English Civil War
1642-1651
Summary
Causes
Timeline
James I dies and Charles I accedes to throne
March 10, 1629
Charles I dissolves parliament and begins 11 years of personal rule
July 23, 1637
New Scottish prayer book causes a riot in Edinburgh
February 28, 1638
Scots begin to sign National Covenant to prevent religious 'innovations'
October 1641
Rebellion breaks out in Ireland
August 22, 1642
Civil War begins as Charles I summons his loyal subjects at Nottingham
February 15, 1645
Parliament establishes the 'New Model Army'
June 14, 1645
Royalists are crushed by the New Model Army at Naseby, Northamptonshire
May 5,1646
Charles I surrenders to the Scots
August 17-19, 1648
Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian troops defeat a Scottish-Royalist Army
January 30, 1649
Charles I is executed at Whitehall, London
January 1, 1651
Charles II is crowned king of Scotland
September 3, 1651
Oliver Cromwell defeats Charles II at the Battle of Worcester
December 16, 1653
Oliver Cromwell makes himself Lord Protector
May 29, 1660
Charles II is restored to the throne
Key Figures/Groups
King Charles II
Oliver Cromwell
Scots
Royalists
Irish
Parliament
Causes
The main cause of the civil war was differing views on how much power the Monarchy should have. Many believed that there should be a limit to the King's power and that Parliament should have more of a say in how the nation was governed. Charles I believed that he ruled the Divine Right of Kings. This meant that he was King by the will of God and that his power should not be questioned. Parliament and the King also had very different views on Church and religion. Another main issue was the fact that Charles I had very little money and led a lavish lifestyle, which bankrupted the Royal Treasury.
Timeline
March 27, 1625
James I dies and Charles I accedes to throne
March 10, 1629
Charles I dissolves parliament and begins 11 years of personal rule
July 23, 1637
New Scottish prayer book causes a riot in Edinburgh
February 28, 1638
Scots begin to sign National Covenant to prevent religious 'innovations'
October 1641
Rebellion breaks out in Ireland
August 22, 1642
Civil War begins as Charles I summons his loyal subjects at Nottingham
February 15, 1645
Parliament establishes the 'New Model Army'
June 14, 1645
Royalists are crushed by the New Model Army at Naseby, Northamptonshire
May 5, 1646
Charles I surrenders to the Scots
August 17-19, 1648
Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian troops defeat a Scottish-Royalist Army
January 30, 1649
Charles I is executed at Whitehall, London
January 1, 1651
Charles II is crowned king of Scotland
September 3, 1651
Oliver Cromwell defeats Charles II at the Battle of Worcester
December 16, 1653
Oliver Cromwell makes himself Lord Protector
May 29, 1660
Charles II is restored to the throne
Outcome
- Charles I beheaded
- Parliament gained power
- Charles II exiled
Main Significance
Quote from Oliver Cromwell
Cromwell is saying that he would rather have a king that doesn't dress as elegantly, but loves his country and believes in what he is fighting for. In this case, King Charles I would be the "Gentleman and is nothing else"