First English Civil War, 1646 facts for kids

Sixteen forty-six was the last year of the First English Civil War. By the start of 1646, it was clear that the Parliamentary side was winning. The Royalist army was defeated at the Battle of Torrington on February 16. The very last Royalist army was beaten at the Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold on March 21. After these defeats, the New Model Army cleared out the remaining places held by the Royalists. The country then moved into a time of peace, but different groups in England and Scotland tried to make deals with King Charles I. Each group wanted to gain power for themselves.

The End of the English Civil War

At the beginning of 1646, King Charles I had only one main army left. This army was led by Lord Goring. After Goring left, Lord Hopton took command. He tried to inspire his soldiers, but it was hard to fight the strong New Model Army.

Final Battles and Strongholds

The town of Dartmouth surrendered on January 18, 1646. Lord Hopton's army was defeated at the Battle of Torrington on February 16. He then surrendered the rest of his army on March 14. The city of Exeter fell on April 13.

Meanwhile, Hereford had been captured on December 17, 1645. Another Royalist leader, Lord Astley, gathered about 3,000 men. He hoped to reach Oxford and help the city, which was under attack. But his army was stopped by the New Model Army. They were completely defeated at the Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold on March 21, 1646. This was the last major battle of the war.

King Charles I's Surrender

King Charles I had spent the winter near Oxford. After a risky journey, he returned to Newark. This town was being surrounded by Scottish and English Parliamentary armies. Charles I decided to surrender to the Scottish commander, Lieutenant-General David Leslie. He entered their camp on May 5, 1646.

At the King's request, the commander of Newark, Lord Belasyse, agreed to surrender the town. Newark was handed over to the English Parliamentary commander on May 8.

Last Royalist Strongholds Fall

The long attack on Oxford ended on June 24. The city's keys were given to Lord General Thomas Fairfax the next day. However, a few other Royalist strongholds kept fighting for a bit longer.

Worcester surrendered on July 23, 1646, after being under attack for 33 days. Wallingford Castle, the last Royalist stronghold in England, fell on July 27 after a 65-day attack. In Wales, Raglan surrendered on August 19. The very last Royalist place, Harlech Castle, kept fighting until March 13, 1647.

What Happened Next?

After the First Civil War ended, England and Scotland faced a new challenge. Different groups, like the Scots, the English Parliament, and the New Model Army, all wanted to have power. Even though King Charles I was a prisoner, many still saw him as important. They thought he was needed to make any peace deal work.

Charles I tried to make deals with each group, hoping to get his power back. He was held by the Scots, then by the English Parliament, and finally by the New Model Army.

The New Model Army became very powerful. They felt that Parliament was not treating them fairly. This included trying to send them away or not paying them. This made the army very angry. They remembered why they had fought in the first place.

The disagreements between the New Model Army and the English Parliament grew bigger. By 1648, the Parliament, along with the Scots and some remaining Royalists, felt strong enough. They decided to start a second civil war against the New Model Army.