Battle of Edgehill

First battle in the First English Civil War between the two opposing forces, the Royalists army under Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, and the Parliament's army under the Earl of Essex. It took place on October the 23rd, 1642 in Edgehill, Warwickshire.

Background

King Charles I did not agree with Parliament over the government of the Kingdom as he strongly believed in the rights of the monarch to rule as he liked who in contrast believed equally strongly in their right to approve or deny decisions of the crown. This circumstances lead to the First British Civil war with the confrontation in Edgehill being the first armed battle in that conflict.

The Battle

The Royal army was marching towards London which was defended by the Parliament's army. Essex marched out in order to stop the king who tried to reach the capital. The Royal army met the parliament's army near Edgehill. Under consistent artillery fire from both sides the royal cavalry started a successfull attack on the parliament's army and pushed back the opposing cavalry from the battle field leaving the rest of the king's army behind. Without the strength of the royal cavalry the Parliament's troops were superior to the royal army and were finally able to push back the Royalists. The return of Rupert and his men balanced the army's strength and both parties disengaged.

Result of the battle

On the first day of the battle no side was victorious over the other. On the following day both armies formed up again but neither of them continued battle due to a lack of strength and their armies being damaged too badly. As a result the Parliament's army under the Earl of Essex made a strategic withdrawal back to Warwick. Therefore on October the 25th the road to London was free for the Roylist's army which marched on towards London. Instead of directly trying to take London the king decided to take Banbury and Brentford first giving the Earl of Essex time to regroup and reinforce his army for defence in London. As a result the king did not try to attack London with his inferior army and therefore he established his capital at Oxford.

Sources

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/179103/Battle-of-Edgehill

Cobbett, William: Parliamentary History of England, Vol.2, London: [Publishing House?], 1807.

Cobbett, William: Parliamentary History of England, Vol. 3, London: [Publishing House?], 1808.