CHRONOLOGY OF KEY EVENTS IN THE ‘ENGLISH’ CIVIL WAR.

 

OVERVIEW

1^st Bishops’ War – 1639     2cd Bishop’s War  – 1640

 

The Irish Rebellion  1641-1653.

1^st Civil War – 1642-1646

2nd Civil War 1647-1648

3^rd Civil War 1649-1651  

The Commonwealth 1649-1653

Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate – 1654-1658

DETAILED YEAR BY YEAR CHRONOLOGY

 

            The major battles are highlighted in capital letters.

 

                                                1599

 

25^th April – Birth of Oliver Cromwell

 

                                                1600

Birth of Sir Philip Skippon (exact date unknown)

 

19^th November - Birth of Prince Charles Stuart, Later King Charles The First.

 

                                                1606

 

19^th June Birth of the Duke Of Hamilton.

 

                                                1609

 

16^th November – Birth of Henrietta-Maria.

 

                                                1618

 

23^rd May – Outbreak of the Thirty Years War.

 

                                                1625

 

27^th March  – Death of King James 1^st.  Succession of Charles 1^st.

11^th May – Proxy marriage service for Charles The First and the fifteen year old Catholic Queen Henrietta-Maria, in Paris.

12^th June – Charles is united with his Queen at Dover for the first time since their wedding.

 

1626

2cd February – English Coronation ceremony for King Charles The First. .

 

                                    1627

 

23^rd August – The assassination of the Duke Of Buckingham.

 

                                    1530

 

29^th May – The Birth of the future Charles The Second.

 

                                    1633

 

19^th June – Scottish Coronation ceremony for King Charles The First.

 

 

                                    1637

 

23^rd July – First reading of the new Book Of Common Prayer attempted at St. Giles’s Church, resulting in widespread rioting.

 

                                    1638

 

28^th February – The launch of the Scottish National Covenant petition at Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh. . Montrose was among the first to sign it on the opening day.

 

                                    1639

 

13^th Feb Huntly musters the Gordon Clan and the Aberdeenshire Royalists

21^st March – Alexander Leslie captures Edinburgh Castle for the Covenant forces.

10^th May  – Attack on Towie Barclay Castle at Turriff. Death of David Prat. 

14^th May – King Charles reaches Newcastle.

14^th May  – The Battle at Trot Of Turriff – Royalist Victory.

28^th - 30^th May  – Charles brings the English forces up to Berwick

18^th June – The Pacification Of Berwick

18/19^th  June – BATTLE AT THE BRIG O’ DEE 

23^rd October, - Philip Skippon is made captain in the Honourable Artillery Company

 

                                    1640

12^th January – Lord Wentworth becomes the Earl of Strafford.

13^th April - Start of Short Parliament

20^th May – Covenant forces ravage Gordon estates in Scotland.

5^th May  – End of the Short Parliament

2cd June – Foundation in Scotland of the Committee Of Estates without Royal consent.

20^th August  - Covenant invasion of Northern England 

29^th August  -Newcastle falls to the Scots

26^th October – Treaty Of Ripon Signed.

3^rd November  – Start of the Long Parliament

11th November – Lord Strafford impeached on Parliamentary orders.

18^th December – Archbishop Laud Impeached on Parliamentary orders.

 

                                    1641

 

22cd March – Strafford’s Trial begins. 

3rd May - Parliament Comittee set up to investigate the Army Plot.

12^th May – Strafford Executed

11^th June – Montrose imprisoned for slander towards Argyll.

10^th August – Charles leaves London to visit Edinburgh.

14^th August – Charles arrives in Edinburgh.

21^st October – The Incident.

23^rd October  – Start Of The Irish Rebellion

1^st November – News of the Irish Rebellion reaches London.

6^th November – Oliver Cromwell proposes Lord Essex be given control of the army for Parliament.

8^th November – The Grand Remonstrance first read before Parliament.

17^th November – Charles leaves Scotland to return to London.

22cd November – The Grand Remonstrance is carried in Parliament by 159 votes to 148.

25^th November – Charles arrives back in London. The citizens give him a warm welcome.

1^st December – Parliament’s Grand Remonstrance presented to the King.

15^th December – Proposal to Parliament to make the Grand Remonstrance public.

23^rd December – Charles calmly responds in writing to the charges in the Remonstrance.

 

                        1642

 

4^th January  – Charles attempts to arrest  five members of Parliament.

8^{th. January - Philip Skippon given freedom of the city of London.} 

^{10th January - Philip Skippon made Sergeant Major-General  in charge of the London Trained Bands} 

10^th January - Charles leaves London for Hampton Court. 

11^th January - Triumphal return to London of the Five MP's by barge on the Thames, guarded by Skippon and the London Trained Bands. 

February 23^rd – Queen Henrietta-Maria leaves for Holland, accompanied by Prince Rupert.

5^th March  - Parliament issues a Militia Ordinance

11^th March – Henrietta-Maria arrives at The Hague with requests for mercenaries and arms for the English King.

18^th March – Charles sets up his headquarters in York.

3^rd April – 10,000 Scots arrive in Ireland serving under Munro.

23^rd April –King Charles is denied entry to Kingston-On-Hull by Parliamentarian supporters. 

10^th May - Skippon parades the London Trained Band at Finsbury Park before the leading Parliament commanders. 

13^th May - King Charles orders Skippon to come to York to serve under him directly. Skippon refuses. 

1^st June – Parliament presents Charles The First with a list of Nineteen Propositions.

6^th July  The sluices of the River Humber to flood Hull’s outskirts and create a moat to deter the Royalists besieging the town.

15^th July  – Riots in Manchester. - The death of Richard Perseval, the first English casualty of the Wars.

15^th July – Queen Henrietta-Maria appoints Prince Rupert Of The Rhine as General of Horse at The Hague. 

4th August - Battle of Marshall's Elm, Somerset.  (Royalist victory) .

20^th August – Princes Rupert & Maurice arrive in Newcastle.

22cd August  - Charles 1^st Raises the Royal Standard in Nottingham

25^th September – Beginning of the siege of Manchester. Lord Strange becomes the 7^th Earl Of Derby whilst leading the Royalists in the siege.

1^st October – The week long siege of Manchester ends in Royalist defeat.

23^rd October  – THE BATTLE AT EDGEHILL

29th October  - Charles enters Oxford, his HQ throughout the 1^st Civil War

12th November - Storming of Brentford by the Royalists. 

13th November - The stand off at Turnham Green - few shots fired. parliament victory.

27th  November  – Royalists chased through Atherton and Leigh by Parliamentary forces, some drawn from the Manchester Garrisons. 

29th November - The King is in Oxford. 

                                    1643

 

22cd February – Queen Henrietta-Maria lands at Bridlington Bay with arms and mercenaries, in storm lashed conditions. Parliament attacks Bridlington   the next day. 

7th March - Queen Henrietta Marie reaches York safely. 

18th March - The Earl Of Derby takes Lancaster for the King. 

23rd May - The House Of Commons impeaches Queen Henreitta Marie. 

23rd June - The start of the siege of Corfe Castle. 

24th June - Battle of Chalgrave Field - Royalist victory resulting in the death of Parliament leader, John Hampden. 

30th June - Battle Of Adwalton Moor Royalist victory. Lady Fairfax captured by the Royalists. 

1st July - Lady Fairfax released from captivity unharmed.   

5th July - Battle Of Lansdown Disputed, costly Royalist victory resulting in the death of Sir Bevil Grenville (Parliamentarian MP) 

13th July - Battle Of Roundway Down Royalist victory  - Routing of William Waller's Roundhead forces. 

13th July - Charles and Henrietta Marie unite at Oxford. 

27th July - Royalists under Prince Rupert capture Bristol. 

4th August The siege of Corfe Castle ends. 

7-9th August - Peace demonstrations break out in London. 

3rd September - Skippon's and Essex's forces reach Addington and engage in the breaking of the siege of Gloucester. 

3rd September - Death under fire at Gloucester of Lucius Cary (Viscount Falkland),

19-20th September - The First Battle Of Newbury. (Parliament victory) 

25^th September – Scots and English Sign The Solemn League & Covenant

11th October - Battle of Winceby - Parliament victory. 

6th-13th November - William Waller besieges Basing House.

8^th December – John Pym dies of Cancer.

 

                                    1644

 

19^th January - Leven’s Army of the Scottish League & Covenant invades England

22cd January Oliver Cromwell promoted to Lieutenant General Of Horse.

25^th January – The Battle Of Nantwich.

28^th January – Lord Leven captures Morpeth Castle.

2cd February The Marquis Of Newcastle takes the city of Newcastle 

27th February Siege of Lathom House starts.

13^th February Montrose is officially made the King's Lieutenant General in Scotland.

15^th March – Montrose goes to visit Newcastle at Durham, to request troops on the King’s instructions. He is only given 100 horses. 

19^th March  – Huntly’s rising begins. 

29th March - Battle of Cheriton - Parliament victory. 

11th April - Battle of Selby - Parliament victory.

13^th April  - Montrose invasion reaches Dumfries 

17th April - Queen Henrietta Marie leaves Oxford.

20^th April  - Montrose driven back into England through lack of support. 

21^st April – Irvine Of Drum & Nathaniel Gordon attack Auld Montrose town.

April 23^rd – 150 Irish Catholic Royalists tied up and drowned at Milford Haven.

1st May - Quen Henrietta Marie arrives in Exeter. 

6^th May – James Graham, 5^th Earl of Montrose is made the 1^st Marquis of Montrose.

12^th June  – fall of Liverpool to Royalists.  

27th May - The siege of Latham House ends in Royalist victory.

28^th May – Prince Rupert and Lord Byron storm Bolton and massacre many civilians. 

29th June Battle of Cropredy Bridge - Royalist Victory.

2cd July  – THE BATTLE OF MARSTON MOOR

8^th   July - Irish reach Ardnamurchan 

11th July Basing House besieged again.

14^th July Queen Henrietta-Maria sails for France and exile. 

16th July - The King surrenders York to Parliament. 

17^th July – Lord Inchiquin deserts the Royalists to join the Parliamentary cause in Ireland.

15^th August – The battle at Ribble Bridge. James Ogilvie captured by Fairfax.

18^th August – Montrose enters Scotland disguised as a groom. 

21st August - Essex abandons his men and flees by sea from Royalist forces at Beacon Hill.

25th July - The King reaches Exeter. 

29^th August- Montrose unites with MacColla, and raises the standard. 

31st August - 2cd September - Skippon surrounded by Royalists at Castle Dore, Lostwithiel and forced to surrender.

1^st September THE BATTLE OF TIPPERMUIR

6^th September   Montrose asked Dundee to surrender, but retreated without fight.

12^th September – Montrose is excommunicated by order of the Committee Of Estates.

13^th September THE BATTLE OF ABERDEEN

16^th September  – Montrose leads his men into Rothiemurchus.

18^th September - Argyll officially declares Montrose a traitor, and places a price of 20,000 Merks on his head, dead or alive.

19^th September – Argyll captures Aberdeen for the Covenant forces.

7^th October Montrose’s forces cross the Dee at Mark Of Drum & head North. 

13^th October  – Newcastle falls to the Covenant Scots.

20^th October Montrose reaches Strathbogie in Huntly

24^th October  – Argyll enters Aberdeen

24^th October – English Parliament pass a law to offer no quarter to any Irish soldiers  or civilians  serving the Royalist cause.

25^th October   Argyll moves forces up the Dee to Kintore

26^th October  – Montrose moves his men to Auchterless

27^th October Argyll moves North to Old Meldrum  (abandoning plans to go to Strathbogie) Montrose Moves his men into Fyvie. 

27th October - The 2cd Battle Of Newbury. (narrow and costly Royalist victory).

28^th October  – The skirmish at Fyvie Castle (Royalist victory)

30^th October  – Argyll withdraws his forces from Fyvie Castle. Montrose goes back to Strathbogie, via Turriff & Rotheray

8^th November - Montrose leaves Strathbogie and then heads into the hills

13^th December – Beginning of the Storming of Inverary 

           

            1645

 

10^th January - Execution of William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury

31^st January  - Montrose’s army reached Kilchummin, - decision reached to attack Inverlochy.

2cd February THE BATTLE OF INVERLOCHY

 9^th February  – Lord Gordon joins Montrose with his cavalry. .

17^th February – The New Model Army is formed by Ordinance

18^th February – Montrose and the Gordons take Elgin. 

4th March - The Prince Of Wales leaves Oxford, bound for Bristol.

15^th March - Hurry attacks the rebels at Aberdeen

19^th March – Montrose attacks Stonehaven.

25^th March – Montrose attacks Brechin.

29^th March – Montrose and Baille  see one another’s armies on opposite banks of the River Isla. 

3rd April - The Self Denying Ordinance.

4^th April - Dundee taken by Montrose. Royalists chased from the city the same night. 

5th April - Skippon, now a  Major General, is given command of the infantry of The New Model Army, and breaks the news to his men.

19^th April – Montrose joined by Lord Aboyne, and the young Master Of Napier.

2cd May – Montrose reaches Strathbogie.

8^th May – Hurry reaches Inverness and gets reinforcements.

9th May THE BATTLE OF AULDEARN 

30th May - The storming of Leicester - Royalist victory.

10^th June – Cromwell promoted to Lieutenant-General of Horse under Fairfax

14^th June  – THE BATTLE OF NASEBY

28^th June – David Leslie captures Carlisle for the Covenant Army.

2cd July THE BATTLE OF ALFORD 

10th August The Battle of Langport - Parliament victory.

15^th August THE BATTLE OF KILSYTH

15^th – 16^th August  – Glasgow negotiates   a financial package to prevent plunder by Montrose, who agrees to their terms.

18^th August – Montrose enters Glasgow as a conqueror.

18^th August – King Charles gives up on his advance towards Scotland, and retreats from Doncaster.

3^rd September  – MacColla leaves Montrose and O’Cahan for the last time at Bothwell

3^rd to 8^th September - MacColla camped at Cloverhill.

10^th September – Montrose reaches Jedburgh.

10^th September – Prince Rupert surrenders control of Bristol to Thomas Fairfax.

13^th September THE BATTLE OF PHILIPAUGH

6^th October - Clanranald and Macdonalds raid Glenlochy and surrounding Campbell territory, and have been doing so for a week). 

8th October - Cromwell takes charge of Parliament forces besieging Basing House.

12^th October - Papal Nuncio Archbishop Rinuccini arrives in Ireland.

14th October - Cromwell storms Basing House.

19^th October – Inverary ravaged by anti-Campbell Highlanders. 

10th September - Rupert Surrenders Bristol to Parliament. 

24th September - Battle Of Rowton Heath - Parliament victory.

 

                                                1646

 

3td February - Chester falls to Parliament.

4^th February – the Committee Of Estates declares John Middleton as Commander in Chief in Scotland.

13^th February - Covenant Levies routed at Colander by Highlanders 

27th February - Surrender of Corfe Castle

2cd March The Prince Of wales sails to the Scilly Isles. 

23rd March Battle of stow-In-The Wold, Gloucestershire - Royalist defeat.

23^rd March – King Charles starts the negotiations with the Scots, which will lead to his surrender. 

16th April - The Prince Of Wales goes to Jersey.

23^rd April – Hamilton released from imprisonment.

5^th May – Charles surrenders to the Scots at Newark, officially ending the 1^st Civil War. 

6th May - Newark Royalists reluctantly surrender on the orders of the King.

13^th May – The Scots hold the King captive at Newcastle.

20^th May – Argyll visits Charles in his captivity at Newcastle.

5^th of June - In Ireland Roe O’Neil, wins a major victory at Benhurb over General Munro.

26^th June – The Prince Of Wales leaves Jersey to join his mother, Henrietta-Maria in exile in France. 

13th July - Oxford reluctantly surrenders on the King's orders.

16^th July – The King writes to Montrose to ask him to disband his army.

22cd July – Montrose meets with Middleton under truce to discuss safe conduct terms for his men before he formally disbands his army.

30^th July - Montrose officially dissolves his army. At Rattray

3^rd September. – Montrose leaves Scotland for European exile. He sails first to Norway.

 

                                    1647

 

30^th January  – Scots Surrender the King to the English Parliament

3^rd February - £10,000 instalment paid to the Scots, who then hands Charles to the English Parliamentary forces that take him to Holdenby House.

11^th February – The last of the Scottish Covenant Army leave English soil and head home.

21st March - First Saffron Walden  meeting between MP's and army officers to discuss grievances. 

15th April - 2cd Saffron Walden meeting. 

28th April - Agitators speak in the House Of Commons. 

6^th -7th May - Skippon presides over a heated meeting and petition signing by agitators within the New Model Army at Saffron Walden. 

24^th May Leslie got to Kintyre, and engages MacColla’s men at Rhunahaoerdine.

4^th June – King Charles moved from Holdenby House to Newmarket when the Parliamentarians suspect a rescue attempt.

6-7^th June – Most of MacColla’s men arrive in Ireland. .

16th June - Army moves against eleven members of Parliament, including Holles. 

19^th June- Charles is relocated again, this time to Richmond, near London.

19th June - Agitator debates take place at Royston, near Cambridge. Skippon was in attendance. 

June 24^th - Leslie lays siege to Colkitto’s forces on Islay. ^.

July 1^st - Colkitto is captured on Islay

3^rd July – Charles is moved to Caversham.

July 5^th - The siege of Islay ends.

17^th July – George Monck is given control of all of the English Parliamentary forces in Ireland. 

6th August - The New Model army takes over control of London. 

8^th August – Ireland, THE BATTLE AT DUNGAN’S HILL Irish Confederation defeat.

12^th August – The King is moved to Oatlands.

24^th August – The King is moved to Hampden Court. 

28th October - Opening of The Putney Debates.

11^th November – Urged and aided by the Scots, Charles escapes from Hampden Court.

13^th November – Charles  gets to the Isle of Wight and is held as a virtual prisoner in Carisbrook Castle.

13th November – THE BATTLE OF KNOCKMANOSS. Ireland The death of Alastair MacColla.

14^th December – Parliament Presents Charles with the Four Bills (Four Propositions).

15^th December – The King and the Scots create the first copies of the Engagement agreement.

26^th December – The King & The Scots agree on The Engagement

28^th December – Charles rejects the Four Bills.

 

                                    1648

23rd March - Rowland Laughame's revolt begins. 

3^rd April – Lord Inchiquin defects from Parliamentary support and rejoins the Royalist Army in Ireland.

20th April - The Duke Of York escapes from St. James's and heads for Holland. 

8th May - Battle of St. Fagan's - defeat of Rowland Laughame by Parliament. 

26th May - Collapse of the Kentish revolt. 

27th May - Navy revolt against Parliament. 

1st June - Battle of Maidstone - Parliament victory. 

13th June - Royalists take Colchester & its castle. 

8^th July – Hamilton’s Engagers Army march into England.

10th Jult - Battle of Saint Neots - Royalist defeat. 

17^th August – THE BATTLE OF PRESTON (Royalist defeat) 

18th August - THE BATTLE OF WIGAN (Royalist defeat) 

25^th August 1648 – Hamilton surrenders.

27th August Parliament captures Colchester and its castle. 

11th September - humble petition presented by The Levellers. 

24^th October – Official end of the Thirty Tears War.

29th October - Assasination of New Model Army member Rainsborough. 

1^st December – King Charles is removed from Carisbrook Castle.

4^th December The King is forcibly moved back to the mainland and incarcerated in Hurst Castle. – Strong protests from English Parliament, as the move was made without their consent.

6^th December – Pride’s Purge.

14^th December – Cromwell personally interrogates Hamilton at the Tower Of London, to no avail.

19^th December – The King is moved to Winchester.

23^rd December – The King is relocated to Windsor Castle.

 

 

                                    1649

 

4^th January – Argyll, on behalf of the Scots, denounces the pending trial of the King of England and Scotland.

20^th January - Start of the Trial of Charles 1^st

^27th January – Charles is sentenced to death.

30^th January  – Execution of Charles 1^st.

4^th February – Charles 2cd learns of the execution of his father.

5^th February - Charles 2cd declared King by the Scots

9^th March – Hamilton is executed

17^th March – Abolition of the monarchy by the English Parliamentarians.

13^th April - Charles 2cd gives Montrose permission to negotiate with European kings and states on his behalf

19^th May – Montrose declared Admiral of Scotland when Charles 2cd prefers his proposals to those of Covenant representatives, who are dismissed from the court at the Hague.

19th May - England is declared to be a Commonwealth. 

22cd February – Charles 2cd Declares Montrose his Captain-General in Scotland.

19^th May  – England is declared to be a Commonwealth.

2cd August - The Battle of Rathmines - Irish Royalist defeat. 

13^th August – Cromwell heads for Ireland with the New Model Army.

15^th August – Cromwell arrives in Dublin.

11^th September  Battle of Drogheda

11^th October  – Battle of Wexford.

12^th November - Montrose arrives at Gothenburg in Sweden to raise troops for his expedition back to Scotland.

 

 

                                    1650

 

11th January – Charles  2cd, at Breda, calls  for a Covenant-Royalist Alliance against the English Parliamentarians.

23^rd March – Montrose lands on the Orkney Isles with his Danish/Germanic troops in preparation for an invasion of the Scottish mainland.

27^th April – The Battle Of Carbisdale – Defeat of Montrose, who goes on the run.

30^th April – Montrose captured by an act of betrayal.

1^st May – Charles 2cd signs the Breda Treaty, pledging full support for the Covenant forces.

8^th May – Montrose is handed over to David Leslie at Tain.

15^th May – Montrose, a prisoner under escort,  meets his children for the last time at Southesk.

18^th May – Montrose is brought to Edinburgh as a prisoner.

21^st May  – Execution Of Montrose

26^th May – Cromwell leaves Ireland. 

26th May - Ireton takes control of Ireland. 

29^th May – Sir John Hurry and other followers of Montrose are executed.

1^st June  – Cromwell gets back to London.

2cd June – Charles 2cd sets sail for Scotland

23^rd June – Charles 2cd arrives in Speymouth, Scotland. He is obliged to sign the Covenant before he invited to disembark. 

26th June - Thomas Fairfax resigns from his commission. 

28^th June – Cromwell begins the march towards Scotland with 16,000 members of the New Model Army Fairfax has decided not to be involved in the Parliamentary campaigns any longer.

22cd July – Cromwell crosses the border into Scotland.

3^rd September - BATTLE OF DUNBAR - New Model Army victory.

                                   

                                    1651

 

1^st January  – Charles 2cd Crowned at Scone in Scotland. Argyll personally puts the crown on the new King’s head.

17^th January – Argyll resigns from office and retires to his Highland estates.

8^th February to July – Cromwell is severely ill. Periodically he will be forced to take to his bed. 

31^st July – Charles 2cd and the Royalist Army begin their march towards England.

5^th August – Charles 2cd crosses the English border.

7^th August – Cromwell’s Army mobilizes and begins its pursuit of Charles 2cd.

3^rd September – THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER

6^th September – Charles 2cd hides in an Oak tree.

16^th October – Execution of Lord Strange, The Earl Of Derby, in Bolton. 

19^th October – Charles 2cd escapes to France from Shoreham, Sussex. 

 

                                    1652

 

19^th August – Argyll signs an agreement with the English declaring that he accepts their authority and that he will not raise arms against them.

 

                                    1653

 

21^st April - Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament.

 

                                    1654

 

11^th February – Arrest of eleven known members of the Royalist Conspiracy known as the Sealed Knot.

 

                                    1658

 

3^rd September – Death of Oliver Cromwell

 

                                    1660

 

                            The Restoration Of The Monarchy

 

3^rd February. Monck seizes control of Parliament and restores the Rump.

May 23^rd - Charles 2cd arrives back in Britain.

May 29^th – Charles 2cd arrives in London on his birthday – The date has since been called Oak Apple Day.

 

                                    1661

 

23^rd April - Charles 2cd crowned at Westminster Abbey

 

                                    1669

 

21^st August – Death of Queen Henrietta-Maria.

 

 

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