1645 in History

Leaves to Royalist stronghold of Oxford to negotiate with the Scots

Cromwell helps command Parliamentarian assaults on Bristol's defences.

Captures Bath from the Royalists

Fairfax takes Bridgewater

Defeats Prince Rupert & captures Bristol

Fairfax captures Bristol for Parliament.

Prince Rupert surrenders Bristol to Parliament under Fairfax

Forced to surrender Bristol to a Parliamentary force under Fairfax

Fairfax meets the Clubmen of Dorset and Wiltshire at Dorchester

Captures Dundee

Leads his main force into Gainsborough while his main scouts enter Naseby

With the help of Prince Rupert captures & sacks Leicester

After Royalists take Leicester Fairfax is ordered nth

Fairfax takes back Leicester

Helps Charles I to capture Leicester, there is much slaughter

Fairfax assaults and captures Sherborne Castle

Cromwell commands the New Model Army's horse at Naseby and turns his victorious cavalry against the Royalist infantry.

Helps defeat a Covenant & anti-Royalist Armt led by Baille

Helps defeat a Covenant & anti-Royalist Army led by Baille but is killed in battle. Helps defeat a Covenant & anti-Royalist Armt led by Baille

Helps defeat a Covenant & anti-Royalist Armt led by Baille

Helps the Royalists under Montrose defeat the Covenanters under Baille

Captures Dundee

Decides to engage the Covenanters, the Royalists & Covenanters are just 3 miles apart

The Covenanter Army has been destroyed. Leads a force against the Covenanters. Leads 4,400 infantry & 500 cavalry against 6,000 infantry & 800 horse. In 11 months Montrose has defeated a superior army 6 times & become master in Scotland

Montroses Army is destroyed, he spends the following winter building it up again

Opens a Parliament

Captured in battle during the defeat of the Royalists

Hurry tries to surprise Montose but is trapped by MacDonald & defeated by Montrose. Hurry is defeated & 2,000 to 3,000 Covenanters perish in the battle

Defeats the Royalist Army of Montrose

Fights for Covenanters & anti-Royalists who are defeated by Royalists led by Montrose

Hurry tries to surprise Montose but is trapped by MacDonald & defeated by Montrose

Helps the Royalists defeat the Covenanters

Helps the Royalists under Montrose defeat the Covenanters under Baille

Goring gets a commission as Commander in Chief of all western forces and so can only receive orders directly from the King

The Commons approves Cromwell's appointment as 2nd in Command of the New Model Army

The Commons approves Cromwell's appointment as 2nd in Command of the New Model Army

Charles decides to send Goring south west while he & Rupert head nth

Calls a Council of War & decides to fight against Fairfax south of Market Harborough

Helps the Royalists under Montrose defeat the Covenanters under Baille

Decides to engage the Covenanters, the Royalists & Covenanters are just 3 miles apart

Commands a Royalist defeat of the Covenanters & wrecks the army of Baille & Argyll

Leads a force against the Covenanters

Hurry is defeated & 2,000 to 3,000 Covenanters perish in the battle

Fights for Covenanters & anti-Royalists who are defeated by Royalists led by Montrose

Helps the Royalists defeat the Covenanters

Helps the Royalists under Montrose defeat the Covenanters under Baille

Blake maintains the Parliamentarian defence of Taunton despite blockade, bombardment and repeated Royalist pressure.

Removes the existing Generals

Beheaded for treason

Hotham is executed after a court martial convicts him over his wartime dealings with the Royalists.

Winchester's Royalist stronghold falls after Cromwell's assault on Basing House.

Opens a Parliament

Decides to fight Montrose without waiting for Lanark

Appointed Lieutenant General of the Horse & Foot. Appointed 2nd-in-Command for Manchester

Appointed Lieutenant General of the Horse & Foot

Fairfax succeeds Essex as Captain General & Cromwell becomes Lt General

Fairfax succeeds Essex as Captain General & Cromwell becomes Lt General

The Commons approves Cromwell's appointment as Lieutenant General of the Horse

Reaches Droitwich & leaves it 14th May

Charles reaches Daventry where he learns that Oxford is no longer under siege

Charles avoids Battle by marching from Borough Hill to Belvoit Castle

Advances toward Kenilworth before parliamentary orders redirect forces during the Oxford operations.

Joins Fairfax near Nuneham as Parliamentarian forces press operations around Oxford.

Serves with Fairfax near Oxford as Parliamentarian forces try to contain Charles I's army.

Arrives in Cambridge to gather horse and reinforce the Eastern Association before rejoining the main campaign.

Cromwell moves toward Fairfax before the Naseby campaign as Parliament concentrates forces against Charles I.

Cromwell joins forces with Fairfax & Parliament has an Army of more than 13,000 men

Marches out from Windsor prior to the Battle of Naseby

Reaches Blandford & detaches 6 regiments for the relief of Taunton

Arrives at Nuneham near Oxford & is joined by Cromwell

Fairfax arrives at Newport Pagnell where is joined by Vermuyden & his 2,500 horse

Cromwell joins forces with Fairfax & Parliament has an Army of more than 13,000 men

Fairfax arrives 12 miles from where Charles is at Daventry to the latters surprise

Leads a cavalry at the Battle of Naseby against the Royalists

Fairfax becomes commander of the New Model Army created to improve Parliament's war effort.

Skippon becomes Major-General of Foot in the New Model Army and encourages experienced soldiers to enter the reorganised force.

Ireton receives senior cavalry command in the New Model Army as Parliament reorganises its field forces.

Fairfax is appointed to command the New Model Army and begins organising Parliament's new national field force.

St John supports Parliament's programme for reorganising its armies as the New Model Army is established.

Whalley receives command of a cavalry regiment in the New Model Army during Parliament's military reorganisation.

Okey receives command of the New Model Army's dragoon regiment as Parliament forms its national field army.

Signs a brief truce but breaks it when he refuses to accede to Parliaments terms

A petition signed by more than 2,000 London citizens helps secure Lilburne's release after his imprisonment for denouncing comfortable Members of Parliament while common soldiers suffered

Anticipating the Self-denying Ordinance, Manchester resigned his command

Resigns but quickly returns to his command

Charles I places himself in Scottish hands rather than surrendering directly to Parliament.

Royalist resistance in the west collapses further, leaving Oxford as the principal remaining Royalist threat.

Defeated by the Royalist Army led by Montrose

Commands a Royalist Army, Charles I is defeated

Commands a Royalist Army, Charles I is defeated

Wins a Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland, destroys Argylls Army

Commands a Royalist Army, Charles I is defeated

Defeats the Royalist Army of Montrose

After defeating the Royalist cavalry, Cromwell redirects his horsemen against the Royalist foot and helps decide the battle.

Montrose has defeated a superior army 6 times & become master in Scotland

Appointed 2nd-in-Command of the New Model Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax

Appointed 2nd-in-Command of the New Model Army

A modified Self-Denying Ordinance is passed by the Lords

Cromwell is exempted from resignation pressure and continues military service with Parliament's army.

Removes the existing Generals. Creates a New Model Army becoming 2nd-in-Command under Sir Thomas Fairfax. All MPs except Cromwell must relinquish military commissions within 40 days

Fairfax takes Bridgewater

Defeats Prince Rupert & captures Bristol

Commands part of the Parliamentarian assault around Prior's Hill fort during the storming of Bristol.

Present at Stapleton near Fairfax's headquarters during Parliament's siege of Bristol.

Present near Keynsham during Parliament's siege operations against Bristol.

Fairfax begins Parliament's campaign to retake Bristol.

Siege of Bristol by Fairfax begins

Forced to surrender Bristol to a Parliamentary force under Fairfax

Reaches Market Drayton & recieves news that Brereton has raised the siege of Chester

Ordered to besiege Corfe Castle, the only Royalist stronghold between Exeter & London

Captures Dundee

Stops the retreat & stands on high ground from East Farndon towards Great Oxendon

Charles I sacks Leicester, followed by his defeat at Naseby. Charels I captures Leicester waiting for Goring & Gerard to join forces with him

Rupert captures and ransacks Leicester in an attempt to draw Fairfax away from Oxford

Helps Charles I to capture Leicester, there is much slaughter

Charles I and Goring evade Parliamentarian forces and leave Oxford during the campaigning season.

Establishes quarters around Holton while preparing pressure on the Royalist capital at Oxford.

Siege of Oxford by Fairfax and the New Model Army

Rupert captures and ransacks Leicester in an attempt to draw Fairfax away from Oxford

Marches to Newport Pagnell on his way to besiege Oxford

Moves past Perth to Stirling with the Covenanter Army under Baille in persuit

Fairfax assaults and captures Sherborne Castle

Moves past Perth to Stirling with the Covenanter Army under Baille in persuit

Gorings men lay siege to Taunton

Royalist forces under Goring damage part of Cromwell's regiment near Faringdon after his Oxfordshire raid.

Cromwell takes part in the storming of Basing House, removing a major Royalist stronghold controlling routes west of London.

Cromwell storms Basing House and ends one of the strongest Royalist garrisons in southern England.

Ireton returns to active service after Naseby and takes part in the New Model Army's successful assault on Bristol.

Okey's dragoons use the hedges on the Parliamentarian flank to fire on Royalist cavalry during the Battle of Naseby.

Rupert surrenders Bristol to Fairfax after Parliamentarian attacks.

Charles I surrenders to the Scots rather than to Parliament

The Royalists are defeated in the West, only Oxford remains as a serious threat. Sir Ralph Hopton signs articles of surrender at Exeter

Death of William Laud, executed for treason. Beheaded for treason

Signs a brief truce but breaks it when he refuses to accede to Parliaments terms

Skippon is seriously wounded while commanding the New Model infantry but refuses to leave the field before victory is secured.

Ireton is wounded in the thigh and face and is briefly captured during the fighting at Naseby.

Death of Lionel Cranfield

Death of William Laud, executed for treason

Defeated by the Royalist Army led by Montrose

Defeats a Covenant & anti-Royalist Army led by Baille

Resigns after John Hurrys defeat at Auldearn over interference in command

Helps Montrose defeat Hurry at Auldearn

Hurry tries to surprise Montose but is trapped by MacDonald & defeated by Montrose

Secures the last major obstacle between London & the West Country. Defeats the Marquise of Winchester

Initial contact between Fairfax and the King's army at Borough Hill

Prince Rupert is forced to return to Oxford, his forces intact. Defeats Prince Rupert & captures Bristol

Brereton defeats Royalist forces under Sir William Vaughan at Denbigh, cutting another route of support into Cheshire.

Cromwell captures Devizes

Defeated in battle by the Earl of Norwich, George Goring

Stops the retreat & stands on high ground from East Farndon towards Great Oxendon. After defeat Rupert advises the royalists to sue for peace. Advises Charles against fighting, the Royal Army is virtually destroyed

Cromwell routs Dorsetshire clubmen at Hambledon Hill

Wins a Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland, destroys Argylls Army

Cromwell routs a detachment of Royalist horse at Islip during his raid against the king's artillery train.

Defeats the Imperialists & Bavarians under von Werth while advincing towards Prague

Commands the Covenanter Army which is defeated by the Royalists under Montrose who becomes master of Scotland. Baillie and his army were at Perth attending the meeting of the Scottish Estates, he given command of 6,000 foot and 800 horse

Commands a Royalist defeat of the Covenanters & wrecks the army of Baille & Argyll

Cromwell's cavalry contributes to Parliament's victory over Goring's forces at Langport.

Fairfax defeats the last major Royalist field army in the west at Langport and continues the New Model Army's advance.

Fairfax boldly attacks Gorings strong defences at the Battle of Langport

Fairfax defeats Goring's Royalist army and opens the west of England to Parliamentarian advance.

Suffers a defeat by Fairfax & Cromwell. Fairfax boldly attacks Gorings strong defences at the Battle of Langport

Invades central Germany but is defeated by Mercy & withdraws to the Rhine

Commands a brigade of the Royalist Army

Commands the infantry of the Royalist Army

Commands a brigade of the Royalist Army

Stands on high ground on East Farndon over Great Oxendon, 2 miles south of Harborough

The 1st Civil War lingers for another year until capitulation at Oxford 1 year later. Decisive victory for Parliamentary forces

Parliamentary victory, Charles has 7,500 men & Parliamentary forces number 13,500. Contributes to Charles downfall & the ascendancy of Cromwell & the independents

Commands Parliamentarian cavalry on the right and helps Fairfax defeat the king's main field army.

Commands the Lifeguard for Parliament against the Royalists

Fairfax directs the New Model Army at Naseby and wins the decisive victory over Charles I's main field army.

With Cromwell's help defeats Charles force of 7,500. Leaves Guilsborough in the early hours & by sunrise the Army is ready on Naseby Bridge. A decisive victory over the royalists

Fairfax commands the New Model Army in the decisive defeat of Charles I at Naseby.

Commands a Royalist Army, Charles I is defeated

Commands a Royalist Army, Charles I is defeated

Commands a Royalist Army, Charles I is defeated

Fights at the Battle of Naseby for Parliament against Charles I

Ireton leads Parliamentarian cavalry on the left and is captured during the early fighting at Naseby.

Commands the right wing of the Royalist cavalry

Commands a brigade of the Royalist Army

Commands the Dragoons of the Parliamentary Army during a victory against the Royalists

Commands a Parliamentary regiment in a victory over the Royalists

Rupert's cavalry drives back part of the Parliamentarian line but cannot prevent Royalist defeat.

Has command in the field of the Royalist forces & leads the right wing of the cavalry

Commands a Regiment for Parliament against the Royalists

Commands the infantry centre of the Parliamentary Army during their victory

Commands the King's Horseguards of the Royalist Army

Commands levies for the Royalists against Parliament

Commands a regiment for Parliament against the Royalists

Turenne & Enghein invade Bavaria & defefeat Mercy

Turenne & Enghein invade Bavaria & defefeat Mercy

Montroses Army is destroyed, he spends the following winter building it up again. Defeated trying to join Charles I after his defeat at Naseby, flees to the Highlands. Defeated by David Leslie while trying to join Charles I after his defeat at Naseby, flees to the Highlands. Defeated by David Leslie

Wins victory over the Scots under Hamilton. The 1st Battle over which Cromwell has independent command

Charles I surrenders to the Scots rather than to Parliament. Charles final field force is crushed

Cromwell captures Winchester

Jointly commands the Imperial Saxon Army which is defeated by Sweden

The Imperial Saxon Army is forced to make peace. Jointly commands the Imperial Saxon Army which is defeated by Sweden

Royalist victory, diverts Fairfax from Oxford, Charles then proceeds safely to Oxford