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Why did Charles I and Parliament disagree about control of the army raised for Ireland?

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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. — English Civil Wars *Battle of Naseby*, by an unknown artist. The victory of the Parliamentarian New Model Army, under Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, over the Royalist army, commanded by Prince Rupert, at the Battle of Naseby (June 14, 1645) marked the decisive turning point in the English Civil War.

The disagreement between Charles I and Parliament over the control of the army intended for Ireland stemmed from a profound lack of trust. Following the outbreak of the Irish rebellion in October 1641, an army was urgently needed to suppress the uprising.12

While the king traditionally held military authority, Parliament feared that if Charles were given command of such a force, he might use it against his political opponents in London rather than to quell the insurgency in Ireland. This suspicion was fueled by the king’s previous attempts to undermine parliamentary authority and his search for military options to counter the reform movement.2

Consequently, parliamentary leaders, led by John Pym, sought to transfer control of the militia—including the appointment of military officers—from the crown to Parliament. This struggle for control became a central point of contention, leading to the Grand Remonstrance and eventually contributing to the onset of the English Civil Wars as both sides mobilized for conflict.21