Civil War
The English Civil War or the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (also called English Revolution or Great Rebellion) was a series of three connected civil wars, covering roughly the decade from 1642-1651. The two warring parties were Royalists (supporting King Charles I, and later his son Charles II) and Parliamentarians (fighting for a greater independence of parliament from the king, later for the abolition of the monarchy). The Civil War led to the execution of Charles I, the exile of Charles II and the foundation of the Commonwealth.
Background to the Civil War
Context
The early 17th century saw great social changes. For the first time, a literate lower middle class appeared, but also rich property owners, professionals and merchants became increasingly influential on an economic level, though politically the aristocracy and the King still concentrated more or less all power in their hands. However, King Charles I was widely seen as untrustworthy, stubborn and bad at communicating his ideas; his insecurities, paired with a strong understanding of Kingship (Divine Right of Kings) led him to the kind of arrogance ("Kings are not bound to give an account of their actions but to God alone".) that made his subjects see him as a potential tyrant.
Moreover, the kingdom was far from homogeneous. While, since 1603, England, Scotland and Ireland were ruled in personal union, the different countries showed deep religious divisions and very distinct cultures and institutions. Whereas his father, King James I, had a softer approach to merging his dominions, Charles I, in the eye of Barry Coward, hastened the process of union between England and Scotland.
The Religious differences were especially important. While Ireland was catholic, England's and Scotland's churches had undergone the reformation in very different ways. This and a number of puritan sects, for whom the Anglican church was still too catholic, constituted an explosive religious situation.
On the Continent, the Thirty Year's War was raging since 1618, though mainly a conflict between the Houses of Habsburg and Bourbon, pitted Protestants against Catholics, with the latter seemingly getting the upper hand. This, combined with Charles' and his trusted Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud's moves to further embellish the Anglican church ceremonials led many to believe that Catholicism was on its way into Britain again. This fear was only exascarbated by Charles decision to marry the catholic Henrietta Maria of France against the will of parliament.
Events leading up to the war
Scottish Rebellion
In contrast to his father, who had been King of Scotland before being crowned King of England, Charles had lived in England since the age of 4. He therefore felt only little connection to Scotland and alienated the Scottish nobility by revocating some of their land titles. This, paired with extraordinary taxation, and a continously declining economy in Scotland led to open protest, which Charles answered by further weakening the political role of the nobility. Under this circumstances, Charles and William Laud moved to anglicanise the Scottish church. The introduction of a new Book of Common Prayer led to riots in Edinburgh. In the National Covenant the Scots rejected the changes introduced, which, after failed negotiations, led to open rebellion in 1639, then to two wars, which ended in a Scottish victory. Charles was forced to withdraw his changes and pay reparations to Scotland.
Short Parliament
In order to pay for the war, Charles had to call Parliament, which - instead of granting him the funds - began to discuss long-lasting problems and misgivings they had with royal policy.
Long Parliament
First Civil War (1642-1646)
Second Civil War (1648-1649)
Third Civil War (1649-1651)
Outcomes
References
- Russell, Conrad. The Causes of the English Civil War. Oxford: OUP, 1990.
- Stone, Lawrence. The Causes of the English Revolution 1529-1642. London: Routledge, 1994.
- Ashton, Robert. The English Civil War. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1978.
- Carpenter, Stanled (ed). The English Civil War. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.
- Carlton, Charles. The Experience of the British Civil Wars. London: Routledge, 1992.
- Coward, Barry. A companion to Stuart Britain. Oxford: Blackwell, 2003.