History Civil War Overview

Why did Parliament win the Civil War?

Military Matters:

GLOUCESTER: After August 1643, Charles focused on sieging Gloucester, where he could obtain a route from Shrewsbury to Bristol, and from Wales to Oxford, with the Severn Bridge making a route from south Wales for recruits. Earth ramparts had been set up to absorb the impact of shot and cannon and mortars, while Governor of Gloucester Sir Edward Massey had removed housesoutside the ramparts to create clear fields of fire for his artillery and musketeers. 40 barrels of gunpowder were owned. On 23 Aug, 1643, Essex and 15,000 men went deep into enemy territory, passing to the north of Oxford. When he approached Gloucester, Charles abandoned siege and his army circled around Essex to prevent escape. Essex tried to escape through the Cottswold Hills. Charles managed to stop his escape at Newbury to London, but Essex forced his way through to safety. Charles didn't get Gloucester, or London, as criticised by his wife, and the siege was a failure. 

NASEBY: In 1645 the New Model Army was set up. Setting up the army put an end to regionalism as soldiers would fight Royalists anywhere, soldiers received regular pay, and the army was better equipped and trained under Lord General Sir Thomas Fairfax. Doubts were raised by Self Denying Ordinance, which removed many generals from power. In May 1645, Oxford was sieged by Parliament; Charles tried to pursue Leicester, moving the fighting north of Naseby.At Naseby, Charles had experienced some successes in Wales and the Welsh border country, but Parliament's forces were twice the size of his, and had strong positioning. As at Edgehill, Rupert attempted to break the cavalry on the left flank, but then pursued their enemy to Parliament's baggaged train. It took an hour to regroup, and by this time, Cromwell's cavalry on the right hand regrouped and charged into Royalist infantry from their cavalry. On the left wing, Parliamentarian dragoons, deployed behind a long hedgerow, emerged from their position and attacked the right flank of the royalist line. Royalists were heavily outnumbered, and 100 were killed, with 4500 captured. Only 200 Parliamentarians died. This led to Langport 10 July in West Country, Bridgwater two weeks later, cutting off Royalists in south-west, siege of Bristol in August which led to Rupert surrendering, and Charles exiling him. He urged Charles to surrender but he would not, and decided to join forces with Montrose, Scotland. On 13 September, he was defeated at the Battle of…