Charles 1640 - 49 - First Civil War

Question 1

1643 Solemn League and Covenant

Answer 1

A military alliance formed between the English Parliament and the Scottish Covenanters, which alienated some Scottish nobles leading them to supporting Charles and royalist forces.

Question 2

1644 – 45 Royalist Victory then End

Answer 2

Earl of Montrose (Scottish noble) rose to lead the Royalist forces against the Covenanters and was successful until their limited support from Charles and materials, whilst an army of 6000 Covenanters crushed Montrose’s remaining army, crushing Charles’ military hope in Scotland.

Question 4

1643 Solemn League and Covenant

Answer 4

A military alliance formed between the English Parliament and the Scottish Covenanters, which alienated some Scottish nobles leading them to supporting Charles and royalist forces.

Question 5

1644 – 45 Royalist Victory then End

Answer 5

Earl of Montrose (Scottish noble) rose to lead the Royalist forces against the Covenanters and was successful until their limited support from Charles and materials, whilst an army of 6000 Covenanters crushed Montrose’s remaining army, crushing Charles’ military hope in Scotland.

Question 6

1641 Irish Rebellion

Answer 6

Essentially began the Civil War in Ireland with Old English Irish and Gaelic Irish joining the rebellion against the Ulster Protestants, who were supported by the arrival of 10,000 Scots funded by the English Parliament, however the Catholic alliance maintained control of majority of Ireland.

Question 7

1643 Irish Cessation

Answer 7

Charles demanded an alliance with the Irish Catholics in order to aid his own English Civil War with 22,000 Irish troops, Irish and Catholic, were transferred to England.

Question 8

1643 Reason’s for Charles’ defeat

Answer 8

Outnumbered forces, opponents more religiously motivated, opponents better organised and supplied and his start with a weak position.

Question 9

1645 Creation of the New Model Army

Answer 9

Parliament’s failures against the royalist forces prompted it’s reorganisation, creating the New Model Army under Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, which went on to defeat Charles’ forces at Naseby, his position falling apart.

Question 10

1646 Charles’ Surrender

Answer 10

Charles surrended to the Scottish forces in hope they would give a better settlement deal than the English Parliament, however was returned to the English Parliament and placed under house arrest.

Question 11

Reasons for Royalist defeat

Answer 11

Charles’ indecisiveness, ineffective generals with lack of support and experience (nephews prince Rupert and Maurice), divisions in the royalist councils led to incoherent leadership (division between Henrietta Maria – wanted to continue war and Edward Hyde – advised to settle with Parliament), Charles’ poor military leadership and did not consult the Council of War.