1651 in History

Fleetwood advances along the west bank of the Severn toward the Teme crossings as the Parliamentarian attack begins.

Harrison joins Cromwell, Lambert and Fleetwood as Parliamentarian forces concentrate at Warwick for the pursuit toward Worcester.

Arrested & held prisoner for the rest of the war

Taken prisoner by the English commanded by Lambert during the siege of Stirling

Takes the Scots comannder, John Browne, prisoner

Captured at the Battle of Worcester, fights for the Royalists

Arrested at the Battle of Worcester but escapes & returns to the Highlands

Cromwell positions Parliamentarian artillery on the heights around Red Hill and Perry Wood east of Worcester.

Deane attacks Powick Bridge with Parliamentarian troops, fixing Scottish defenders while Fleetwood seeks another crossing of the Teme.

Keith joins the Royalist sortie against Cromwell's artillery positions after bombardment of Worcester begins.

Middleton leads part of a fifteen-hundred-man Royalist sortie against the Parliamentarian artillery, but the attack fails.

Cromwell's forces turn captured guns at Fort Royal against Worcester as Royalist resistance disintegrates.

Cromwell's artillery begins bombarding Worcester from positions around Perry Wood as the Parliamentarian siege lines tighten.

John Maitland, Earl of Lauderdale, is captured among the senior Scottish Royalists after Worcester.

Keith is captured after his defenders lose their position at Powick Bridge and Parliamentarian troops force a crossing.

Dalyell is captured after fighting for Charles II at Worcester and is later imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Leslie, Earl of Rothes, is captured with other senior Scottish officers after the Royalist army collapses at Worcester.

Stanley is captured near Nantwich after separating from Charles II during the flight from Worcester.

Parliamentarian troops seize Fort Royal during Cromwell's final assault, breaking a major part of Worcester's south-eastern defence.

Participates in the campaign that captures Perth and cuts Scottish communications.

Harrison reports that pursuing Parliamentarian forces have captured about fourteen hundred Royalist horse and foot after Worcester.

Captures Upton Bridge enabling Cromwell to advance on both banks of the Severn

Lambert leads horse and dragoons in a daring attack that recaptures the damaged Upton Bridge south of Worcester.

Lambert rides ahead with Parliamentarian cavalry to harass the Royalist advance and help block a direct march toward London.

Hamilton leads Royalist and Scottish troops in a determined charge against Parliamentarian positions around Perry Wood.

Appointed Commander in Chief, Scottish Army

Appointed Commander in Chief, Scottish Army

The Commonwealth is formerly enacted by Parliament

The Monarchy is abolished

The House of Lords is abolished, Cromwell wished to keep it as an advisery body

Decides it is necessary for a "settlement of the nation" & a constitution

The Council of State is established by Act of Parliament as a ruling body

The Council of States 14 members are elected, including Cromwell

Charles II personally rallies Royalist troops for a counterattack against the weakened Parliamentarian positions east of Worcester.

Deane finally carries Powick Bridge after the Scottish position begins collapsing under pressure from the flanking attack.

Cromwell personally leads three brigades across the Severn pontoon to reinforce the Parliamentarian attack west of the river.

Fleetwood moves about eleven thousand Parliamentarian troops to the west bank of the Severn for the southern approach to Worcester.

Supports Parliamentarian operations north of the Forth after Lambert's victory at Inverkeithing.

Stanley is wounded and escapes after Lilburne routs his Royalist force at Wigan Lane.

Charles II assigns troops to defend Powick Bridge, one of the key approaches to Worcester across the River Teme.

Keith holds Powick Bridge against Deane's repeated efforts to force a Parliamentarian crossing.

Montgomery commands Scottish troops defending the meadows north of the Teme and coordinates resistance around Powick Bridge.

Pitscottie's Highlanders defend the Teme crossing near the river confluence against Fleetwood's advancing Parliamentarian troops.

Cromwell releases newly raised local forces after the victory, reducing the military burden on counties that had answered Parliament's call.

Royalist forces destroy Upton Bridge on Charles II's orders to delay Parliamentarian movement across the River Severn.

Cromwell orders Worcester's walls pulled down and its defensive ditches filled after the Parliamentarian victory.

Dissolution of the "Rump Parliament" is debated by a committe set up for the purpose

Cromwell tightens the Parliamentarian encirclement, leaving Charles II increasingly confined around Worcester and unable to continue toward London.

Stanley attempts to escape from Chester Castle after his conviction but is recaptured before his sentence is carried out.

Charles II abandons the defeated Royalist army and escapes north from Worcester with a small group of companions.

Villiers escapes from Worcester with Charles II after Parliamentarian forces overwhelm the Royalist army.

Wilmot escapes the Royalist defeat at Worcester and remains among the small group assisting Charles II's flight.

Penderel guides the disguised Charles II toward the Severn, but guarded crossings prevent their planned escape into Wales.

Lane provides Charles II with cover as her servant, enabling the fugitive king to continue his journey toward Bristol.

Leaves France, which resumes relations with England, for Aachen. Joined in Aachen by his sister, the recently widowed Princess Mary

Flees to France in a State of destitution

On the run for 6 weeks after the Battle of Worcester. Leaves England on a hired boat, The Surprise, from Shoreham

After six weeks in hiding, Charles II leaves England secretly from near Shoreham aboard the vessel later remembered as the Surprise.

Lands at Fecamp near Rouen

Cromwell's brigades strike the Scottish flank while Fleetwood presses from the front, forcing the defenders away from the Teme.

Charles II orders Worcester's defences strengthened as Parliamentarian armies gather around the city.

A Dutch court establishes a shared guardianship arrangement for the infant William III of Orange after the death of his father.

Stanley helps guide Charles II away from Worcester toward the Royalist refuges around Boscobel after the battle.

The House of Lords is abolished, Cromwell wished to keep it as an advisery body

Drummond is taken to Windsor after his capture at Worcester but later escapes and returns to Royalist service.

Charles II was crowned King of Scots while the English Commonwealth rejected his claim.

Charles suffered defeat at Worcester during his attempt to recover the English throne.

Charles escaped into exile after evading Commonwealth forces for six weeks.

The Commonwealth enacted a Navigation Ordinance during Cromwell's military ascendancy.

Crosses the Border into England with a mainly Presbyterian force to restore the throne

Charles II crosses into England with a predominantly Scottish Royalist army, beginning the southward campaign that culminates at Worcester.

Crosses the border into England at the head of an Army of 14,000

Sent by Cromwell to harass the Scottish invasion Army headed by Charles II

Leslie commands much of the Scottish army as Charles II leads it south into England despite doubts about English Royalist support.

Stanley meets Charles II during the southward march and receives authority to raise Royalist forces in Lancashire and Cheshire.

Joins forces with Lambert and Harrison at Warwick during the pursuit of Charles II.

Arrives near Evesham south-east of Worcester with the army preparing to close on Charles II.

Disbrowe brings a Parliamentarian contingent from south-west England to reinforce Cromwell's expanding army for the Worcester campaign.

Joins forces with Cromwell, 15 miles south west of Worcester, a combined force of 28,000

Fleetwood mobilizes Parliamentarian troops and militia around London before marching to join the forces concentrating against Charles II.

Lambert & Harrison join south of Preston before the Scots join the Cheshire militia

Lambert & Harrison join south of Preston before the Scots join the Cheshire militia

Charles II watches the developing battle from Worcester Cathedral tower before leaving to rally troops east of the Severn.

Charles II occupies Worcester with fewer than sixteen thousand troops after his expected English support fails to materialize.

Leslie enters Worcester with the Scottish army and prepares to defend the city against Cromwell's converging Parliamentarian forces.

Stanley petitions for mercy after his conviction, but Parliament refuses to overturn the death sentence despite Cromwell's support.

Cromwell prepares floating bridges across the Severn and Teme so his separated wings can support one another during the assault.

Fleetwood's advance guard crosses the floating bridge over the Teme but meets determined resistance from Pitscottie's Highlanders.

Lambert supports the Parliamentarian effort to secure the Teme crossing and push the Scottish defenders back toward Worcester.

Thousands of Royalist prisoners are gathered at Worcester Cathedral while Cromwell's army secures the city after the battle.

Proclaimed as sovereign of England & offers a pardon to all who join him

Harrison leads thousands of Parliamentarian troops in pursuit of Royalist fugitives fleeing north from Worcester.

Charles II's forces rebuild and enlarge Fort Royal to protect the London Road and Worcester's vulnerable south-eastern approaches.

The Commonwealth is formerly enacted by Parliament

Anti-Dutch legislation forbids importation by by Dutch shipping

Charles II remains concealed at Moseley Old Hall before moving to Bentley Hall and continuing his escape under disguise.

Whitgreave shelters Charles II at Moseley Old Hall while Parliamentarian soldiers continue searching for the defeated Royalist leader.

Charles II takes refuge at Trent Manor during the prolonged search for a vessel that can carry him safely to France.

Charles II reaches White Ladies after riding through the night and disguises himself as a countryman to avoid Parliamentarian search parties.

Harrison marches south to combine his forces with Lambert, strengthening Parliament's effort to contain Charles II's invasion.

Cromwell reinforces the eastern fighting after Charles II's counterattack threatens Parliamentarian positions around Perry Wood.

Stanley reaches Worcester after surviving Wigan Lane and rejoins Charles II shortly before the decisive battle.

Lambert's forces repair Upton Bridge after its recapture, restoring a vital Parliamentarian route toward Worcester.

Pitscottie's Highlanders initially drive back Parliamentarian troops after they cross the pontoon over the Teme.

Dalziel holds a Scottish reserve on higher ground between Powick and Worcester while the fighting develops along the Teme.

Dalziel's reserve falls back toward Worcester as the Scottish defensive line south of the city collapses.

Pitscottie's Highlanders retreat toward Worcester after being attacked from the front and flank near the Teme crossings.

Careless joins Charles II in the Royal Oak and helps conceal the fugitive king from Parliamentarian search parties.

Charles II hides with William Careless in an oak near Boscobel while Parliamentarian soldiers search the surrounding area.

Charles II establishes Worcester as his temporary headquarters while the Royalist army rests, gathers supplies and prepares for battle.

Stanley lands from the Isle of Man with a small Royalist force and begins raising support for Charles II in Lancashire.

Stanley seeks recruits around Warrington, but his refusal to take the Covenant limits support from local Presbyterians.

Charles II moves through Sidbury Gate toward Fort Royal and Perry Wood while rallying troops for the eastern counterattack.

Leslie commands Scottish cavalry positioned around Pitchcroft while the decisive fighting develops south and east of Worcester.

Appointed 2nd-in-Command to Charles II

Appointed 2nd-in-Command to Charles II

Overwhelmed by royalistds to divert Parliamentary forces from the stronghold of Oxford

Prepares the defences of London after Charles II leads an invasion force into England

Perth surrenders after Cromwell's advance cuts the Scottish army from supplies and reinforcements.

Sent by Leslie with a force of 4,000 to drive the English back across the Forth

Monck begins operations against Stirling after Cromwell moves south in pursuit of Charles II.

Ordered to take charge of operations against Stirling after Cromwell moves south.

The Scots comannder, John Browne, prisoner by Major General Lambert

Directs the siege operations that force Stirling to surrender.

Declared of age

Monck receives the surrender of Stirling Castle after the garrison mutinies.

The Cossacks make peace with Poland, Chmielnicki continues with a few followers

A court-martial at Chester convicts Stanley of treason for supporting Charles II's invasion and sentences him to death.

Hamilton is mortally wounded during the Royalist counterattack at Perry Wood and is carried back into Worcester.

Massey is badly wounded while Royalist troops contest Lambert's seizure of Upton Bridge.

Montgomery is badly wounded as Parliamentarian forces gain control of the north bank of the Teme.

Hamilton dies from wounds received during the Royalist counterattack at Perry Wood several days after the battle.

Death of James Stanley, executed after being captured at the Battle of Worcester

James Stanley is executed at Bolton after his capture and court-martial following the Worcester campaign.

John Casimir defeats 200,000 Cossacks under Tartars & Chmielnicki

John Casimir defeats 200,000 Cossacks under Tartars & Chmielnicki

Brown commands Scottish forces defeated by Lambert at Inverkeithing.

Taken prisoner by the English commanded by Lambert during the siege of Stirling

Lambert defeats Scottish forces in Fife and opens the route for Parliamentarian operations north of the Forth.

Takes the Scots comannder, John Browne, prisoner. Defeats the Scots during Cromwell's siege of Stirling

Eliminates most of the Earl of Derbys forces

Most of Derbys forces are eliminated, Derby joins Charles II at Worcester

Massey is badly wounded when Lambert's Parliamentarian horse and dragoons recapture Upton Bridge south of Worcester.

Manages to cross the Mersey at Warrington

Joins up with Charles II from the Isle of Man, with a modest force of 250 foot

Harrison and Lambert attempt to slow Charles II's southward march at Warrington Bridge.

Lilburne defeats the Earl of Derby at Wigan Lane, preventing a substantial Lancashire Royalist force from reinforcing Charles II at Worcester.

Tyldesley is killed while fighting for the Royalists at Wigan Lane during the defeat of Stanley's Lancashire force.

Arrives with a force of 16,000 men. Arrives at the Royalist town of Worcester which clears the garrison for him

Enters Worcester unopposed

Leads a force of 16,000 against Cromwell's force of 30,000. Charles is forced to go into hiding then escape from England. Attempts a "break out" from Worcester against Cromwell but is forced back

Charles II leads the Royalist army defeated by Cromwell at Worcester before escaping into exile.

Charles II leads the Royalist army, counterattacks east of the Severn and escapes after Cromwell's forces break into Worcester.

Writes that the enemy in Worcester must fight or be trapped as Parliamentarian forces close around the city.

Cromwell leads a Parliamentarian army of about thirty thousand against Charles II's smaller Royalist and Scottish force at Worcester.

Leads about 28,000 Parliamentarian troops to victory over Charles II at Worcester.

Leads a Parliamentary force up the River Severn prior to the Battle of Worcester

Deane attacks Powick Bridge and finally forces a crossing after Scottish defenders begin retreating toward Worcester.

Drummond commands a Royalist brigade at Worcester, is captured and later escapes from imprisonment.

Arrested at the Battle of Worcester but escapes & returns to the Highlands. A Royalist Commander at the Battle of Worcester

Fleetwood directs Parliamentarian troops across the Teme and presses the Scottish defenders back toward Worcester.

Leads a Parliamentary force across the River Teme prior to the Battle of Worcester. Forces Charles IIs Scottish allies back into the confines of Worcester

Fleetwood commands Parliamentarian troops during the final battle of the Civil War at Worcester.

Helps defeats the Scots & Royalists

Lambert helps force the Teme crossings and drives Scottish defenders back during Parliament's attack on Worcester.

Captured in battle while supporting Charles II at Worcester

David Leslie commands the Scottish cavalry during Charles II's defeat at Worcester.

Ordered by Cromwell to intercept the Earl of Derby on his march to Worcester

Captured at the Battle of Worcester, fights for the Royalists

Destroys most of the Bridges surrounding Worcester to defend it for the Royalists

Commands a Parliamentary regiment in a victory over the Royalists

Pride takes part in Cromwell's Parliamentarian victory at Worcester after previously commanding a brigade during the Scottish campaign.

Captured during the Battle of Worcester supporting Charles I

Stanley fights for Charles II at Worcester, escapes the battlefield and is captured later near Nantwich.

Cromwell reports the total defeat of the Royalist army and describes the victory at Worcester as a crowning mercy.

Given a Presbyterian Coronation at Scone