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English Civil Wars
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
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Painting of the Battle of Naseby shows cavalry and infantry clashing, with soldiers on horseback leading a charge and fallen fighters on the ground amid the chaos of battle. Side-by-side historical maps of England during the Civil Wars, showing shifting control between Royalist and Parliamentary forces in 1643 and 1645. The maps use color coding to indicate areas controlled by the King, Parliament, or recently conquered, and mark major battle sites such as Marston Moor, Edgehill, and Naseby. Key cities, regions, and boundaries are labeled, with Scotland, Wales, and parts of Ireland and France visible for context. Full-length portrait of Charles I of England standing in elaborate blue and silver attire, holding a staff, with a crown and red drapery on a table beside him. G. Glover, after Edward Bower: John Pym
The video thumbnail image includes a 17th century artwork showing men fighting at a gambling table, surrounded by a Christmas garland and overlaid on a photograph of a snowy forest.
Battle of Edgehill during the English Civil Wars Battle of Marston Moor Battle of Marston Moor Battle of Naseby Marquess of Montrose
At a Glance
Painting of the Battle of Naseby shows cavalry and infantry clashing, with soldiers on horseback leading a charge and fallen fighters on the ground amid the chaos of battle.
English Civil Wars summary
Quizzes
Civil War era cannon overlooks Kennesaw Mountain National Battle. (military, artillery, American history)
Pick Your Battles Quiz
Louis IX of France (St. Louis), stained glass window of Louis IX during the Crusades. (Unknown location.)
World Wars
D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944.
A History of War
Related Questions

English Civil Wars: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

Scott Wheeler, The Irish and British Wars, 1637–1654: Triumph, Tragedy, and Failure (2002); and Martyn Bennett, The Civil Wars Experienced: Britain and Ireland, 1638–1661 (2000), offer coherent and brief overviews. Equally valuable but more detailed is Charles Carlton, Going to the Wars: The Experience of the British Civil Wars, 1638–1651 (1994). Austin Woolrych, Britain in Revolution, 1625–1660 (2002), is one of the most substantial single-volume works on the wars. Peter Edwards, Dealing in Death: The Arms Trade and the British Civil Wars, 1638–52 (2000), offers a full analysis of how armies were armed and supplied. John Kenyon and Jane Ohlmeyer (eds.), The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland and Ireland, 1638–1660 (1998), focuses on the wars from a military and political perspective. Jane Ohlmeyer, β€œThe Wars of, for, and in the Three Kingdoms,” History Today, 48:11, pp. 16–22 (November 1998); and Jane Ohlmeyer, β€œThe Wars of Religion, 1603–60,” in A Military History of Ireland, ed. by Thomas Bartlett and Keith Jeffery, pp. 160–187 (1996), examines the conflagration from an Irish angle.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Jane H. Ohlmeyer
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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  • Jeffrey LaPointe

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: English Heritage - The English Civil Wars. Sep 26, 2026
Add new Web site: The National Archives - Women and the English Civil Wars. Mar 26, 2026
Add new Web site: English Heritage - The English Civil Wars. Jan 03, 2026
Add new Web site: Heritage History - English Civil Wars. Sep 30, 2025
Add new Web site: Academia - The Great Rebellion (PDF). May 17, 2025
Questions and answers added. Mar 21, 2025
Media added. Dec 06, 2024
Add new Web site: CORE - New Perspectives on Britain's Civil Wars. Nov 22, 2024
Add new Web site: The National Archive - Women and the English Civil Wars. Sep 14, 2024
Add new Web site: Atlantic Canada Pressbooks Network - Western Civilization - The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution. Dec 28, 2023
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Misogyny, feminism, and sexual harassment. Jul 07, 2023
Add new Web site: The Cormwwell Association - Causes of the English Civil War. Jan 08, 2023
Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - English Civil Wars. Sep 06, 2022
Add new Web site: National Army Museum - British Civil Wars. May 02, 2022
Add new Web site: None. May 02, 2022
Removed erroneous cross-reference link. Jun 30, 2021
Add new Web site: Historic UK - The Origins & Causes of the English Civil War. Feb 20, 2021
Media added. Oct 23, 2020
Add new Web site: ThoughtCo. - English Civil War: An Overview. Aug 17, 2018
Corrected display issue. Dec 27, 2017
Add new Web site: Encyclopedia Virginia - The English Civil Wars and Virginia. Jan 08, 2017
Add new Web site: Berkshire History for Kids! - Civil War Chaos. Jan 08, 2017
Media added. Feb 12, 2016
Add new Web site: Spartacus Educational - The English Civil War. Nov 28, 2014
Add new Web site: History Learning Site - The English Civil War. Apr 01, 2013
In the bibliography, added Austin Woolrych's Britain in Revolution. Aug 29, 2012
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - History - Great Rebellion or English Civil Wars. Oct 23, 2008
Media added. Sep 11, 2008
Added new Web site: British Broadcasting Corporation - British History - Civil War And Revolution. Mar 11, 2008
Article revised and updated and media added. Oct 23, 2007
New article added. Jul 11, 2007
Bibliography revised and updated. Jul 11, 2007
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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