The interactive map below shows the 6 key battles of the First English Civil War, fought between 1642 and 1646. The war ended in defeat for the Royalists, who were led by Charles I.
In 1647, with Charles I locked up, the leaders of the Parliamentary Army were deciding what to do with the King. This was one of the main points of discussion during the Putney Debates – much of the debating was not recorded, as the content of the discussion was too risky to be in the public domain. Little wonder: by 1649, Charles I had been tried and executed.
View The Battles of the English Civil War in a larger map
Who were the New Model Army?
Three years into the First Civil War, Parliament created the New Model Army, which proved to be the decisive military force in the war. Oliver Cromwell and Henry Ireton were among the senior figures in the New Model Army.