January 4 1642 First English Civil War Begins

On January 4th 1642,  King Charles I attacked Parliament in an attempt to capture five members of Parliament, which is regarded as the official beginning of the English Civil War. The Civil War, essentially fought between Parliamentary supporters and Royalists, gave rise to historically prominent figures the likes of Oliver Cromwell, King Charles I, and was the first major step towards England becoming a Republic.

Up until mid-17th century, the English Parliament had no effectual power as such, but rather was utilised as a financial advisory council among other things. However, as Charles continued his reign, the Parliament began petitioning the King for further powers to be added to the Parliament, to which the King conceded. At the same time, however, the King called Parliament as little as possible, at one point managing to go a full decade without doing so. The King was finally forced to reconvene Parliament in the face of a lack of English funds and a looming Scottish rebellion. The members used this opportunity to voice their grievances.

Charles ignored this, and quickly dismissed the members, however was once again forced to create a new Parliament, when the financial situation grew dire. The laws passed by the new Parliament during this time caused the council to become semi-permanent, allowing them to convene every three years even without the King’s consent. Charles felt threatened by the empowered Parliament, fearing for his own life, and after a failed attempt to arrest five members of the House of Commons, the Civil War was sparked.

The first major battle of the First English Civil War took place was at Edgehill on 23 October 1642, in which Charles’ force of roughly 15,000 faced against the Parliamentary forces of 21,000 infantry and 4,200 cavalry, led by Oliver Cromwell. The battle was inconclusive, and through until 1645, both Parliamentarians and Royalists attempted to gain support in England, Charles attempting to march towards London. In early 1645, Parliament created the New Model Army, and across June and July of that year, managed to windle Charles’ forces, forcing him to retreat to Nottinghamshire in 1646, ending the first Civil War.