1644 in History

Waller advances against Oxford from the south while Parliamentarian armies attempt to trap the King's field force.

Captured at Nantwich while serving the Royalists, Monck is sent as a prisoner to London.

Imprisoned at Pendennis Castle by Charles I

Captures Aberdeen from the Covenanters

Waller receives the surrender of Arundel Castle, checking Royalist attempts to penetrate Sussex and Kent.

Captures Bolton from the Roundheads

Captures Dumfries for the Royalists but later forced out by Argyll

Captures Glasgow on behalf of the Royalist forces of Charles I

Leicester is sacked by Charles I & Prince Rupert

Captures most of Montrose for the Royalists

The Midlands falls into royalists hands after the siege of Newark

Commander of "Ironsides" during Parliaments capture of Newcastle

The Covenanter Army occupies Northumbria

Parliament captures York

Leads the "Ironsides" & captures York

Cromwell commands the Parliamentarian left-wing cavalry and helps turn the fighting at Marston Moor into a decisive Royalist defeat.

The Covenanter Army gathers at Harlaw, Berwickshire, 18,000 foot & 3,000 horse

The Covenanter Army crosses the border at Berwick

The Covenanters fail in their attempt to capture the Royalist Fort at South Shields

The Covenanters succeed in their attempt to capture the Royalist Fort at South Shields

The Covenanters & Parliament join forces at Tadcaster

The Covenanters & Parliament raise the siege & threaten to destroy Newcastles army

Jons the Parliamentarians under Fairfax at York

Arrives at the Highlands with 1,100 Irish to join up with Montroses Royalist army

Assists Montroses invasion of Scotland for the Royalists

Blake takes command at Taunton and prepares the town to withstand repeated Royalist attempts to recover it.

"if we beat the King 99 x he would be King still, if he beat us we should be hanged"

Advises a military defeat of the King after Manchester fails to persue him in battle

The Covenanters are defeated by the Royalist horse under Newcastle at Corbridge

Covenanters under Leven & Royalists under Newcastle clash but the result is indecisive

Covenanters & Parliament raise the siege of York to destroy Devonshires army

The Covenanters & Parliament join forces at Tadcaster

Leads a siege of Aberdeen & captures some leading Covenanters

Captures Aberdeen from the Covenanters

The Covenanters are defeated by the Royalist horse under Newcastle at Corbridge

Covenanters under Leven get the better of Royalists under Newcastle outside Sunderland

The Covenanters fail in their attempt to capture the Royalist Fort at South Shields

The Covenanters succeed in their attempt to capture the Royalist Fort at South Shields

Covenanters under Leven & Royalists under Newcastle clash but the result is indecisive

The Covenanters & Parliament join forces at Tadcaster

The Covenanters & Parliament raise the siege & threaten to destroy Newcastles army

Cromwell criticises Manchester's conduct of the war and presses Parliament for a more vigorous military strategy.

Sets up HQ by a clump of trees now known as Cromwell's Plump

Descartes dedicates the Principles of Philosophy to Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia.

Blake helps defend Lyme Regis against a prolonged Royalist siege and preserves an important Parliamentarian foothold in the west.

Cromwell receives command of the Eastern Association cavalry and develops the disciplined mounted force later associated with his military reputation.

Leaves her husband for the safety of the West Country, never sees him again

Sails from Falmouth to Brest

Appointed Governor of York

Leads a Royalist force of 1,300 militia from Cumberland & Northumberland

The Covenanter Army occupies Northumbria

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Signs the Covenant enabling him to take up the position of Lieutenant Colonel

Signs the Covenant enabling him to take up the position of Lieutenant Colonel

Appointed Commander in Chief, Royalist forces

Appointed Commander in Chief, Royalist forces

The Covenanters & Parliament join forces at Tadcaster

Charles Is Cavalry Leader accompanies his King on his way from Oxford

Joins forces with Prince Rupert

Fills the gap left by William Waller who is supporting Essex in Cornwall

Attends the opening of Charles Is Parliament in Oxford

Charles summons a rival Parliament at Oxford after the Civil War has divided the kingdom.

Charles summons a rival Parliament at Oxford after the Civil War has divided the kingdom.

The new Parliament includes 100 members of the Commons & 30 peers. Opens his own Parliament in Christ Church Hall

Created Duke of Cumberland

Created Earl of Holderness

Created Viscount Dungannon after the Battle of Marston Moor

Descartes publishes the Principles of Philosophy as a systematic presentation of metaphysics and natural philosophy.

Writes complaining of the rebellion of the City Brigades

Writes complaining of the rebellion of the City Brigades

Wounded by his own men

Brereton joins Fairfax in breaking the Royalist siege of Nantwich and restoring Parliament's position in Cheshire.

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Montrose expels the Covenentors from Aberdeen

Leads a siege of Aberdeen & captures some leading Covenanters

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Arrives at Bingham with forces gathered from Chester, Shrewsbury & the Midlands

Captures Bolton from the Roundheads

1st of the Cavaliers to enter then take Bolton

Captures Dumfries for the Royalists but later forced out by Argyll

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Captures Glasgow on behalf of the Royalist forces of Charles I

Captures Lincoln

After victory at Lostwithiel the Royalists are in a position to march on London

Routes the Covenanter garrison at Morpeth & takes the town

Surrenders Parliamentary forces to Rupert of the Rhine & retreats to Hull

Successfully relieves Newark & the Countess of Derby. Rupert of the Rhine forces Meldrum's Army to surrender

The Midlands falls into royalists hands after the siege of Newark

Joined by Lord George Goring

Serves as a Lieutenant General of foot in Lord Levens Army at the siege of Newcastle

Covenanters under Leven get the better of Royalists under Newcastle outside Sunderland

Routs Lord Elchos Army

Serves as a Lieutenant General of Foot in Lord Levens Army at the siege of York

Covenanters & Parliament raise the siege of York to destroy Devonshires army

Parliament captures York

Resumes the siege of York after victory at Marston Moor

Begins the siege where Newcastle is stranded with 5,000 men but is relieved by Rupert

The city of York is taken after the Battle of Marston Moor, and nearly the whole of the north submits to the Parliament

Resumes the siege of York after victory at Marston Moor

Gathers together a force of 27,000 outside York

Rupert of the Rhine succesfully relieves York

Returns to York after the Battle of Marston Moor. Collects 6,000 of his cavalry & marches into Lancashire

Waller defeats Hopton's Royalist army at Cheriton and gains control of much of Hampshire for Parliament.

Colonel Charles Fairfax is killed in action at the Battle of Marston Moor

The Ming Dynasty, which has dominated China since the 1380s, comes to an end

Death of John Bankes, Royalist supporter & owner of Corfe Castle

Montrose expels the Covenentors from Aberdeen

The Battle of Aberdeen is fought between Royalist & Covenanter forces

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Fails to join forces with Waller. Charles I is able to retreat safely to Donnington Castle & to join Rupert in Oxford

With 10,000 men faces Cromwell with 22,000. The Battle is inconclusive & Charles retreats to Oxford. Manages to avoid capture & defeat, returns to Donnington Castle

Raises the Royalist Standard at Blair Atholl in the Highlands

Defeats a small Irish force led by Alasdair Macolla MacDonald

Covenanters under Leven get the better of Royalists under Newcastle outside Sunderland

Covenanters under Leven get the better of Royalists under Newcastle outside Sunderland

The Covenanters are defeated by the Royalist horse under Newcastle at Corbridge

The Covenanters are defeated by the Royalist horse under Newcastle at Corbridge

Waller attacks across the Cherwell at Cropredy Bridge but is driven back and loses artillery to the Royalists.

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Defeats Cromwell but is kept in check by him

The Swedish Commander Wrangel defeats the Danish fleet under Pros Mund in the Baltic

Wrangel defeats the Danish fleet under Pros Mund in the Baltic

Covenanters under Leven & Royalists under Newcastle clash but the result is indecisive

Covenanters under Leven & Royalists under Newcastle clash but the result is indecisive

The Royalists defeat Essex & capture 8,000 infantry. After their victory the Royalists are in a position to march on London

Defeated by Royalists 30 miles west of Plymouth. Charles I marches westwards from Oxford & intercepts Devereux. Charles I captures 8,000 of Devereuxs infantry

Defeated by Royalists 30 miles west of Plymouth, saves most of the cavalry

Serves as a Lieutenant General of foot in Lord Levens Army winning great distinction. Commands the bulk of the Scottish Foot

Commands the Royalist Horse

Reluctant to fight at all but persuades Rupert to postpone the battle 1 day

Totally defeated Newcastle departs for Hamburg. Commands the Royalist "whitecoats" but only 30 survive

Royalist defeat near York which loses Charles stronghold in the nth. 4,000 Royalists are killed & 1,500 taken prisoner

Fights at Marston Moor on the side of the English Parliament

Commands Manchesters Foot & for a time takes charge of Cromwell's cavalry

Sweeps away Gorings horse by attacking the Royalists from the rear. Defeats the Royalists near York, leaving 4,000 dead & taking 1,500 prisoners. Cromwell's first major victory, personally commands 2,500 men

Cromwell commands Eastern Association cavalry as Parliament and the Scots defeat Prince Rupert.

Colonel Charles Fairfax is killed in action at the Battle of Marston Moor

A gathering of eager national forces within a few square miles of ground naturally led to a battle, and Marston Moor proves decisive for the struggle in the north.

Cromwell relieves Fairfax and Parliament is victorious.

Fairfax's horse meets Gorings 1st line and charges them successfully.

The city of York is taken after the Battle of Marston Moor, and nearly the whole of the north submits to the Parliament.

Thomas Fairfax Cameron, 3rd commands the right suffering heavy losses from Goring.

Fairfax fights on the Parliamentarian side during the major victory at Marston Moor.

Fights for Parliament

Commands the Scottish dragoons on the side of the English Parliament

Commands the Royalist horse on the left flank

Arrives too late to support Prince Rupert at Marston Moor

Fights for the Royalists at Marston Moor

Fights for the Royalists at Marston Moor, on the losing side

Commands the Scottish horse on the side of the English Parliament. Acts as Cromwell's 2nd-in-command & marshalls the line of battle

Command the largest contingent & takes over supreme command for Parliament

Commands regiments of Parliaments foot

Warned by Fairfax that Rupert is advancing, Leven then engages in battle

Leslie's Scottish cavalry supports Cromwell's wing and helps secure the Parliamentarian victory.

As a 2nd to Goring commands some of the Royalist cavalry, taken prisoner by the Scots

Arrives at Marston Moor, 6 miles west of York on the Knaresborough Rd

Commands a Parliamentary regiment at the Battle of Marston Moor

Rupert commands the Royalist army defeated by Parliamentarian and Scottish forces at Marston Moor.

Leaves York to engage the Roundheads on Marston Moor. Leads the Royalist cavalry, the Royalists are defeated outside York. Almost captured but manages to beat a retreat to York

Stabs Cromwell in the neck & is made Viscount Dungannon. Commands a regiment under Lord Byron

Routes the Covenanter garrison at Morpeth & takes the town

Joins forces with Fairfax & helps defeat Royalists led by Lord Byron

Forced to retreat to Chester

Defeated by Fairfax. Byrons infantry join the Parliamentarians

Fairfax helps defeat Byron's Royalist army at Nantwich, relieving the town and weakening Royalist control in Cheshire.

Defeats Irish Royalists & local troops who have laid siege to Nantwich

Monck is captured by Parliamentarian forces after the Royalist defeat at Nantwich.

Begins the attack on Meldruns Parliamentary forces

Fights an inconclusive Battle at Newbury

Commander for the Royalists at the 2nd Battle of Newbury

Fights at the Battle of Newbury

Fairfax defeats Royalist forces at Selby, helping open the way for Parliamentarian pressure on York.

Defeats the Royalists under Lord Bellasis & captures Selby

Lord Newcastles Royalist force of 5,000 is trapped in York

Brereton defeats Royalist forces near Tarvin and frustrates efforts to reinforce the Royalist position around Chester.

Routs Lord Elchos Army

Charles I escapes after the Second Battle of Newbury despite Parliamentarian attempts to trap his army.

Cromwell fights at Second Newbury and later urges a stronger pursuit of the withdrawing Royalist army.

Cromwell criticises missed opportunities after the Parliamentarian attack fails to destroy the king's army.

Skippon's infantry helps recover artillery lost earlier in Cornwall during Parliament's attack at Second Newbury.

Waller shares command in the Parliamentarian attack at Second Newbury and later argues for stronger pursuit of the King.