John Lilburne1645
John Lilburne is imprisoned for denouncing Members of Parliament who lived in comfort while the common soldiers fought and died for the Parliamentary cause
England · Warfare / Civil War. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
John Lilburne is imprisoned for denouncing Members of Parliament who lived in comfort while the common soldiers fought and died for the Parliamentary cause
Lilburne's imprisonment helps turn a circle of supporters into a wider Leveller movement, as campaigns for his liberty are presented as campaigns for the birthright liberties of all freeborn Englishmen
Overton helps define the emerging Leveller movement through the Remonstrance of Many Thousand Citizens, a radical petitionary text generally treated as one of the movement's founding documents
Overton is arrested after attacking the House of Lords, and his imprisonment strengthens the Leveller argument against arbitrary authority and unelected power
The soldiers in the New Model Army elect Agitators from each regiment to represent them; the Agitators are recognised by the Army commanders and sit on the General Council. Richard Overton is arrested for publishing a pamphlet attacking the House of Lords; during imprisonment he writes the influential Leveller manifesto "An Arrow Against All Tyrants and Tyranny"
Lilburne is imprisoned again, this time in the Tower of London, for denouncing his former army commander the Earl of Manchester as a Royalist sympathiser because he had protected an officer charged with treason. Campaigns to free Lilburne from prison help spawn the movement known as the Levellers
Prince becomes associated with the London Leveller organisation, helping support the movement's petitions, publications and links with soldiers opposed to settlement without constitutional guarantees
The Levellers demand a dissolution of Parliament within a year and substantial changes to the constitution of future Parliaments, to be regulated by an unalterable law paramount. At least five regiments of cavalry elect new unofficial agitators and produce "The Case of the Army Truly Stated", which is presented to Sir Thomas Fairfax
Everard, known as Buff Coat, presents the Agreement of the People to the General Council of the Army and helps bring Leveller constitutional demands into the Army debates
Senior officers in the Army, nicknamed the Grandees, are angered by The Case of the Armie Truly Stated and invite the New Agents and their civilian supporters to debate their proposals before the General Council of the Army at the Putney Debates
Senior officers in the Army, nicknamed the Grandees, are angered by "The Case of the Army Truly Stated" and order the unofficial Agitators to explain their principles before the General Council of the Army at the Putney Debates
Sexby represents the Army radical side of the Leveller cause, arguing that the soldiers' sacrifices in the war require a settlement based on liberty, indemnity and political security
Wildman assists the Army radicals and New Agents at Putney, helping press the Leveller Agreement of the People against the Grandees' more moderate constitutional settlement
Ireton opposes the Leveller demand for a broad franchise, warning that political power without a fixed interest in the kingdom could threaten property and civil order
Petty argues for a broad male franchise during the Putney Debates, supporting the Leveller claim that political voice should rest on birthright rather than property alone
Rainsborough becomes the leading senior officer sympathetic to the Levellers, arguing that the poorest man in England should have a voice in choosing the government he must obey
Cromwell suppresses Leveller-influenced resistance at the Corkbush Field rendezvous, restoring Army discipline after soldiers reject the Grandees' settlement and display slogans for England's freedom and soldiers' rights
The Levellers call for a broader franchise under a republican government. The Levellers emphasise popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law and religious toleration, ideas expressed in the manifesto "Agreement of the People". A radical group within the New Model Army calls for constitutional reform
Walwyn is associated with the London Leveller leadership as supporters present a major petition to Parliament demanding political and legal reforms grounded in popular liberties
Rainsborough is killed at Doncaster after becoming identified with the Leveller cause, and his funeral later becomes a large Leveller demonstration in London
Thomas Rainsborough is killed in Doncaster; he was a Member of Parliament and Leveller sympathiser who had spoken at the Putney Debates, and his funeral later becomes a large Leveller-led demonstration in London
Thomas Rainsborough is killed; he was a Member of Parliament and Leveller sympathiser who had spoken at the Putney Debates. His funeral becomes a large Leveller-led demonstration in London
Lilburne and the Leveller movement press the revised Agreement of the People as a proposed written constitution, but Parliament does not adopt it as the national settlement
Lilburne publishes England's New Chains Discovered, attacking the army-dominated government for betraying the liberties for which Parliamentarian soldiers and civilians had fought
Walwyn is arrested with Lilburne, Overton and Thomas Prince after renewed Leveller attacks on the new regime, showing the Commonwealth's determination to break the movement's leadership
Elizabeth Lilburne helps lead Leveller women petitioners demanding the release of imprisoned Leveller leaders and asserting that women also have an interest in the liberties of the Commonwealth
Lockyer is executed after the Bishopsgate mutiny, becoming a Leveller martyr whose funeral draws a large London demonstration marked by sea-green ribbons and rosemary
Church is shot with other Leveller mutineers after the Burford rising, marking the destruction of the Levellers' organised support base within the New Model Army
Puts down the Leveller mutiny
Cromwell attacked the "Banbury mutineers", 400 troopers who supported the Levellers and who were commanded by Captain William Thompson
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