#Battle of Edgehill

[whencyclopedia]

Storming of Bristol

The storming of Bristol, a port then second only in importance to London, on 26 July 1643 by Royalist forces led by Prince Rupert (1619-1682) was a major coup against the Parliamentarians during the English Civil Wars (1642-1651). The Royalists were able to break through the long perimeter fortifications, which were manned by a defensive force spread too thinly. Taken in a day but with many casualties on both sides, Bristol became a vital Royalist centre until its fall to the Parliamentarians after the siege of 1645.

From Edgehill to Bristol

King Charles I of England (r. 1625-1649) considered himself an absolute monarch with absolute power and a divine right to rule, but his unwillingness to compromise with Parliament, particularly over money and religious reforms, led to a civil war from 1642 to 1651. Fought between the 'Roundheads' (Parliamentarians) and 'Cavaliers' (Royalists) in over 600 battles and sieges, the war was a long and bloody conflict. The northern and western parts of England largely remained loyal to the monarchy but the southeast, including London, was controlled by Parliament. The Parliamentarians also controlled the Royal Navy, a significant impediment to Charles receiving reinforcements from the Continent and Ireland. The king would need a port if the war dragged on, but if he could capture London in a decisive engagement, perhaps the war would be quickly over. Charles made his intent clear and raised the royal colours at Nottingham on 22 August 1642.

The first major engagement of the war had been the Battle of Edgehill in Warwickshire on 23 October 1642, which ended in a draw. Charles then delayed and captured Oxford before turning on London, where he was rebuffed by the presence of a 20,000-strong Parliamentarian army at Turnham Green. The king decided to fight another day and retreated to Oxford, which became the Royalist capital. A series of skirmishes and small-scale battles followed over the next year as neither side sought to commit all of their troops in a single field engagement. Rather, both sides concentrated on capturing what strategically valuable towns and cities they could. There were, too, half-hearted negotiations to bring peace through the winter and spring of 1643, but it seems that both sides were confident that they could press their advantage better on the battlefield when warmer weather arrived.

The indecisive nature of the war so far had not helped the Royalists in their predicament concerning sea power. In the summer of 1643, Prince Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria, Charles' nephew and commander of the Royal cavalry, was tasked with capturing Bristol, second only to London as the kingdom's most important port and an important regional military stronghold. Bristol was a major commercial centre, exporting such regional goods as cheese from the Wessex vales and importing many vital raw materials. It was a naval base and so could control the Irish Sea, and it was a major regional administrative centre. At the time, Bristol had a civilian population of around 15,000, making it the second-largest city in England after the capital.

Rupert, who was still only 23, had gained invaluable experience during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) in Central Europe. Rupert had been involved in the siege of Breda in 1637 and had fought well, if a little impetuously, in the Civil War so far, notably at Edgehill. Bristol was his next important target, but he would have to overcome the city's defences which he knew the value of, having himself advised the king (and been ignored) that Royalist cities should be heavily fortified.

Continue reading...

[horses-in-art-history]

I've gotten into a 1600s matchlock mood recently and I watched a Swedish documentary that tried to dispel nationalist myths about the 2632 battle of listen (their actual words Idk I don't remember convos very well but they said nationalism and glory days myths)

Any way stupid intro to question: did sweden have any specific kind of cavalry horse or did they just grab whatever?

(A US civil war/native extermination said the US bought what horse was brown and had the right temperment)

And is there any kind of *shift* in how cavalry has been portrayed in art? Like are there certain poses lighting whatever that's been slowly removed or put in?

I think this is probably from my notice of how Cromwell (1970) and alatriste (2006). Cromwell shows the battle of edgehill and naseby as big romps in a field with pretty flags and uniforms vs alatristes siege of Breda and battle of rocroi that are more like loosely organised gang fights. Cromwell: very clean, pretty festive even. wide shots for the spectacle. Alatriste: everyone is in a shade of brown. The blood flows freely. You are up in the men's faces as they are stabbed repeatedly.

Maybe what I'm saying is if a dramatic change like that in thirty years what about 300+ years?

Or am I just seeing shapes in smoke?

To make this a little simpler I've boiled down your questions a bit so I can group my answers to them more clearly. I hope you don't mind that I focused a bit more on the first question since I felt I could give it the best answer.

What kinds of horses were used by the Swedish cavalry?

Sweden didn't have a regular cavalry until king Gustav Vasa (r. 1523-1560). In the cavalry there was a preference for stallions initially, since mares and geldings were thought to lack the strength and bravery needed in battle, but with the outbreak of war in 1700 they shifted to using geldings. Mares and stallions were instead kept at home to insure the breeding of new horses even as war was ongoing. In 1658 Sweden gained new territory further south (Skåne) that was well suited for breeding horses which greatly aided its efforts in supplying horses to the army. The average mount served for 15 years in the Carolean cavalry wich meant each year 350 newly ridden in horses were needed. These horses weren't that big by continental standards, being on average about 139 cm tall at the withers. Compare that to the requirements of the late 1900s when they had to be at least 152 cm and you get sense of the significant change that took place. By the mid 1700's each cavalry company had three stallions and twenty-odd mares to produce replacement mounts. There were some small changes in the early 1800's to this system. (Source)

King Karl XI (r. 1660-1697) instituted studs in Strömsholm, Kungsör, and Läckö to improve the quality of horse breeding. He also imported stallions from Norway, Swedish Livonia (parts of modern day Estonia and Latvia), Swedish Pomerania, and France with the same goal in mind. (Source)

Nowadays the Beriden Högvakt (mounted guards) in Stockholm use only Chestnut Swedish Warmbloods, Grey Kladrubers and a couple of draught horses as drum horses. (link to a Swedish article with more info)

How has the depiction of cavalry changed through time?

Your other question about depictions of cavalry is an interesting one, and I would just from what I have seen say that there is a movement form more composed images to dynamic and later more grounded/gritty depictions of horses in war. The pinnacle of this latter form being in WW1 in my opinion (this was probably helped by the work of war artists like Alfred James Munnnings, John Edwin Noble, etc). You can in all likelihood map this evolution on to more general societal/cultural feelings about war and as to whether it was seen as being glorious or a tragedy. Also the fact that the horse was becoming more obsolete during WW1 probably helped remove some of the glory from the art of the time. If you think about paintings from a bit earlier (the late 1800's) where there are still plenty of paintings of glorious cavalry charges it makes quite a contrast to the art of WW1.

I think you can look at this question through the lens of what is happening culturally but also in art history, especially with regard to your question about poses and lighting. For example a painting of cavalry from the Romanticism movement is going to look quite different from something done in a more realist style.

I don't feel like I've got the time to give this question the attention it deserves here so I'll leave it as it is for now, but I'll do my best to return to this question and give it a more complete answer. Also I've only written about European art in my answer which doesn't tell the whole story.

[archivist-crow]

On this day:

On October 23, 1642, the first important battle of the English Civil War took place at Edgehill; the conflict would later be reenacted countless times by spectral armies. Two thousand men died in the original onslaught between the Cavaliers and the Roundheads, and their ghosts first repeated the bloodshed two months later, before an astonished group of shepherds, travelers, and local people. Muskets fired, drums beat, trumpets sounded, horses neighed, and cannons boomed, shaking the surrounding countryside. For three hours the phantom foes reenacted their deadly combat, a violent confusion in which both sides claimed victory.

Witnesses, immobilized by fear, waited until the troops had vanished, and then raced to the town of Kineton and reported the phenomenon to the local magistrate and the local minister. These two men and other "substantial men" from the surrounding parishes visited the site the following night and were terrified by the "two adverse armies, fighting with as much spite and spleen as formerly." After the battle occurred again the following weekend, many of the locals moved out of the area, and the minister traveled to Oxford to inform King Charles I. The king immediately sent Colonel Sir Lewis Kirke and five others to investigate. The commission members themselves witnessed the phenomenon and even recognized friends who had fought in the battle—some of whom were killed in the skirmish and some of whom had lived.

In January 1643, a pamphlet about the event was published in London. It proclaimed: "A Great Wonder in Heaven Shewing The Late Apparitions and prodigious noves of War and Battels, seen on Edge-Hill.” A few days later, another pamphlet came out with an account of people hiding under their covers, in fear of death. Those courageous enough to look outside saw armed horsemen fighting.

Another English Civil War battle took place at Naseby, and phantom troops were observed repeating the clash annually for the next one hundred years.

Text from: Almanac of the Infamous, the Incredible, and the Ignored by Juanita Rose Violini, published by Weiser Books, 2009

[christopherballot]

Various Kill-Sins. I think I might go for a solid transparency one since I think it looks better. Maybe the done with the injury, not sure yet. His death isn’t truly finalised either, but he got stabbed with a pike. Very quick, not particularly over the top gory not dramatic. A very dramatic guy, I didn’t think a fabulous death would suit him very much, he should fall down the stairs and die imo

Decided that my account isn’t exclusively for Hetalia art, I’m still terrified of the people on tumblr tho

Since I haven’t posted anything on KS here yet, a brief rundown is that he’s a really chill guy. Kind hearted, does what he can, practises his religion, tends to his horses, and goes to sleep when the sun goes down. He and his friend (mr emo Main character) were both in the Civil Wars, but Kill-Sin died at the first battle, the Battle of Edgehill. Edgehill is known for its ghost stories, which is why KS is a ghost and none of the other decease characters are. He mostly spends his After life messing about, having a bit of fun after the shock of death. Despite this he feels slightly scammed after dedicating his life to his religion, which he didn’t even get the rewards of. Maybe one day he’ll get sucked off just like Mary 💔💔💔

[scotianostra]

On January 1st 1651  the coronation of King Charles II took place at Scone, the last time a monarch would be crowned in Scotland.

The eldest surviving son of Charles I, Charles had been eight years old when Civil War broke out. He was with his father at the Battle of Edgehill and in Oxford, until ordered by him to seek the safety of France. 

The Scots were horrified when Charles I was executed in 1649, and while England became a republic, they proclaimed his son king, and invited him to come to Scotland. Agreeing to Presbyterian demands that he sign the National Covenant, he did so.

Cromwell then marched north, defeated the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar on 3rd September 1650, captured part of southern Scotland and seized and removed the nation's public records, although he did not manage to take the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish regalia).

On this day  1651, the Scots crowned Charles II at Scone. In July, the English army marched into Fife and then captured Perth, while the Scottish forces headed south into England, where they were defeated at the Battle of Worcester on 3rd September 1651. 

Charles II escaped, and fled to France once more. The English, meanwhile, moved on to take Stirling and Dundee.

By 1st October, Scottish resistance was effectively at an end, and the English government announced that England and Scotland were henceforth to be one commonwealth. This union took effect from 1652, although the acts of union did not become law until 1657.

Scotland was inadequately represented in Parliament and a council of state set up in 1655 included only two Scots. The resulting administrative and legal system was efficient, but financial ruin was widespread, legislation was designed to suit the English but not the Scottish economy, and the long-standing ecclesiastical divisions continued.

Charles II spent the next nine years in exile, until in 1660 he was invited back to London and restored to his father's throne. He always recalled with distaste his time in Scotland. The Presbyterians had lectured him constantly about morality and told him that kings were merely the vassals of God, like everyone else, and so he had no desire to go north again. Instead, Charles II left his Secretary of State, John, Duke of Lauderdale, to enforce his policies of royal absolutism in both church and state.

Objecting to the reintroduction of bishops into the Church of Scotland, the Covenanters rebelled in the Pentland Rising of 1666, but were defeated at the Battle of Rullion Green, not far from Edinburgh. 

Lauderdale attempted a policy of conciliation, but a further Covenanting rising was put down by the king's illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in Lanarkshire on 22 June 1679. Increasing opposition to Lauderdale's corrupt government led to his fall from power the following year.

The final phase of Charles II's reign was taken up mainly with attempts to settle religious dissension. 

The king had no legitimate children, and he was well aware that the Scots viewed with alarm the prospect of his Roman Catholic brother James

succeeding him. 

Charles died after a stroke in 1685 with the problem still unresolved.

[nightbringer24]

O Lord, Thou Knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me.

Soldier’s prayer, as said by Royalist commander Jacob Astley, 1st Baron of Reading before the Battle of Edgehill (23rd October, 1642)

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.23 (before 1940)

4004 BC – James Ussher's proposed creation date of the world according to the Bible. 42 BC – Liberators' civil war: Mark Antony and Octavian decisively defeat an army under Brutus in the second part of the Battle of Philippi, with Brutus committing suicide and ending the civil war. 425 – Valentinian III is elevated as Roman emperor at the age of six. 502 – The Synodus Palmaris, called by Gothic king Theoderic, absolves Pope Symmachus of all charges, thus ending the schism of Antipope Laurentius. 1086 – Spanish Reconquista: At the Battle of Sagrajas, the Almoravids defeats the Castilians, but are unable to take advantage of their victory. 1157 – The Battle of Grathe Heath ends the Danish Civil War. 1295 – The first treaty forming the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France against England is signed in Paris. 1641 – Irish Catholic gentry from Ulster attempt to seize control of Dublin Castle, the seat of English rule in Ireland, so as to force concessions. 1642 – The Battle of Edgehill is the first major battle of the English Civil War. 1666 – The most intense tornado on record in English history, an F4 storm on the Fujita scale or T8 on the TORRO scale, strikes the county of Lincolnshire, with winds of more than 213 miles per hour (343 km/h). 1707 – The First Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain convenes. 1798 – The forces of Ali Pasha of Janina defeat the French and capture the town of Preveza in the Battle of Nicopolis. 1812 – General Claude François de Malet begins a conspiracy to overthrow Napoleon, claiming that the Emperor died in the Russian campaign. 1850 – The first National Women's Rights Convention begins in Worcester, Massachusetts. 1864 – American Civil War: The Battle of Westport is the last significant engagement west of the Mississippi River, ending in a Union victory. 1906 – Alberto Santos-Dumont flies an airplane in the first heavier-than-air flight in Europe. 1911 – The Italo-Turkish War sees the first use of an airplane in combat when an Italian pilot makes a reconnaissance flight. 1912 – First Balkan War: The Battle of Kumanovo between the Serbian and Ottoman armies begins. 1927 – The Imatra Cinema was destroyed in a fire in Tampere, Finland, during showing the 1924 film Wages of Virtue; 21 people died in the fire and almost 30 were injured.

[prathish0909]

The English Civil War

The English Civil War, which occurred in the 17th century, was a complex and transformative conflict that reshaped England's political landscape. Here is a concise overview of this historical event in 1000 words.Causes of the English Civil War (1603-1642)The English Civil War had deep-rooted causes that spanned several decades. It was a struggle for power and control between the monarchy and Parliament.1. Religious Divide:Religious tensions played a significant role. England was predominantly Protestant, but divisions existed between Puritans, who sought religious reform, and the Anglican Church, which had a more traditional approach.2. Conflict Over Taxation: The monarchy needed funds for various wars and projects. King James I and his successor, King Charles I, often resorted to non-Parliamentary methods of taxation, such as levying "ship money," leading to conflicts over the authority of Parliament.3. Monarchical Authority: The Stuart monarchs believed in the divine right of kings, asserting their absolute authority over the country. This clashed with Parliament's desire for more say in governance.4. Scottish Rebellions: Charles I's attempts to impose the Anglican prayer book on Scotland in 1637 led to two "Bishops' Wars" (1639 and 1640) and increased tension with Parliament.The Outbreak of War (1642)By 1642, the situation had deteriorated significantly. The King and Parliament were at an impasse, and both sides began preparing for armed conflict. Charles I raised his royal standard in Nottingham on August 22, 1642, marking the formal start of the English Civil War.Key FactionsThe war divided the country into three main factions:1. Royalists (Cavaliers): Supporters of King Charles I, often composed of the nobility, landowners, and the Anglican Church.2. Parliamentarians (Roundheads): Led by prominent figures like Oliver Cromwell, they represented a mix of Puritans, middle-class citizens, and those who favored greater Parliamentary influence.3. Scots: Scotland was also involved, initially aligning with Parliament due to religious and political interests.Key Battles and EventsThe English Civil War can be divided into several phases, with numerous battles and events of significance:1. Edgehill (1642): The first major battle ended inconclusively but demonstrated the seriousness of the conflict.2. Marston Moor (1644): A significant Parliamentarian victory in the north of England.3. Naseby (1645): A decisive battle where Parliament's New Model Army, led by Oliver Cromwell, defeated the Royalists, effectively ending the first phase of the war.4. Execution of King Charles I (1649):After a series of political maneuverings, King Charles I was put on trial and executed, marking a profound turning point in English history.5. Interregnum (1649-1660): England was briefly a republic known as the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell's leadership.6. Restoration (1660): Charles II, son of the executed King Charles I, was invited to return from exile, restoring the monarchy.AftermathThe English Civil War and its aftermath had far-reaching consequences:1. **Constitutional Changes:** The war led to a significant shift in power. The monarchy's absolute authority was curtailed, and Parliament's role in governance was strengthened.2. Religious Freedom: The conflict indirectly contributed to greater religious toleration in England.3. Colonial Impacts: It influenced the development of English colonies in America, including New England, where many Puritan settlers had originated.4. Legacy of Republicanism: The English Civil War fostered ideas of republicanism and parliamentary government that would play a role in later revolutions, such as the Glorious Revolution of 1688.ConclusionThe English Civil War was a pivotal moment in English history, characterized by a struggle between the monarchy and Parliament. It resulted in the temporary establishment of a republic, the execution of King Charles I, and a restructuring of the English

[nebris]

The Battle of Powick Bridge was a skirmish fought on 23 September 1642[a] south of Worcester, England, during the First English Civil War. It was the first engagement between elements of the principal field armies of the Royalists and Parliamentarians. Sir John Byron was escorting a Royalist convoy of valuables from Oxford to King Charles's army in Shrewsbury and, worried about the proximity of the Parliamentarians, took refuge in Worcester on 16 September to await reinforcements. The Royalists despatched a force commanded by Prince Rupert. Meanwhile, the Parliamentarians sent a detachment, under Colonel John Brown, to try to capture the convoy. Each force consisted of around 1,000 mounted troops, a mix of cavalry and dragoons.

The Parliamentarians approached the city from the south on the afternoon of 23 September. Their route took them up narrow lanes and straight into Rupert's force, which was resting in a field. The noise of the approaching Parliamentarian cavalry alerted the Royalists, who quickly formed up. The Royalist dragoons gave their cavalry time to prepare, firing at point-blank range as the Parliamentarians emerged into the field. Rupert's cavalry then charged and broke most of the Parliamentarian cavalry, although one troop stood its ground and returned fire. Ultimately, all the Parliamentarians were routed.

Brown protected his cavalry's escape by making a rearguard stand with his dragoons at Powick Bridge. Rupert gave chase as far as Powick village, but the Parliamentarian cavalry fled 15 mi (24 km) further, their flight causing panic among part of the main Parliamentarian field army. The Royalists abandoned Worcester, leaving safely with their valuable convoy. The Parliamentarian army arrived in the city the next day and remained for four weeks before shadowing the Royalist move towards London, which led to the Battle of Edgehill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Powick_Bridge

[cromwellrex2]

The Battle of Edgehill, 23rd October 1642: ‘We Have Insensibly Slid into the Beginnings of a Civil War’

Hostilities Commence in England

Pikemen at the Battle of Rocroi, 1643 by Sebastian Vrancx

THE RAISING OF THE KING’S STANDARD in Nottingham, in direct contradiction and defiance of, Parliament’s own attempts to raise an army, ostensibly to put down the Irish rebellion, through its Committee of Defence, meant war between what would soon be two rival English military forces, was all but inevitable. However, this pell mell rush to conflict should not imply England was in the remotest way prepared for the six year conflagration it was about to inflict on itself: direct experience of warfare at almost every level of society was minimal. The early years of the English Civil War was to be characterised by naivety, incompetence and lack of leadership, although it would be no less lethal for that.

Parliament handed control of their nascent army to Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex. He was appointed Major General and seemed a perfect fit. Essex had been estranged from the Royal Court for some time: his father had been executed for leading an eccentric rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I, and James I had permitted his divorce from Frances Howard for the publicly embarrassing reason of impotence. Essex had become a fervent member of Warwick’s faction in the House of Lords and had been a loud advocate of the execution of Strafford; he also enjoyed the confidence of John Pym. In addition to his impeccable Parliamentarian political credentials, Essex also had military experience, having fought with the Dutch against the Catholic Habsburgs, and seen action in Buckingham’s failed assault on Cadiz. This combination of political and military experience made him the obvious choice to lead Parliament’s armies. Devereux’s immediate problem however was how to forge the disparate forces into a coherent army. The responders to the Militia Ordinance were all aristocrats and local landowners who led groups of retainers to the Parliamentary army, in a style little changed from that of the Wars of the Roses. The men’s loyalties therefore remained parochial rather than national and would bedevil Parliament’s early efforts to create a professional force.

The gathering Royal army was in better shape. The commander of Charles’ cavalry, who was to become the most famous of the Royalist leaders and perhaps most deserving of the scornful Puritan epithet of “Cavalier”, was the King’s nephew, Rupert of the Rhine, son of the Elector of the Palatine, whose prevention from acceding to the throne of Bohemia in 1628 had effectively commenced the Thirty Years’ War. Rupert, aged just twenty three in 1642, was already militarily experienced and would prove to be one of the best cavalry commanders of the war, and a sound strategist, if hopelessly ill disciplined on the field of battle itself. Charles was also supported by a cadre of officers, experienced in the German wars, who would give the emerging Royal army a professional spine that would serve it well in the early years of the war. By September 1642, the Royal army had risen to nearly 10,000 infantry, horse and artillery and Charles determined that his forces would march on London, retake the capital and, hopefully, intimidate Parliament into an early surrender. Anticipating this tactic, Parliament therefore ordered Essex, whose forces now numbered some 25,000 men, to intercept the Royal forces, defeat them and with luck, capture the King, rescuing him from his evil counsellors in the process, and bring an end to the war that way. However the inexperience and poor command structures of both armies soon manifested themselves. Charles’ recruitment improved but the intended strike on London did not emerge as the Royalist forces gathered in the Severn Valley as more followers and their troops rallied to the cause. Essex meanwhile, beset with logistic problems, hunkered down in the Cotswolds, seemingly unable or unwilling to go in search of the King.

Perhaps typically, the first military action of the English Civil War took place almost by accident, on 23rd September outside Worcester when an unsuspecting column of Parliamentary cavalry travelling to the city was set upon by a detachment of Royalist horse at Powick Bridge, resulting in a Parliamentary rout. Despite the affair being little more than a skirmish, the encounter left 150 men dead on the field, and cemented Rupert’s reputation as a dashing cavalry commander to be feared. The victory emboldened Charles to make for London immediately, ignoring Essex’s army which by now had retreated into Worcester. On 12th October the Royal army set off for the capital. The Parliamentarians attempted to block the King’s advance but due to poor orienteering and a lack of scouts, neither army was entirely sure of the whereabouts of the other. In the event the two sides did come into contact, but by this stage, the Royal army was closer to London than that of Parliament. If Essex was to prevent the King taking the capital, battle would have to be joined. Characteristically, it was Rupert who took the initiative. His forces had already captured a force of Parliamentarian infantry near Kineton and learned the whereabouts of Essex’s army. Rupert recommended the Royal army establish itself on an escarpment known as Edgehill, overlooking the Parliamentary camp and invite battle. On October 23rd, the Royalists arrayed on Edgehill.

Essex’s army enjoyed a slight numerical advantage over that of the King, but being in the tactically disadvantageous position, Devereux saw no reason to start the fight. Both sides believed that one battle would be sufficient to end the civil quarrel and were therefore cautious. Ultimately they faced each other in similar formations: tightly packed pikemen and musketry in the centre, artillery in forward positions and cavalry and dragoons on the flanks. After an initial ineffectual artillery duel, the battle commenced in earnest when both Royalist cavalry wings charged their opposite numbers. The Parliamentary horse employed the tactics of stationery pistol fire followed by advance and were wholly unprepared for the continental shock tactics employed by Prince Rupert, consisting of rapid sabre led charge. The Parliamentarian cavalry were swept away. If at that point, Rupert’s cavalry had pivoted and attacked Essex’s foot from both flanks as the Royalist infantry advanced, Parliament’s forces would undoubtedly have been crushed and Edgehill may have turned out to be a decisive Royalist victory and the English civil war a short lived affair. However, the King’s cavalry, filled with the exhilaration of victory, pursued their defeated foes from the field towards Kineton and did not return to Edgehill for several hours.

The Parliamentary infantry then advanced, backed up by reserve cavalry not involved in the flank fighting, and fought ferociously, disabling the Royalist guns and at one stage seizing the Royal standard after Charles had foolishly given permission to his mounted Life Guards to join Rupert’s pursuit. In the melee the Royalist general Sir Edmund Verney was killed and Charles’ sons, Charles and James, were in danger of capture. As evening fell, both armies, exhausted and shocked at their first experience of battle, began to disengage. As Rupert’s cavalry at last returned to the field, Essex’s troops withdrew. The battle ended inconclusively, but 1,500 Englishmen lay dead on the field, killed by fellow Englishmen. It was a bitterly cold night and many of the wounded died of exposure or were summarily killed by plunderers (itself a horrifying novelty). The violence of the battle and its aftermath surprised both sides. The war was no longer theoretical or a threat: blood had been spilled and Cavaliers and Roundheads no longer viewed each other as participants in a family dispute, but as enemies.

It was now clear that this war would not be ended by a single battle.

[bantarleton]

The battle of Edgehill, from Cromwell (1970).

[artyartefacts-blog]

On This Day in 1642

On This Day in 1642

The Battle of Edgehill took place.

 The first pitched battle of the English Civil War took place near Edge Hill in Warwickshire on the day in 1642.

 Trouble had been brewing in England since early that year following a breakdown of relations between King Charles I and Parliament over who should have the power of government. Each side raised armies with the view to gaining full power by force.

 Tensions rose throughout the year, with the Royal Standard being raised in Nottingham on 22nd August, meaning that the Royalists had effectively declared war on the Parliamentarians (later known as the Roundheads). Charles did not have much support in the mainly Parliamentarian Midlands, and soon had to find support elsewhere.

 Neither side expected to be engaged in conflict in the October, however the two armies found themselves in close proximity quite unintentionally, forcing a battle. The Royalists struck first, but neither side could claim a decisive victory and the battle petered out by sundown.

 The English Civil War would continue for four years, with the Parliamentarians eventually winning out under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell with his New Model Army. The new system of government was known as the Commonwealth, and is often remembered for Cromwell's strict Puritanical laws. Charles I was executed for treason, and England was without a king until the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, when Charles I's son, Charles II, was invited by Parliament to return following the death of Oliver Cromwell and the removal of his son Richard, who's protectorate was weak thanks to lacking the support of his father's army.

 Charles II returned as a Constitutional Monarch, meaning that although he did have certain ruling powers and was to be consulted on law making, Parliament ultimately made the majority of governing decisions. This system remains in England to this day.

 It is said that the ghosts of soldiers who died at Edgehill re-enact the fighting each year on the anniversary of the battle.

[underwood1923]

23 October | Ghost Calendar

'Edgehill, a hilly ridge in Warwickshire, was the scene of the first major battle of the Civil War in 1642 when 14,000 Englishmen fought one another - and left behind psychic emanations that, if reports are to be believed, are to be encountered every anniversary of the battle, notwithstanding alterations to the calendar which would make the present date 12 October.'

'There are many convincing accounts of curious experiences on the site of the battle, but each 23 October, it is said, visitors have glimpsed a spectral band of soldiers, or seen lights over the battlefield, or heard the sound of men and horses, of hoofbeats and neighing, of the jingle of harness and the grind of wheels ... the phantoms of Edgehill are among the more interesting instances of alleged recurring psychic phenomena...'

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[whencyclopedia]

Battle of Edgehill

The Battle of Edgehill in Warwickshire on 23 October 1642 was an early engagement in the English Civil Wars (1642-1651) and the first major battle of that conflict. The Royalist forces loyal to Charles I of England (r. 1625-1649) met an army sent by Parliament near Kineton; fought over a single afternoon and evening, the result was indecisive.

Continue reading...

[scotianostra]

On February 6th 1685 Charles II  the "merry monarch" died. 

His last words to his brother James were "Don't let poor Nellie starve" - a reference to his favourite mistress, Nell Gwynne.

Charles II was born at St James's Palace in London on 29 May, 1630. He was the second son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria (the sister of King Louis XIII of France). But on the death of his elder brother he was created Prince of Wales and became heir to the throne.

His father believed in the "Divine Right of Kings" and after a confrontation with the Parliament (which he had suspended for eleven years), Civil War broke out. The King's forces were defeated at the Battle of Edgehill in 1645 (watched by the Prince of Wales and his younger brother James) and again at the Battle of Naseby in 1646. The young Princes were sent to France for safety while the final acts of his father's life were played out in England.

Charles I was captured by the Scots who turned him over to the English authorities. He was executed in 1649. Many in Scotland were dismayed at the execution of the king and had pleaded for clemency. As I posted about yesterday The Scottish Parliament declared Charles II to be king of Scotland. 

With the death of the Marquis of Montrose in May 1650, Scotland lacked a good military leader. Indeed the Scottish army was formed more on the basis of religious conformity than military prowess. Consequently, when Cromwell came north in September 1650, he defeated the Scots at Battle of Dunbar and swept across the country and is acknowledged as the only military leader to take the whole of the country.

In order to have a chance of securing his throne, Charles II solemnly accepted the Protestant "Deed of Covenant" which set aside the interference of the monarch in religion and also rejected Catholicism. Charles came to Scotland and was crowned King of Scots at Scone on 1st January 1 1651. This was the last coronation on Scottish soil.

With more bravado than sense, Charles led an army south into England. Once they were far from Scotland (and Cromwell had assembled a big enough army) they were routed at the Battle of Worcester on September 3, 1651. 3,000 Scots were killed and 10,000 taken prisoner. Those who survived, were sold to the American plantations. After a number of narrow escapes, Charles made his way to France. He remained there and in the Netherlands for nearly nine years.

The Puritans who now ruled Britain had initially claimed to be champions of religious liberty but many believed that religious liberty was liberty for themselves and the enforcement of their rigid Calvinist principles on everyone else. While some like Oliver Cromwell were more tolerant, the majority imposed their own harsh and repressive morality. 

Eventually there was a reaction against this (encouraged by those who were still in favour of the monarchy) and, after the death of Cromwell in 1660, Charles II was asked to return. To tumultuous public acclamation Charles entered London on 29 May 1660 (thereafter named Royal Oak Day by the Royalists in memory of Charles' escape by hiding in an oak tree after the Battle of Worcester). 

The Restoration gave way to a period of frivolity and debauchery - a reaction to Puritan repression. Charles was determined never to "go in his travels" again and initially had to accept the supremacy of Parliament. But equally he wanted to be financially independent of their purse strings. That meant trying to secure finance from his cousin, King Louis XIV of France. In 1670 he agreed a secret Treaty of Dover with Louis in which he promised English support for France. The consequence of that was a war with Holland. 

Charles publicly advocated religious tolerance and an avoidance of persecution of the Puritans. This attitude was influenced by a belief that this would lead to tolerance of Roman Catholicism, a religion which he still favoured. But his Declaration of Indulgence in 1672, which tried to provide civil liberties for Roman Catholics, rebounded on him and Parliament passed the Test Act which prohibited Catholics from public office. 

Finance came from King Louis from the sale of Dukirk to France, allowing him eventually to disband Parliament and he ruled alone for four years until his death in 1685. He was received into the Roman Catholic Church on his deathbed. In the 25 years since his return from exile, he had never returned to Scotland.

Charles had married Catherine of Braganza, a daughter of the King of Portugal but there were no legitimate children. However, Charles had a series of mistresses including the duchess of Cleveland and Nell Gwynn. He had at least 11 children by these ladies who became dukes and countesses. As he had no legitimate heirs, his brother became King James VII.

Again I will point you in the direction of History Extra and another fantastic article on this monarch, which includes a quote for the diarist Samuel Pepys that was supposedly a saying of King Charles

“He that gets a wench with child and marries her afterward, it was as if a man should shit in his hat and clap it on his head”.

https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/sex-scandals-and-betrayals-charles-ii-and-his-court/

[nightbringer24]

I don’t think I mentioned that I got a book about one of the battles of the English Civil War, the battle of Edgehill, called God’s Vindictive Wrath.

Won’t lie: did get it mainly based on the title combined with the cover image.

Finished my reread of Making Money so I’m going to start reading this.