came to support Charles
• Example of Scottish nobility support for Charles

  • Scottish noble the Earl of Montrose led Royalist forces north of the border against the Covenanters.
  • his army won multiple victories between 1644 and 1645
  • Sept 1644: Montrose’s Royalist forces defeat Covenanters at Tippermuir
  • Feb 1645: Montrose defeats Covenanters at Inverlochy
  • May 1645: Montrose defeats Covenanters at Alford.
  • however: little material gain and support from Charles for their victories saw many return to their homeland.
• What caused the end of Charles' military hopes in Scotland?

  Sept 1645: a Covenanter army 6000 strong returned from England and crushed the remainder of Montrose’s force at Philliphaugh
• What was the royalist force in Ireland during Civil War?


  Formed of Protestants in Ulster and those around Dublin, commanded by the Earl of Ormond
• April 1642: 10,000 Scottish troops financed by the English Parliament arrived to support the Ulster Protestants. 
• End of 1643: Protestant control in the north had been extended, but Catholic Confederation essentially held the rest of Ireland, apart from Dublin.
• September 1643: Ormond signed a cessation, a one year truce, with the Catholic Confederation
• Result of cessation with Catholic Confederation

  • Oct 1643-June 1644: roughly 22,000 Irish troops (Catholic and Protestant) were transported to England to aid Charles’ Royalist force.
  • HOWEVER: had little impact on Charles’ war effort and proved counterproductive in seeming to reinforce parliamentary propaganda of his desire to impose Catholicism.
• March 1646: Ormond signed a peace with the Confederates.
• June 1646: O’Neill, representative of the Gaelic Irish, defeated the Scottish Covenanters at Benburb. 
• Significance of Scottish Covenanters' defeat at Benburb

  Further affected Charles’ war in England as it made the Gaelic Irish less inclined to identify a common cause with the Royalists, effectively ending Charles’ hopes of bringing more troops over from Ireland. 
• Reasons for the defeat of Charles' forces in Scotland and Ireland

  • Unable to coordinate forces within country or with other kingdoms
  • Opponents better supplied
  • Opponents more religiously motivated
  • Started with a weak position due to Rebellions of 1637 (Scottish) and 1641 (Irish)
  • Forces outnumbered
  • Better organisation of opponents
  • Opponents more religious motivated
  • Opponents better supplied
• Royalists in the First Civil War

  • Charles I and his army - did not coordinate their forces well, partly due to divided nature of royal council and Charles' indecisiveness
  • Council of War in Oxford - an effective administrative organisation in the early years of the war
  • Earl of Newcastle - If Newcastle had marched his army to support the London attack Nov 1643, which otherwise could have brought a Royalist victory. 
  • Prince Rupert - Prince Rupert joined Newcastle’s forces at Marston Moor in July 1644; this battle ended in a major royal defeat. 
• Parliamentarians in the First Civil War

  • London Trained Bands - defended London in Nov 1643
  • Solemn League and Covenant - alliance between Parliament and Scottish Covenanters
  • Committee of Both Kingdoms - managed civil war and finances; greatest achievement was creating and maintaining the New Model Army
  • Fairfax and his northern parliamentary forces - joined forces with the Eastern Association (parliamentarian army in the east) and the Scots at Marston Moor. 
• • November 1642: Royalists prevented from taking London at Turnham Green.
  • 1643: number of Royalist victories, but none hampered Parliament’s ability to fight.
  • July 1644: Battle of Marston Moor; Parliament victory and largest Civil War battle.
  • However: didn’t take advantage and suffered defeats a few months later.
• Why did Parliament create the New Model Army?


  Defeats after the Battle of Marston Moor; formed under Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell
• What was the outcome of the Battle of Naseby (June 1645)?

  • Royalist defeat after they underestimated the New Model Army
  • Nearly ended Charles’ military capabilities in England
• • 5th May 1646: Charles surrendered to the Scottish forces in the hope that they would give him better settlement terms than Parliament would.
  • they promptly handed him back to the English Parliament.
• When did the First Civil War end?

  June 1646 following the surrender of the remaining Royalist forces at Oxford
• Royalist party strengths:

  • Led by the recognised lawful ruler
  • More support from aristocracy and higher gentry, more of whom had financial reserves and military experience.
  • Focused strategic objective: taking of London
  • Military aid from abroad, notably from Charles’ nephews Princes Rupert and Maurice.
• Royalist party weaknesses:

  • Areas under Royalist control were generally poorer
  • Clubmen hampered the Royalist forces as they were seen as more exploitative of local communities than the disciplined New Model Army
  • Commissions of Array of dubious legality: some felt that the Royalists lacked the legal weight to make others join their forces.
• Other areas that contributed to Royalist military failures (1)

  • Administration: Royalist Council of War at Oxford suffered from limited authority; commanders in the north and west were basically independent
  • Indecisiveness
  • Generals: Charles’ appointment of his nephews Prince Rupert and Maurice provoked division in the Royalist councils
  • Division: Hyde recommended trying to settle with Parliament while Henrietta Maria encouraged Charles to keep fighting until total victory was ensured
  • Charles as a military leader: Charles made himself commander-in-chief despite his poor ability as a war leader.
• Other areas that contributed to Royalist military failures (2)

  • Charles’ agreement with the Catholics: Irish troops proved ineffective
  • Reliance on foreign aid: reliance on Prince Rupert and Maurice left himself open to attack. Also: ‘The King’s Cabinet Opened’ was captured correspondence between Charles and France and the Pope.
• Reasons for Parliamentary victory

  • Parliament’s war finance: The Committee of Both Kingdoms helped control finances and the assessment (November 1642) raised substantial amounts of funds.
  • John Pym and alliances
  • Local administration and local communities: set up committees in each county; removed anyone who did not support the cause.
  • The New Model Army: formed of regularly paid, professional soldiers, it was never defeated in battle. Soldiers were highly motivated by their Puritan faith. 
• What were the advantages of holding London that aided Parliamentary victory?

  • Propaganda - Parliament had an advantage in the production of propaganda. 
  • Finance - gave Parliament access to resources, especially City loans. 
  • Manpower - Trained bands were vital at Turnham Green. London was also home to one out of ten of the English population.
  • Port - London was England’s largest port. 
  • Industry - Easy supply of arms, clothes, and shoes. 
  • Administration - Parliament could take advantage of an already established centre of administration in the capital. 
• Historian David Farr on Charles' position after the First Civil War


  “Charles I was still in a strong position in 1646. As king, he was still regarded as essential to a lasting settlement.”