One of the most decisive battles of the English Civil War was a resounding success for the Parliamentary armies.
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The Battle of Naseby One of the most decisive battles of the English Civil War was a resounding success for the Parliamentary armies. |
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The Battle of Naseby
This allowed the New Model Army time to finish assembling. The king changed his plans several times, and split his forces to send 3000 men to the southwest. Prince Rupert sacked Leicester with an appalling fury, drawing Sir Thomas Fairfax north from his short-lived attempt to besiege Oxford. Fairfax was joined by Cromwell and a small force of his horsemen. With some 13,000 troops Fairfax brought the king to bay at Naseby. The Battle Prince Rupert saw the troops marching and immediately decided to attack while his enemy was exposed. Thus the Royal army left their strong elevated position to charge a numerically superior enemy. The Parliamentary cavalry was initially pushed back, and the infantry soon followed. The Parliamentary cause looked shaky, but Cromwell's horse wheeled to attack the royalist flank. The royal momentum was broken, and the superior numbers of the Roundheads began a total rout of their Cavalier enemies. They chased the royalists for a good 12 miles from Naseby, and slaughtered the men they caught. They captured the entire royal commissariat, with great supplies of powder, arms, and food. More importantly, they found the king's private papers, including details of his plans to bring Irish papists and foreign mercenaries to England. Parliament immediately published these papers. The Results More British
Battles
History Article and images © 2004
David Ross |
June 14, 1645 
Naseby, Northamptonshire
Royal army under Prince Rupert vs. Parliamentary troops under Sir
Thomas Fairfax
The English Civil War was in full swing. The north of England appeared
lost to the royalist cause (see 
