Roundheads

Nickname given to the supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War. The name derives from the short haircut that many Parliamentarians sported. (Most of them were Puritans and favoured a sober lifestyle.)

The Royalists were nicknamed Cavaliers.

Background Information:

The term “Roundheads” was used to describe the opponents of the “Royalists”, also called “Cavaliers” who were led by the King during the Civil War. (S. 175, Roundheads, Cavaliers and the Execution of the King). The Roundheads supported the Parliament and were called “Parliamentarians”. Furthermore, they carried certain stereotypes. For example, they were depicted as people who feared God since they talked a lot about God. Also, they became especially identified with Puritanism, which gave them a sense of purpose. Hence, they saw God as a great power and believed in his intervention in the world. On the other hand, they were also portrayed as hypocrites because they used war to gain power. Their haircut was short, which is why they were called Roundheads (S. 218-220, Roundheads, Cavaliers and the Execution of the King).

Roundheads in the Civil War:

The Civil War was a series of wars between the Cavaliers and Roundheads. They fought with each other in over 600 battles. (brewminate). The Parliamentarians were against the king, arguing that kings are there for the well-being of the people, and if the nation's freedom and property are threatened, the citizens are no longer obliged to obey the king. A war against the king was thus legitimate for the Parliamentarians since the nation's protection and freedom was at stake. (220, Roundheads, Cavaliers and the Execution of the King)