|
The Second English Civil War
1648 - 1651
The Battle of Dunbar
September 3, 1650
by Steve Beck
The nine tumultuous years of the English Civil War, actually three separate
wars, resulted from a range of factors, economic, constitutional and religious,
all inextricably interwoven. At a time when religious differences were more
often debated with cannon balls than words, radical leaders with strong held
beliefs thought nothing of deciding the issues in battle.
Charles I, attempting to rule as an absolute monarch, quickly came into
conflict with the English Parliament, suspicious of his "Popery" and desire for
absolute rule. Likewise, the Scots resented his attempts at reforming their
Presbyterian system of religion, formulating the "National Covenant" in 1638 to
resist his efforts. The English Parliament and the Scots, therefore, combined
to defeat Charles in the first of the English Civil Wars. An attempt by Charles
to regain power was crushed by Parliamentarian forces at Preston in August 1648
and he was put on trial for treason.
Read more...
|
|
|
Battle of Preston (1648)
