Battle of Edgehill
The Battle of Edgehill was a pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642. All attempts at constitutional compromise between King Charles and Parliament broke down early in 1642. Both King and Parliam…
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England, existing from the early 13th century until 1707, when it united with the Parliament of Scotland to become the Parliament of Great Britain after the political union of England and Scotland created the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, KB, PC was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the 17th century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundh…
Banbury
Banbury is an historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, England. The town is situated 64 miles northwest of London, 37 miles southeast of Birmingham, 27 miles south-by-southeast of Coventry and 22 miles north-by-northwest of the county town of Oxford. It had a …
What happened at the Battle of Edgehill?
The battle of Edgehill: 26 October 1642. In early October 1642, the King's army was mustering at Shrewsbury on the Welsh border while the Earl of Essex and the Parliamentarian army were forty miles away at Worcester.
What happened in 1642 in the English Civil War?
In 1642, after considerable constitutional disagreements between the government and King Charles I, the king finally raised his standard and led his troops against the Parliamentarian army.
What was the first pitched battle of the English Civil War?
Royalist and Parliamentarian forces had already fought at Powick Bridge, but the Battle of Edgehill, which took place on 23 October 1642, was the first pitched battle of the English Civil War.
Where did the Royalists gather for the Battle of Edge Hill?
The Royalists, led by the king, gathered on the Edge Hill escarpment. The Royalist cavalry was led by Prince Rupert and Lord Wilmot. Essex’s parliamentary forces gathered in the fields below.
Who won the Battle of Edgehill in 1642?
Both sides killed around 500 hundred soldiers and wounded around 1,500 more. The result of the battle was a draw, although the royalists and the Parliamentarians would both claim that they had won.
Why did the Battle of Edgehill take place?
The Battle of Edgehill took place on 23rd October 1642 and was the first battle of the English Civil War. In 1642, after considerable constitutional disagreements between the government and King Charles I, the king finally raised his standard and led his troops against the Parliamentarian army.
What were the consequences of the Battle of Edgehill?
After the battle, the King resumed his march on London, but was not strong enough to overcome the defending militia before Essex's army could reinforce them. The inconclusive result of the Battle of Edgehill prevented either faction from gaining a quick victory in the war, which eventually lasted four years.
Who fought in the Battle of Edgehill?
The battle of Edgehill, on Sunday 23rd October 1642, saw the army of the Earl of Essex, the parliamentarian Lord General, and the King's army clash in the first major action of the Civil War in England. It was fought in the open fields between the villages of Radway and Kineton in Warwickshire.
When did the battle of Edgehill end?
October 23, 1642Battle of Edgehill / End date
What weapons were used in the battle of Edgehill?
The weapons used by both sides in the war were swords, pikes (16 foot with a metal tip), matchlock muskets, which were frequently more dangerous to the weapon's user than to the enemy! Wheel lock pistols (similar to flintlock muskets introduced later in the war) and pistols and swords for the cavalry.
How important was the battle of Edgehill?
Battle of Edgehill, (Oct. 23, 1642), first battle of the English Civil Wars, in which forces loyal to the English Parliament, commanded by Robert Devereux, 3rd earl of Essex, fatally delayed Charles I's march on London. The Battle of Edgehill took place in open country between Banbury and Warwick.
Who won the first battle of the English Civil War?
Parliamentarian victoryFirst English Civil WarThe Battle of Marston Moor, by James BarkerDate 22 August 1642 – 9 October 1646 (4 years, 1 month, 2 weeks and 3 days) Location England and Wales Result Parliamentarian victoryBelligerentsRoyalistsParliamentarians Scottish Covenanters5 more rows
What was the main battle of the English Civil War?
The most significant battles of the English Civil Wars were: The Battle of Edgehill in October 1642. The Storming of Bristol in July 1643. The First Battle of Newbury in September 1643.
When was the battle of Edgehill?
October 23, 1642Battle of Edgehill / Start date
Where was the last battle of the English Civil War?
the Battle of WorcesterThe war ended with Parliamentarian victory at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651.
How many died in the English Civil War?
Impact of the Civil Wars An estimated 200,000 English soldiers and civilians were killed during the three civil wars, by fighting and the disease spread by armies; the loss was proportionate, population-wise, to that of World War I.
When was the battle of Edgehill?
October 23, 1642Battle of Edgehill / Start date
Why was the Battle of Naseby so important?
Fought on 14 June 1645, the Battle of Naseby was one of the most significant engagements of the First English Civil War between King Charles I and Parliament. The confrontation proved a decisive victory for the Parliamentarians and marked the beginning of the end for the Royalists in the war.
Where did the battle of Marston Moor take place?
Long MarstonBattle of Marston Moor / LocationLong Marston is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated on the B1224 road from Wetherby to York, 7 miles west of York. Wikipedia
What was the main battle of the English Civil War?
The most significant battles of the English Civil Wars were: The Battle of Edgehill in October 1642. The Storming of Bristol in July 1643. The First Battle of Newbury in September 1643.
Where was the Battle of Edgehill?
The Battle of Edgehill, the first serious clash of the English Civil Wars, was fought in Warwickshire near the Oxfordshire border in 1642. The medicinal springs at Leamington attracted health seekers as early as the 18th century, and, after the visit of Queen Victoria in 1838,…. History at your fingertips. Sign up here to see what happened On This ...
Where did the Battle of Edgehill take place?
The Battle of Edgehill took place in open country between Banbury and Warwick. The royal army, under Charles I’s personal command, marched southeast toward London, which was garrisoned by parliamentary troops. The Earl of Essex hastened to its relief with the main parliamentary army.
How long did it take for the Royal Cavalry to attack the horse?
However, since most of the soldiers were raw recruits, this took several hours—action did not begin until about 2 pm. After an hour’s exchange of artillery fire, the royal cavalry, led by Charles’s nephew Prince Rupert, launched a powerful attack that drove the opposing horse from the field.
Who was the commander in chief of Parliament in the first major battle of the English Civil War?
Oliver Cromwell: Cromwell in Parliament. …the closing stages of the Battle of Edgehill (October 23, 1642) where Robert Devereux, 3rd earl of Essex, was commander in chief for Parliament in the first major contest of the war.…. English Civil Wars: The first English Civil War (1642–46)
Who led the English army in the Battle of Edgehill?
23, 1642), first battle of the English Civil Wars, in which forces loyal to the English Parliament, commanded by Robert Devereux, 3rd earl of Essex, fatally delayed Charles I ’s march on London.
When was the first English Civil War?
English Civil Wars: The first English Civil War (1642–46)
What is the Battle of Edgehill website?
The Battle of Edgehill website an interactive exploration of the battlefield
Why did Prince Rupert lead a detachment from Shrewsbury towards Stourbridge?
On 10 October, Prince Rupert led a detachment from Shrewsbury towards Stourbridge to give the impression that the Royalists were preparing to advance on Worcester. The Parliamentarian forward troops withdrew before Rupert's advance, convincing Essex that the Royalists were about to move down the valley. Meanwhile, the King marched south-eastwards towards London with the main Royalist army. He had reached Kenilworth in Warwickshire by the time Essex realised his intention and marched from Worcester in pursuit on 19 October.
What happened to the Royalists at Kineton?
Both armies remained on the battlefield during the night and for most of the following day. Although Parliamentarian infantry reinforcements and a few stray troops of horse arrived at Kineton, the bulk of Essex's cavalry was widely scattered so that an assault on the Royalists was not feasible. There was little enthusiasm to resume the battle in the King's army. The Royalist infantry had been badly battered and the cavalry was in disarray. During the evening of 24 October, the Royalists withdrew to Edgecote. With the King's army still commanding the road to London, the Earl of Essex fell back to Warwick. While neither side had gained a clear victory, Essex's withdrawal allowed the Royalists to continue their advance on the capital.
Where was the King's army at Shrewsbury?
I n early October 1642, the King's army was mustering at Shrewsbury on the Welsh border while the Earl of Essex and the Parliamentarian army were forty miles away at Worcester. Essex expected the King to advance down the Severn valley to give battle so he established advance positions around Bewdley to give warning of any movement from the Royalists. The Royalists knew that a battle was inevitable but preferred that it should take place in open country rather than amongst the fields and enclosures of the Severn valley, which could hamper the deployment of the superior Royalist cavalry. Consequently, the King's council of war advised a direct thrust towards London.
Who commanded the Parliamentarian foot?
The twelve regiments of Parliamentarian foot drew up in three brigades in the centre. The brigade on the right was commanded by Sir John Meldrum, with Colonel Charles Essex's brigade on the left. The third or reserve brigade formed the second line and was commanded by Sir Thomas Ballard. The Parliamentarian horse was nominally under the command of William Russell, Earl of Bedford but as Bedford had little military experience, the Scottish professionals Sir William Balfour and Sir James Ramsey effectively commanded the cavalry.
Who was the commander of the Royalist foot?
The Royalist foot, under the overall direction of Sergeant-Major-General Sir Jacob Astley, was deployed in five brigades in a "chequer" formation, with three brigades in the front line and two in the second to cover the gaps. The front line brigades were commanded by Colonel Charles Gerard, Colonel Richard Fielding and Colonel Henry Wentworth, with Sir John Belasyse and Sir Nicholas Byron in the second line. The argument that prompted the resignation of the Earl of Lindsey was over the formation of the brigades. Lindsey had intended to array them in the conventional Dutch formation while Prince Rupert, seconded by Lord Forth, insisted upon using the more complex Swedish formation in which each brigade was divided into four battalions in a diamond pattern to maximise their effectiveness in attack.
When was the Battle of Edgehill?
The Battle of Edgehill took place on 23rd October 1642 and was the first battle of the English Civil War.
Who are the Edgehill ghosts?
They are the only British phantoms to have this distinction.
What was the first battle of the English Civil War?
The Battle of Edgehill took place on 23rd October 1642 and was the first battle of the English Civil War. In 1642, after considerable constitutional disagreements between the government and King Charles I, the king finally raised his standard and led his troops against the Parliamentarian army.
Why did the villagers give Christian burial to the corpses that lay on the battlefield?
To try and stop the apparitions, the villagers decided to give Christian burial to all the corpses that still lay on the battlefield and some three months after the battle, the sightings appeared to stop. However to this day, haunting sounds and apparitions have been witnessed at the site of the battle.
How long did the Royalists battle last?
It started at around 9am in the morning, lasted around 3 hours and resulted in the Royalists being routed and fleeing the field. Since then, on the anniversary of the battle, a phantom battle has been seen taking place in the sky above the battlefield, complete with the sounds of screaming men and cannons firing.
Who was the king's standard bearer?
They too witnessed the ghostly battle and were even able to identify some of the soldiers taking part, including Sir Edmund Verney, the king’s standard bearer. When captured during the battle, Sir Edmund had refused to give up the standard.
Was the Battle of Edgehill a draw?
However this was not to be the last of the battle of Edgehill.
What was the first battle of the English Civil War?
Royalist and Parliamentarian forces had already fought at Powick Bridge, but the Battle of Edgehill, which took place on 23 October 1642, was the first pitched battle of the English Civil War. The battle commenced at around three o'clock in the afternoon, but military events continued for a further two days, culminating with a Royalist attack on part of the Parliamentarian baggage train in Kineton on the Tuesday.
Who won the Battle of Warwick?
There was no clear victor at the end of the battle. Both the Parliamentarians and Royalists lost around 1,500 men. Roundhead and Cavalier infantrymen bore the brunt of the casualties. Both sides claimed a victory. When it became clear that his men were exhausted, Essex gave up on his plans to continue the battle the following day. The night had been freezing. The Royalists were also unwilling to recommence the battle. Essex withdrew his men to Warwick. The Royalists then continued their march southwards towards London.
Why did Essex and Essex stumble upon each other?
Because of the communication difficulties of the time, Essex did not know what route Charles was taking to London.
Did Essex attack the Royalists?
Essex chose not to attack the well-positioned Royalists first. Attacking uphill would have been difficult. At around midday, the Royalists started to descend from Edgehill. The parliamentarians responded with artillery fire.
What happened at the Battle of Edgehill?
On 22 August 1642 King Charles I raised his royal standard at Nottingham, officially declaring war against Parliament. Both sides quickly began mobilising troops believing the war would soon be resolved through one great, pitched battle. Here are ten facts about the Battle of Edgehill.
What are some interesting facts about the Battle of Edgehill?
1. It was the first major pitched battle of the English Civil War. Although sieges and small skirmishes had occurred prior to Edgehill, this was the first time the Parliamentarians and Royalists confronted each other with substantial numbers on the open field.
How many troops did Charles have at Edgehill?
Charles’ Royalist army was outnumbered at Edgehill. Charles had around 13,000 troops compared to Essex’s 15,000. Nevertheless he positioned his army in a strong position on Edge Hill and was confident of victory. 5. The Royalist cavalry was Charles’ secret weapon….
When did Charles flee London?
Charles had been forced to flee London back in early January 1642. As his army marched towards the capital, a Parliamentarian army intercepted them near Banbury in Oxfordshire.
Who led the attack on the Parliamentarian baggage train?
1666 historian Rebecca Rideal discusses the Great Fire of London, the subject of her book '1666: Plague, War and Hellfire'. This included Prince Rupert, who led an attack on the Parliamentarian baggage train, believing victory was all-but-assured.
Who captured the Royalist standard?
During the battle, the Royalist standard was captured by the Parliamentarians – a huge blow. It was, however, later recaptured by returning Cavalier cavalry. The fight for the standard at Edgehill. Credit: William Maury Morris II / Domain. 9.
Who was the king of England in the Battle of the Rhine?
Commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine, these horsemen were well-trained and considered the best in England. King Charles I stands centre wearing the blue sash of the Order of the Garter; Prince Rupert of the Rhine is sat next to him and Lord Lindsey stands next to the king resting his commander’s baton against the map.
