stuarts (1640-49)

20th feb 1640

Charles calls Short Parliament for the first time in 11 years then dissolves it after 3 weeks.

aug 1640

Second Bishops' War launched by Charles, but many of his soldiers supported the Scots. They were defeated at the Battle of Newburn.

oct 1640

Treaty of Ripon forced Charles to pay the Scots £850 a day while they occupied Newcastle until the issue was resolved.

3rd nov 1640

Long Parliament set up as the Scots covenanters forced Charles to hold new elections, produced a large majority for the opposition (led by John Pym). Divisions in Parliament over how to address shared grievances.

dec 1640

The Commons accepts a petition from London which called for the reversal of Laud's reforms and the abolishing of the episcopal government (Bishops being part of government). There is religious conflict in Parliament.

jan 1641

Charles agrees to remove bishops from his Privy Council, reducing their role in administration and government.

feb 1641

The Triennial Act is passed, ensuring that Parliament would be called every 3 years and made provision for a Parliament to assemble even if the King had not called it.

12th may 1641

Earl of Stafford executed and found guilty of treason, following his impeachment led by Pym as Stafford believed in authoritarian rule. They thought he influenced Charles, and he was blamed for the King's mistakes.

jun 1641

Ten Propositions put forward by Parliament to increase parliamentary control over King's advisors and ask Charles to delay his visit to Scotland. Puritans in Parliament also tried to bring in a 'Root and Branch' bill to abolish the office of bishop completely.

why were the Ten Propositions put forward?

So Charles would not make peace with the Scots and escape his financial problems or use the Scottish army to impose his will in England.

jul 1641

The prerogative courts of Star Chamber and High Commission abolished, removing the King's capacity to deal with legal cases directly through his prerogative powers.

aug 1641

An act was passed declaring Ship Money as illegal.

22nd nov 1641

Grand Remonstrance Bill passed by only 11 votes. It outlined all of Parliament's grievances with the King and Pym hoped it would unite Parliament.

28th nov 1641

Militia Bill introduced to provide Ireland with an army. An amendment was proposed which would give Parliament the right to approve the King's choice of commander. This created conflict in Parliament and further attacked the King's prerogative.

4th jan 1642

Charles heard rumours the opposition was going to try and impeach the Queen. He enters the House of Commons and attempts to arrest 5 MPs for treason and leads 300 soldiers into Parliament, breaching Parliamentary privilege.

mar 1642

Militia Ordinance issued by Parliament, allowing it to raise and command an army.

1st jun 1642

Nineteen Propositions introduced by Parliament as a basis for a negotiated settlement, but instead it made a statement as demands were radical, such as Parliament overseeing the education of Charles' children. They were rejected.

11th jun 1642

Charles introduces the Commission of Array, calling on Lord Lieutenants to raise an army for him to command.

jul 1642

Parliament raised its army.

22nd aug 1642

Charles raises his standard in Nottingham, effectively declaring war on Parliament. The start of the Civil War.

23rd oct 1642

Battle of Edgehill, soldiers were just ordinary men who trained part time. Each side had around 20,000 inexperienced men.

mar 1643

Parliament proposes Oxford Propositions, but they are rejected by Charles. By summer both sides control similar areas but Parliament has better resources. They control ports and arsenals like London and Plymouth as well as the Navy. The King had northern England and much of Wales, and some victories in Cornwall and Devon. There were around 150,000 combatants overall.

30th jun 1643

The Battle of Adwalton Moor enabled the Duke of Newcastle and the Royalists to take York and much of Yorkshire. By late 1643, the King held 2/3s of England and Wales.

aug 1643

Parliament allies with Scottish Covenantors as they promise to form a Presbyterian Church in England.

20th sep 1643

The Royalists attempted to take Gloucester but failed as they met the Earl of Sussex and a large Parliamentary army, causing the First Battle of Newbury. 30,000 men were involved and the King's army lost Essex.

sep 1643

The King reached an agreement with Irish Catholics to end the Rebellion so in 1644 Irish troops joined the Royalists. Instead, this was seen as an Irish 'invasion' and led to rising anti-Catholic propaganda.

jan 1644

22,000 Scottish men head to York and are met by Prince Rupert's Royalist army.

22nd jul 1644

Battle of Marston Moor. Parliament had 28,000 and the Royalists 18,000 making it the largest battle of the First Civil War. The Royalist cause collapsed in the North.

jan 1645

Parliament presents Charles with the Uxbridge Propositions, which would have taken power over the armed forces away from Charles, given Parliament the right to educate his children, introduced Presbyterianism into England and obliged Charles to sign the Covenant. It was rejected.

feb 1645

The New Model Army is created by replacing aristocratic army leaders with trained soldiers. 22,000 are under the control of Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell is a senior commander.

14th jun 1645

15,000 Parliamentarians and 10,000 Royalists fight at Naseby, Parliament wins and continues to defeat Charles' remaining forces in the West and South West.

10th mar 1646

Sir Ralph Hopton and the Royalists surrender at Truro.

5th may 1646

The King left Oxford and surrendered to the Scottish Army at Newark. Charles was moved to Newcastle until a settlement began.

feb 1647

The Scots handed Charles over to the English. They wanted a Scottish-style religious settlement but were agreeable to a constitutional monarchy. Parliament was dominated by Presbyterians who suggested the Newcastle Propositions.

what were the Newcastle Propositions?

They involved the abolishment of Bishops, establishment of the Presbyterian Church, and Parliament would control the militia for 20 years.

mar 1647

Parliament disagreed over what to do with the New Model Army. They tried to disband it without pay but the Army retaliated by taking control of the King.

2nd aug 1647

The Army offered the Heads of Proposals which included biennial Parliaments, Bishops would remain with reduced power and Parliament would control the militia for 10 years.

oct 1647

Leveller influence in the Army grew, led by Colonel Rainsborough, who wanted complete religious freedom. They proposed the Agreement of the People which demanded complete religious freedom and annual parliaments elected by all adult males. The Army countered this by claiming voters must have enough property to vote. These debates ended upon the news of Charles' escape.

11th nov 1647

Charles escapes Hampton Court and flees to Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight but is subsequently recaptured and held prisoner there. He makes a peace treaty with the Scots, agreeing to a religious settlement in exchange for military support.

apr 1648

The Army seized power from Parliament. The leaders of the uprisings war executed and radical MPs expelled as part of the Pride's Purge, leaving a Rump Parliament who opposed Charles.

1st jun 1648

Royalist uprisings in Kent and a Naval Revolt in the Downs. People were discontent with the taxes, devastated by the war and felt disillusioned by Parliament. Fairfax responded with 7000 New Model Army soldiers and crushed the uprising.

jun 1648

Some Royalists from Kent uprisings escaped to Colchester, which was fortified against a Parliamentary siege that lasted for a couple of months.

5th dec 1648

Pride's Purge- the Commons was surrounded by soldiers, led by Colonel Pride. They excluded 186 MPs who supported continued negotiations with the King and arrested 45 who had been involved in discussions.

30th jan 1649

The Rump Parliament put Charles on trial in Westminster Hall, where he was found guilty of attempting to 'uphold in himself an unlimited and tyrannical power to rule'. He was condemned to death and beheaded in Whitehall.