The Battle of Edgehill (or Edge Hill) was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on October 23, 1642. The inconclusive result of the battle prevented either faction gaining a quick victory in the war, which eventually lasted four years. The First English Civil War (1642–1646) was the first of three wars, known as the English Civil War (or Wars). The English Civil War refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1652, and includes the Second... The Siege of Hull in 1642 was the first major action of the English Civil War. ... The Battle of Powick Bridge, fought on 23 September 1642, was the first major cavalry engagement of the English Civil War and it was a decisive victory for the Royalists who overthrew of the Parliamentary cavalry. ... On the 1st November 1642, Royalist forces, under the command of Prince Rupert engaged Aylesburys Parliamentarian garrison, at Holmans Bridge. ... Combatants Royalists Parliamentarians Commanders Prince Rupert John Lilburne Strength 4,600 1,300 Casualties unknown around 170 dead, unknown wounded, 500 taken prisoner[1] The Battle of Brentford was a small pitched battle which took place on 12 November, 1642, between a cavalry detachment of the Royalist army under the... Combatants Parliamentarians Royalists Commanders Earl of Essex King King Charles I Strength 24,000[1] 7,000-12,000 Casualties very few very few The Battle of Turnham Green occurred 13 November 1642 near the village of Turnham Green, at the end the first campaigning season of the First English... The Battle of Hopton Heath, in Staffordshire, was a battle of the First English Civil War, fought on Sunday 19 March 1643 between Parliamentarian forces led by Sir John Gell and Sir William Brereton and a Royalist force under Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton. ... The Battle of Chalgrove was a skirmish of the English Civil War in the county of Oxfordshire. ... The English Civil War battle of Lansdowne (or Lansdown) was fought on July 5, 1643, near Bath. ... English Civil War battle fought near Devizes, on 13th July, 1643 Following the Battle of Lansdowne on 5th July, 1643, the same two armies faced each again at Rounday Down. ... Battle of Sourton Down was a battle of the first English civil war that took place on 25 April 1643. ... The Battle of Adwalton Moor was a battle in the English Civil War on 30 June 1643. ... The Battle of Gainsborough was a battle in the English Civil War. ... The Battle of Winceby took place in 1643 during the English Civil War near the village of Winceby, Lincolnshire about 6 km east of Horncastle Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, leading the Parlimentary Forces, defeated the Royalists led by Sir John Henderson. ... Combatants Parliamentary army Royalist garrison Commanders Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex Sir Arthur Aston King Charles I Prince Rupert Strength 16,000+ 2,000+ See also: Battle of Reading (871) and Battle of Reading (1688) The Siege of Reading refers to the English Civil War military campaign waged to... Combatants Royalists Parliamentarians Commanders Charles I, Prince Rupert Colonel Edward Massey Strength about 35,000 1,500 regular troops unknown local militia Casualties exact number unknown, believed to be several thousand 50 The Siege of Gloucester took place took place between the 3rd of August and 5th of September, between... The two Battles of Newbury took place near Newbury, Berkshire during the English Civil War in 1643 and 1644. ... The Battle of Alton took place on December 13, 1643, during the English Civil War. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... The Battle of Nantwich designates a fight of the English Civil War between the forces of Parliament and of King Charles I to the northwest of the town of Nantwich in Cheshire on 26 January 1644 (some sources say 24 January). ... The Battle of Boldon Hill was a battle fought during the English Civil War in 1644, between a Royalist army based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and a Parliamentarian army based in Sunderland. ... Combatants Parliamentarians Royalists Commanders Sir John Meldrum Prince Rupert of the Rhine Strength 2,000 horse, 5,000 foot, 13 siege guns 3,500 horse, 3,000 foot, 3 field guns The Relief of Newark was a Royalist victory during the First English Civil War. ... The Siege of York in 1644 was a prolonged contest for York during the English Civil War, between the Scottish Army of the Solemn Oath and Covenant and the Parliamentarian Armies of the Northern Association and Eastern Association on the one hand, and the Royalist Army under the Marquess of... The Bolton Massacre, sometimes recorded as the Storming of Bolton was an episode in the English Civil War, on May 28, 1644, in which it was alleged that up to 1,600 of the towns defenders and citizens were slaughtered during and after its storm and capture by the... The Battle of Cropredy Bridge was the last battle won on English soil under the command of an English King. ... Belligerents Scottish Covenanters, Parliamentarians Royalists Commanders Earl of Leven, Earl of Manchester, Lord Fairfax Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Marquess of Newcastle Strength 22,500+: 7,000+ horse, 500+ dragoons, 15,000+ foot, 30 - 40 guns 17,000: 6,000 horse, 11,000 foot, 14 guns Casualties and losses 300... 1. ... Combatants Parliamentarians Royalists Commanders Earl of Essex Sir William Waller Earl of Manchester King Charles I Prince Maurice Strength 7,000 horse 12,000 foot 3,500 horse 5,000 foot Casualties unknown unknown The Second Battle of Newbury was a battle of the English Civil War fought on October... The Siege of Taunton was a siege of the English Civil War. ... Combatants Parliamentarians Royalists Commanders Sir Thomas Fairfax Oliver Cromwell King Charles I Prince Rupert of the Rhine Strength 6,000 horse 7,000 foot 4,100 horse 3,300 foot Casualties 150 total casualties[1] approximately 1,000 killed, 5,000 captured[1] The Battle of Naseby was the key... The Battle of Langport was a Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War, which destroyed the last Royalist field army, and ultimately gave Parliament control of the West of England, which had hitherto been a major source of manpower, raw materials and imports for the Royalists. ... The Battle of Rowton Heath was a Parliamentarian victory late in the English Civil War. ... Stratton is a small town in North Cornwall near the coastal resort of Bude. ... Combatants Parliamentarians Royalists Commanders Sir William Brereton Colonel Thomas Morgan Sir Jacob Astley Strength 2,500 Foot 600 horse 3,000 Foot 500 horse Casualties unknown less 1,000 killed 1,000 prisoners The Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold took place during the English Civil War. ... The Siege of Oxford was a Parliamentarian victory late in the First English Civil War. ... A pitched battle is a battle where both sides choose to fight at a chosen location and time and where either side has the option to disengage either before the battle starts, or shortly after the first armed exchanges. ... The First English Civil War (1642–1646) was the first of three wars, known as the English Civil War (or Wars). The English Civil War refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1652, and includes the Second... Edge Hill is an escarpment in the county of Warwickshire, England (national grid reference SP3747). ... A kineton noseband is a type of noseband used on the bridle of a horse. ... A detailed map Stratford-upon-Avon Kenilworth Castle Warwickshire (pronounced // or //) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ...

Background

When it appeared to King Charles that no agreement with Parliament over the government of the Kingdom was possible, he left London on March 2, 1642 and headed for the north of England. Both Parliament and King realised that armed conflict was inevitable, and prepared to raise forces. Parliament enacted a Militia Ordinance which gave it control over the country's trained bands. Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from March 27, 1625 until his execution. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... -1... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ... The Militia Ordinance was a piece of legislation passed by the Long Parliament of England in March 1642, which was a major step towards the civil war between the King and Parliament of England. ... Trainbands, a contraction of trained bands, were companies of militia in England or The Americas, first organized in the 16th century and dissolved in the 18th. ...

At his temporary capital of York, Charles rejected Parliament's Nineteen Propositions, and issued Commissions of Array, directing the Lord Lieutenant of each county to raise forces for the King. He then attempted to seize the port of Kingston-upon-Hull where arms and equipment previously collected for the Bishops' Wars had been gathered. In the Siege of Hull, the Parliamentarian garrison defied the King's authority, and drove his forces away from the city. In June 1642, the English cats and dogs sent a list of proposals known as The Nineteen Propositions to King Charles I of England, in York at the time. ... A Commission of Array was a commission given by English royalty to officers or gentry in a given territory to muster and array the inhabitants, or see them in a condition for war. ... Flag of a Lord-Lieutenant The title Lord-Lieutenant is given to the British monarchs personal representatives around the United Kingdom. ... Hull shown within England The unitary authorities of the Ceremonial East Riding. ... The Bishops’ Wars—Bellum Episcopale—refers to two armed encounters between Charles I and the Scottish Covenanters in 1639 and 1640, which helped to set the stage for the English Civil War and the subsequent Wars of the Three Kingdoms // The Scottish Reformation in 1560 was intended to settle the... The Siege of Hull in 1642 was the first major action of the English Civil War. ...

In early August, the King moved south, to Lincoln and Leicester, where he secured the contents of the local armouries. On August 22, he took the decisive step by raising the royal standard in Nottingham, effectively declaring war on Parliament. The Midlands were generally Parliamentarian in sympathy, and few rallied to the king there, so having again secured the arms and equipment of the local trained bands, Charles moved to Chester and subsequently to Shrewsbury, where large numbers of recruits from Wales and the Welsh border were expected to join him. (By now, there was conflict in almost every part of England, as local commanders attempted to seize the main cities, ports and castles for both factions). Lincoln (pronounced //) is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England. ... This article discusses Leicester in England. ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Nottingham (disambiguation). ... For the larger local government district, see Chester (district). ... For other places with the same name, see Shrewsbury (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ...

Having learned of the King's actions in Nottingham, Parliament despatched its own army northward under the Earl of Essex, to confront the King. Essex marched first to Northampton, where he mustered almost 20,000 men. Learning of the King's move westwards, Essex then marched north-westwards towards Worcester. On September 23, in the first clash between the main Royalist and Parliamentarian armies, Royalist cavalry under Prince Rupert of the Rhine routed the cavalry of Essex's vanguard at the Battle of Powick Bridge. Nevertheless, lacking infantry, the Royalists abandoned Worcester. Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, (January 11 1591 – 14 September 1646), was the son and heir of the unfortunate Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and succeeded to his fathers title in 1604, three years after the previous earl had been executed for treason. ... Northampton is a large market town and a local government district in the English East Midlands region. ... This article is about the city of Worcester in England. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Prince Rupert (disambiguation). ... The Battle of Powick Bridge, fought on 23 September 1642, was the first major cavalry engagement of the English Civil War and it was a decisive victory for the Royalists who overthrew of the Parliamentary cavalry. ...

Prelude

By early October, the King's huge army was almost complete at Shrewsbury. He held a council of war, at which two courses of action were considered. The first was to attack Essex's army at Worcester, which had the drawback that the close country around the city would put the superior Royalist cavalry at a disadvantage. ^[2] The second course, which was adopted, was to advance towards London. The intention was not to avoid battle with Essex, but to force one at an advantage. In the Earl of Clarendon's words: "it was considered more counsellable to march towards London, it being morally sure that Essex would put himself in their way". Accordingly, the army left Shrewsbury on October 12, gaining two days' start on the enemy, and moved south-east. Essex followed, but neither army had much information on the location of their enemy. A council of war is a term in military science that describes a meeting held to decide on a course of action, usually in the midst of a battle. ... The title Earl of Clarendon was created in 1776 for the politician and diplomat Thomas Villiers, second son of William Villiers, 2nd Earl of Jersey. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

By October 22, the Royalist army was quartered in the villages around Edgecote, and threatening the Parliamentarian garrison at Banbury, who sent messengers pleading for help to the garrison at Warwick Castle. Essex, who had just reached there, ordered an immediate march to Kineton to bring relief to Banbury, even though his army had straggled and not all his troops were present. That evening, there were clashes between outposts and quartermasters' parties in Kineton and the villages nearby, and the Royalists had their first inkling that Essex's army was close by. ^[3] The King issued orders for his army to muster for battle on top of the escarpment of Edgehill the following day. is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Edgecote village no longer exists. ... , Banbury is a market town located on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, England. ... The east front of Warwick Castle as painted by Canaletto in 1752. ... In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ...

Essex originally intended marching straight to the relief of Banbury, but at about eight o'clock on the morning of October 23, his outposts reported that the Cavaliers were massed on Edgehill, four and a half miles from Kineton. Essex deployed his army about halfway between Kineton and the Royalist army, where there was some protection from hedges. is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The opposing forces

There were some important differences between the opposing armies, which were to be important to the course of the battle and its outcome. Although both were composed of very raw soldiers, they both had several experienced officers who had previously fought in the Dutch or Swedish armies during the Thirty Years' War. (Several of these had been recruited to lead English forces which were intended to be sent to Ireland following the Irish Rebellion of 1641. Both King and Parliament had bid highly for the services of these officers.) Combatants Sweden  Bohemia Denmark-Norway[1] Dutch Republic France Scotland England Saxony  Holy Roman Empire Catholic League Austria Bavaria Spain Commanders Frederick V Buckingham Leven Gustav II Adolf â€  Johan Baner Cardinal Richelieu Louis II de Bourbon Vicomte de Turenne Christian IV of Denmark Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar Johann Georg I... The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup détat by Irish Catholic gentry, but rapidly degenerated into bloody intercommunal violence between native Irish Catholics and English and Scottish Protestant settlers. ...

The Royalist cavalry was superior to Parliament's cavalry at this stage of the war. Oliver Cromwell, who arrived too late in the day to take part in the battle, later wrote disparagingly to John Hampden, "Your troopers are most of them old decayed servingmen and tapsters; and their [the Royalists] troopers are gentlemen's sons, younger sons and persons of quality...". Not only were the Parliamentarian cavalry not so naturally accustomed to mounted action, but they were drilled in the Dutch tactic of firing pistols and carbines from the saddle, whereas under Rupert, the Royalist cavalry would charge sword in hand, relying on shock and weight. Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 – 3 September 1658) was an English military and political leader best known for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland. ... John Hampden John Hampden as depicted in the 1851 Illustrated London Reading Book John Hampden (circa 1595—1643) was an English politician, the eldest son of William Hampden, of Hampden House, Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire, a descendant of a very ancient family of that county, said to have been established...

By contrast, the Parliamentarian foot soldiers were better equipped. The Royalist pikemen were said to lack armour, and the musketeers lacked swords, making the Royalist infantry more vulnerable in hand-to-hand combat. Several hundred lacked any sort of weapon apart from clubs or improvised polearms.

The Royalist and Parliamentarian artillery trains were roughly equally matched. Although Essex had more guns overall, many of them had lagged behind on the march.

Deployments

Royalists

The Royalist right wing of cavalry and dragoons was led by Prince Rupert, with Sir John Byron in support. The King's own Lifeguard of Horse insisted on joining Rupert's front line. ^[4] John Byron, 1st Baron Byron (c. ...

The Centre consisted of five "tertias" of infantry. There was a last-minute change of command when the Colonel-General, Lord Lindsey, was overruled when he wished to deploy them in "Dutch" formation, simple phalanxes eight ranks deep. Affronted, he resigned his command and took his place at the head of his own regiment of foot. Instead, he was replaced by Lord Forth, who drew up the infantry in "Swedish" formation, which was potentially more effective but also more difficult to control, particularly with inexperienced soldiers. The centre was led in battle by Sergeant Major General Jacob Astley. Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey (17 December 1583 – Edge Hill 24 October 1642) // Early life Queen Elizabeth I was his godmother, and to her two favourite Earls, whose Christian name he bore, where his godfathers. ... Patrick Ruthven, 1st Earl of Brentford and 1st Earl of Forth (c. ... Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading (1579–1652), was a royalist commander in the English Civil War. ...

The left wing consisted of horse under Sir Henry Wilmot, with Lord Digby, the King's Secretary of State, in support and Colonel Arthur Aston's dragoons on his flank. Lieutenant-General Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester (26 October 1612 – 19 February 1658) was an English Cavalier who fought for the Royalist cause during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. ... George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol (<22 February 1612 - 20 May 1677), eldest son of the 1st earl. ... Sir Arthur Aston (died 1627) was appointed Proprietary Governor of Avalon in 1625 by Sir George Calvert. ...

Parliamentarians

The Parliamentarian left wing consisted of a loosely organised cavalry brigade of twenty unregimented troops under Sir James Ramsay, supported by musketeers and several cannon. They were deployed behind a hedge.

Their centre consisted of three brigades of infantry. Because some of Essex's infantry were not present, Essex reinforced the weaker right flank of his infantry by moving two cavalry regiments under Sir William Balfour and Sir Philip Stapleton from his right wing to behind the infantry. This was to be important in the coming battle. Sir Philip Stapleton (1603-1647), of Warter-on-the Wolds in Yorkshire was an English Member of Parliament, a supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War. ...

This left only a single regiment of cavalry under Lord Feilding, supported by musketeers and dragoons, on the right wing, posted on some rising ground. Basil Feilding, 2nd Earl of Denbigh (c. ...

The battle

As Essex showed no signs of wishing to attack, the Royalists began to descend the slope of Edgehill some time after midday. Even when they had completed this manoevre at about two o'clock, the battle did not begin, until the sight of the King with his large entourage riding from regiment to regiment to encourage his soldiers, apparently goaded the Parliamentarians into opening fire. ^[5]

The King's party withdrew out of range and an artillery duel took place. The Royalist guns were comparatively ineffective as most of them were deployed some way up the slope, and from this height most of their shot plunged harmlessly into the earth. While the bombardment continued however, the Royalist dragoons advanced on each flank and drove back the Parliamentarian dragoons and musketeers covering their wings of horse.

At last, Rupert gave the order to attack. As his charge gathered momentum, a troop of Parliamentarian horse under Faithfull Fortescue abruptly defected. The rest of Ramsay's brigade apparently gave an ineffectual volley of pistol fire from the saddle before turning to flee. Rupert's and Byron's troopers rapidly overran the enemy guns and musketeers on this flank and galloped jubilantly in pursuit of Ramsay's men.

Wilmot charged about the same time on the other flank. Feilding's outnumbered regiment quickly gave way, and Wilmot and Digby also chased them to Kineton where the Royalist horse fell out to loot the Parliamentarian baggage.

The Royalist infantry also advanced in the centre. Many of the Parliamentarian foot had already run away as their cavalry disappeared, and others fled as the infantry came to close quarters. The brigades of Sir Thomas Ballard and Sir John Meldrum nevertheless stood their ground. Without any Royalist cavalry to oppose them, the Parliamentarian horse under Stapleton and Balfour now charged the Royalist infantry and put many units to flight. Sir John Meldrum (died 1645) was a soldier of Scottish origin who spent 36 years in the service of the Stuart kings of Scotland and England, James VI and I and Charles I. In 1642, he found himself opposed to the policies of Charles government and supported the Parliamentarian cause...

The King had left himself without any proper reserve. As his centre gave way, he ordered one of his officers to conduct his sons Charles and James to safety while he himself tried to rally his infantry. Some of Balfour's men charged so far into the Royalist position that they menaced the princes' escort and briefly overran the Royalist artillery before withdrawing. ^[6] In the front ranks, Lord Lindsey was killed, and Sir Edmund Verney died defending the Royal Standard, which was captured by Parliamentarian Ensign Arthur Young. Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. ... James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701)[2] was King of England, King of Scots,[1] and King of Ireland from 6 February 1685 to 11 December 1688. ... Sir Edmund Verney (1590-1642) was a casualty of the battle of Edgehill. ... Ensign is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the militaries of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. ...

By this time, some of the Royalist horse had rallied and were returning from Kineton. Some of them recaptured the Royal Standard as it was being taken to the rear as a trophy. As they reformed on the flanks, and as evening drew on, Essex ordered his men to break off the battle.

Outcome

Both sides held their positions during the night, which was very cold. This has been suggested as the reason why many of the wounded survived, as the cold allowed many wounds to congeal, saving the wounded from bleeding to death or succumbing to infection.

The following day, both armies formed up again, but neither was willing to resume the battle. Charles sent a herald to Essex with a message of pardon if he would agree to the King's terms, but the messenger was roughly handled and forced to return without delivering his message. Although Essex had been reinforced by some of his units which had lagged behind on the march, he withdrew on October 25 to Warwick Castle, abandoning seven guns on the battlefield. is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

This allowed the King to move directly on London. Rupert urged this course, and was prepared to undertake it with his cavalry alone. With Essex's army still intact, Charles chose to move more deliberately, with the whole army. After capturing Banbury on October 27, Charles advanced via Oxford, Aylesbury and Reading. Essex meanwhile had moved directly to London. Reinforced with the London Trained Bands and many citizen volunteers, he would prove to be too strong for the King to contemplate another battle when the Royalists advanced to Turnham Green. The King withdrew to Oxford, which he made his capital for the rest of the war. With both sides almost evenly matched, it would drag on ruinously for years. is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the city of Oxford in England. ... On the 1st November 1642, Royalist forces, under the command of Prince Rupert engaged Aylesburys Parliamentarian garrison, at Holmans Bridge. ... , Reading is a town, unitary authority (the Borough of Reading) and urban area in the English county of Berkshire. ... Combatants Parliamentarians Royalists Commanders Earl of Essex King King Charles I Strength 24,000[1] 7,000-12,000 Casualties very few very few The Battle of Turnham Green occurred 13 November 1642 near the village of Turnham Green, at the end the first campaigning season of the First English...

It is generally acknowledged that the Royalist cavalry's lack of discipline prevented a clear Royalist victory at Edgehill. Not for the last time in the war, they would gallop after fleeing enemy and stop to plunder, rather than rally to attack the enemy infantry. Byron's and Digby's men in particular, were not involved in the first clashes and should have been kept in hand rather than allowed to gallop off the battlefield.

Maps

• The official Battlefield. This is the site of the Parliamentarian army's centre about which much of the fighting was done.
• The broader Battlefield. (Zoom out one step). The narrow wood, which has probably grown since the battle, marks the scarp of Edge Hill at the top of which the king's army formed up before the battle. Towards the north-west, it overlooks the lower slope and the plain on which the battle was fought. Parliament's army was formed up on the site of the later military depot with its left wing on the road.

Footnotes

References

• Seymour, W. Battles in Britain, 1066-1746. (1997) ISBN 1-85326-672-8
• Scott, C.L., Turton, A & Gruber von Arni, E. Edgehill: The Battle Reinterpreted. (2005) ISBN 1-84415-133-6
• Tincey, John, Roberts, Keith, Edgehill 1642: The English Civil War. (2001) ISBN 1-85532-991-3
• The UK Battlefields Resource Center, The Battlefields Trust, Meadow Cottage, 33 High Green, Brooke, Norwich, NR15 1HR
• Bott, Gavin, Executive Producer, "Line of Fire: Battle of Edgehill". (2006) History International Channel U.S.
• Young, Peter, Edgehill 1642, Windrush Press, ISBN 0-900075-34-1

External links

• British Civil Wars site
• Battle of Edgehill: 23 October 1642