A level Stuart England All Important Dates

Public loyalty to Charles I and Divine Right ideology

1642 — Widespread belief in Divine Right monarchy created strong loyalty to Charles I; many rejected the 19 Propositions as too radical due to demands for parliamentary control over army, appointments, and royal household

Political aims at outbreak of Civil War

1642 — Charles I aimed to return to London and restore monarchical authority; Parliament’s aims were less clearly defined

Royalist leadership division emerges

1642 — War faction (Prince Rupert, Henrietta Maria) supported fighting; Peace faction (Clarendon, Falkland) preferred negotiated settlement

Royalist noble support and finance

1642 — Included £300,000 from Worcester family, gunpowder from Evelyn family, and manpower from Earl of Newcastle in the North

Royalist geographical advantage

1642 — Controlled North and Wales giving access to iron, coal, York arsenals, and munitions

Royalist taxation attempts

1642 — Local committees raised funds but relied on JPs and voluntary cooperation from a largely neutral population

Royalist command structure

1642 — Charles I held divine authority; commanders like Rupert and Newcastle strengthened leadership including victory at Adwalton Moor

Battle of Edge Hill

1642 — Rupert replaced Lindsey; Royalist cavalry overextended and failed to win decisively; failure to march on London missed opportunity to end war early

Parliament control of London

1642–1643 — Westminster provided legitimacy and financial strength; £100,000 loan raised; London trained bands used at Edgehill and Turnham Green

Taxation ordinance controversy

July 1643 — Parliamentary goods tax became unpopular with widespread refusal to pay in London

Weekly Assessment Ordinance

1643 — Ship-money-style national tax system introduced to fund war effort

Solemn League and Covenant

1643 — Alliance with Scotland increased manpower and contributed to victories like Marston Moor

Monthly assessments introduced

1644 — Tax system restructured increasing revenue by ~50%

Battle of Marston Moor

1644 — Parliamentary/Scottish victory secured control of North England

Self-Denying Ordinance

1644 — Move toward centralised professional army structure

New Model Ordinance

1645 — 10 cavalry and 10 infantry regiments funded by ~£53,000; Self-Denying Ordinance removed MPs from command

Battle of Naseby

1645 — Decisive Parliamentary victory marking turning point of First Civil War

Charles I surrenders to Scots

1646 — End of First Civil War phase

Newcastle Propositions rejected

1646 — Charles I rejected Parliament’s lenient settlement proposals

Heads of Proposals

1647 — Army settlement offering limited monarchy; temporary cooperation from Charles I

Political division in Parliament and army

1647 — War, Middle, and Peace factions created instability

Putney Debates

1647 — Leveller ideas such as universal male suffrage discussed in New Model Army

Army–Parliament tension rises

1647 — Parliament attempted to reduce army influence increasing conflict

Second Civil War begins

1648 — Charles I supported Scottish Engagement leading to renewed conflict

Royalist uprisings

1648 — Revolts in Kent, Wales, and North lacked coordination

Battle of Maidstone

1648 — Parliament suppressed Kent uprising

Battle of Preston

1648 — New Model Army defeated Scottish/Royalist force (~20,000 vs ~9,000), ending Second Civil War

Army distrust of Charles I

1648 — Charles labelled “man of blood” and seen as untrustworthy

Pride’s Purge

1648 — 180 MPs removed and 45 arrested, enabling Rump Parliament

Execution of Charles I

1649 — Tried and executed for treason in January

Council of State created

1649 — 41-member executive replaces monarchy; Commonwealth established

Abolition of House of Lords

1649 — Rump Parliament removes upper chamber

Diggers movement begins

1649 — Winstanley promotes communal land ownership at St George’s Hill

Irish Royalist revival

1649 — Ormond declares Charles II King of Ireland; brutal suppression at Drogheda and Wexford (3–4k killed)

Act for Propagation of Gospel in Wales

1650 — Attempt to replace Anglican clergy with Puritan ministers

Battle of Dunbar

1650 — Cromwell defeats Scots and secures Edinburgh

Welsh resistance to reform

1650 — Rural resistance limits religious change

Battle of Worcester

1651 — Final defeat of Charles II; he flees into exile

Navigation Act

1651 — Strengthens trade control and increases maritime power

Dissolution of Rump Parliament

1653 — Cromwell removes Rump due to inefficiency

Barebone’s Parliament

1653 — Nominated assembly introduces reforms but collapses quickly

Instrument of Government

1653 — First written constitution; Cromwell becomes Lord Protector

Religious toleration framework

1654 — Limited coexistence of Protestant groups under Cromwell

Major Generals introduced

1655 — England divided into 11 districts; triggered by Penruddock’s Rising (~100 men)

Licensing system for ministers

1655–1656 — Controlled religious preaching and diversity

Readmission of Jews

1656 — Jews return to England after 366 years

Humble Petition and Advice

1657 — Parliament offers Cromwell crown; he refuses but accepts reforms

Cost of Major Generals

1657 — System costs ~£230,000 annually and is unpopular

Death of Oliver Cromwell

1658 — Protectorate destabilises

Richard Cromwell becomes Protector

1658 — Lacks authority and army support

Richard Cromwell removed

1659 — Forced resignation by army

Recall of Rump Parliament

1659 — Attempted restoration but unstable

End of Rump Parliament after Richard Cromwell

1659 — Collapse due to army conflict and political paralysis

Committee of Safety created

1659 — Military government led by Fleetwood and Lambert; unstable regime

Committee of Safety collapse

1659 — Government breaks down under pressure

George Monck intervention

1659–1660 — Monck marches 6,000 troops to restore order

Declaration of Breda

April 1660 — Charles II promises pardon, toleration, army pay, and settlement

Convention Parliament

April 1660 — Parliament formed and agrees restoration terms

Charles II declared King

8 May 1660 — Restoration formally agreed

Indemnity and Oblivion Act

1660 — Regicides punished; many executed