The English Civil Wars (1642-1651) witnessed a bitter conflict between Royalists ('Cavaliers') and Parliamentarians ('Roundheads'). The Royalists supported first King Charles I of England (r. 1625-1649) and then his son Charles II, while the Parliamentarians, the ultimate victors, wanted to diminish the constitutional powers of the monarchy and prevent what they considered a Catholic-inspired plot to reverse the English Reformation.
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Definition
Timeline
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1640The Short and Long Parliaments debate funds for an army for Charles I of England.
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23 Nov 1641Parliament passes the Grand Remonstrance critcising the rule of Charles I of England.
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1 Dec 1641Parliament's Grand Remonstrance is formally presented to Charles I of England.
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1642 - 1651The English Civil Wars between Parliamentarians ('Roundheads') and Royalists ('Cavaliers').
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Aug 1642 - 1646The First English Civil War.
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23 Oct 1642The Royalists defeat the Parliamentarians at the Battle of Edgehill in Warwickshire during the English Civil Wars.
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Aug 1643Edward Montagu, Earl of Manchester takes command of the Eastern Association Army during the English Civil Wars.
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Feb 1644Edward Montagu, Earl of Manchester is a member of the Committee of Both Kingdoms, effectively Parliament's war cabinet during the English Civil Wars.
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2 Jul 1644The Parliamentarians, with the help of Scottish troops, defeat the Royalists at the Battle of Marston Moor during the English Civil Wars.
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27 Oct 1644The indecisive Second Battle of Newbury during the English Civil Wars.
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4 Feb 1645The English Parliament motions to form a new professional fighting force, the New Model Army.
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21 Feb 1645Sir Thomas Fairfax is appointed the commander of the New Model Army during the English Civil Wars.
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Apr 1645The Self-Denying Ordinance forbids any member of Parliament from also being a military commander in the New Model Army.
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14 Jun 1645The Parliamentarians led by Sir Thomas Fairfax defeat the Royalists at the Battle of Naseby during the English Civil Wars.
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Jul 1645The Parliamentarians led by Sir Thomas Fairfax defeat a Royalist army led by Lord Goring near Langport in Somerset.
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11 Sep 1645The Parliamentarians led by Sir Thomas Fairfax beseige and capture Bristol after the surrender by Prince Rupert.
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Jan 1647The Scots hand over Charles I of England to the English.
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Nov 1647Charles I of England escapes from his capitivity and stays on the Isle of Wight.
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Feb 1648 - Aug 1648The Second English Civil War when a Scottish army attempts and fails to restore Charles I of England.
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Jun 1648At the Battle of Maidstone, Sir Thomas Fairfax leads the Parliamentairans to victory against a Royalist army led by the Earl of Norwich.
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17 Aug 1648 - 20 Aug 1648A Parliamentarian army led by Oliver Cromwell defeats an Anglo-Scottish Royalist army at the Battle of Preston.
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28 Aug 1648Sir Thomas Fairfax leads the Parliamentarian siege which captures Colchester.
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Dec 1648The New Model Army marches on Parliament to apprehend Presbyterian MPs and receive the arrears in their pay.
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Dec 1648The creation of the 'Rump Parliament' sees the number of MPs reduced to just 150 members.
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1 Dec 1648A group of Parliamentarian officers captures Charles I of England on the Isle of Wight.
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20 Jan 1649Charles I of England is put on trial by Parliament and found guilty of treason.
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30 Jan 1649Execution of Charles I of England. The monarchy is abolished.
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Feb 1649Charles, son of Charles I of England, becomes Charles II of Scotland.
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1650Oliver Cromwell leads the New Model Army to ruthlessly quash a major rebellion in Ireland.
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1650Sir Thomas Fairfax resigns as commander of the Parliamentarian New Model Army, refusing to lead them against Scotland.
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3 Sep 1650Oliver Cromwell leads the New Model Army to victory against a Socttish army at Dunbar.
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Sep 1651Charles II of Scotland flees England after defeat at the Battle of Worcester.
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3 Sep 1651Oliver Cromwell leads the New Model Army to victory against an invading Scottish army at Worcester.
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20 Apr 1653Oliver Cromwell dissolves the 'Rump Parliament'.
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16 Dec 1653The 'Barebones Parliament' appoints Oliver Cromwell the Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.
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Jan 1657A Leveller plot to assassinate Oliver Cromwell is discovered.
