Royalist Contingent

During the English Civil War (1662-1651), the Royalists championed the divine right of the monarch to govern England and fought against the opposing Parliamentarians. They had a deep-seated loyalty to the monarch and to the protection of King Charles I.

Royalist Contingent

Gentry, noblemen and Catholics were staunch supporters of the monarch, as were those who lived in the countryside, particularly the less economically developed northern and westerns parts of England.

The Parliamentarians referred to these gentry as Cavaliers taken from the French word chevalier meaning horseman, the derogatory term was later adopted by the Royalists themselves. The term made reference to the elaborate fashion of the court, their long hair worn in ringlets and their strong allegiance to the king. The Royalists achieved early victories during conflict due to the skills of these horsemen.

Royalist Mounted Leader

Royalist Infantry Leader

Royalist Cavaliers

Pikemen

Musketeers.

Royalist Contingent

Battle of Marston Moor, (July 2, 1644), the first major Royalist defeat in the English Civil Wars. A Royalist army was besieged in York by a Parliamentary army now supported by Scottish allies. The decisive battle, fought outside York at Marston Moor, gave Parliament full control of the north. A major reason for the loss was that Rupert could not command all of his men at the same time as too many units arrived at the battlefield late as the pursuit of Parliament’s army had not been well organised.

The battle established Cromwell’s (Ptah!!!) reputation as a military commander and showed that a well organised, trained and equipped army could win the war.