The English Civil War
(1644-1660)

 

1644
  • Charles calls a Royalist Parliament at Oxford.
  • Establishment of the Committee of the Two kingdoms (England and Scotland) for cooperative action against the king.
  • Battle of Marston Moor, defeat of Prince Rupert by Cromwell.
1645
  • The Treaty of Uxbridge, a period of truce during which parliament’s proposals for settlement were rejected by Charles.
  • Self-Denying Ordinance, excluding members of either house of parliament from military command (Fairfax succeeds Essex as parliamentary army: the New Model.
1646
  • Surrender of Charles I to the Scots.
1647
  • The Scots surrender Charles I to parliament in return for their back pay (400,000 pounds)
  • An army detachment under Cornet Joyce seizes the king at Holmby House to prevent an agreement between the king and Presbyterian parliamentarians.
  • Putney Debates.
  • King (December 28) made a secret treaty the Scots (December 26) in which he agrees to abolish episcopacy in England and restore Presbyterianism
1648
  • Parliament renounces allegiance to the king and votes to have no further dealings with him.
  • Start of the Second Civil War. The Battle of Preston Pans; Cromwell’s victory over a Scottish army. 
  • Charles I again seized by the Army.
  • Pride’s Purge; Colonel Pride forcibly expels 96 presbyterian members from the Long parliament, leaving only some 60 members, The Rump.
  • The Rump votes to bring Charles I to trial.
1649
  • Trial of Charles I.
  • Establishment of the Commonwealth.
  • The Scots proclaim Charles II king.
1650
  • Charles II lands in Scotland.
  • The Scotch under Leslie defeated by Cromwell at Dunbar.
1651
  • Total defeat of the royalists by Cromwell at Worcester.
  • Charles II escapes and flees to France.
  • The Navigation Act.
1653
  • Cromwell dismisses the Rump and dissolves the Council of State.
  • The Instrument of Government; establishment of the Protectorate.
1657
  • Humble Petition and Advice: established a second legislative house, reduced the power of the Council State, toleration for all Trinitarian Christians except Episcopalians and Roman Catholics.
  • Cromwell refuses the Crown.
1658
  • Death of Oliver Cromwell; his son Richard succeeds him as Protector.
1659
  • Richard Cromwell dissolves parliament.
  • The Rump Parliament reassembles and Richard resigns as Protector.
  • The Rump is expelled by the army under Lambert.
  • The Rump is restored.
1660
  • General Monck leads his army from Scotland to London.
  • Reestablishment of the Long Parliament (finally dissolved on March 16).
  • Charles II’s Declaration of Breda.
  • Charles II  proclaimed king. Charles II enters London.


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