The Battle of Edgehill was the first battle of the English Civil War. The dividing lines were being drawn. Charles enjoyed support in the conservative north while Parliament tightened its grip on London. The Earl of Essex commanded the Parliamentarians in their attempt to halt Charles’ march north while the Royalists were led by the king’s nephew, Prince Rupert. This battle marks the first of many examples of Royalist ill-discipline. Once the battle began to swing firmly in their favour they became complacent allowing a Parliamentarian counterattack and a stalemate followed.
The Battle of Marston Moor was the largest battle of the English Civil War and it was significant as a turning point. The Royalists were besieged at York by the Scots and the Parliamentarians, and Charles ordered Prince Rupert north to free the city. However, Cromwell’s fast-improving, highly-disciplined Ironsides circumvented Royalist forces, defeating them in a devastating blow. This Parliamentarian victory was decisive in destroying Royalist confidence and ruined their key supply lines to northern ports through which they had been receiving supplies from Europe.
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