Kirk Party facts for kids

The Kirk Party was a group of very religious Presbyterians in Scotland. They were part of a larger movement called the Covenanters. This group was important during a time of big wars in Scotland, England, and Ireland, known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

The Kirk Party became powerful around 1648. This happened after another group, the Engagers, lost a battle to Oliver Cromwell and the English Parliament. The Kirk Party then took control. They removed people they didn't agree with from the Covenanter's army and government. In 1651, they made Charles II the King of Scotland. In return, he had to agree to their religious and political plans, which was written in the Treaty of Breda (1650).

What Does 'Kirk' Mean?

The word "Kirk" is a Scottish word. It simply means a church. More specifically, it refers to the Church of Scotland. So, the Kirk Party was a group focused on the Church of Scotland's beliefs.

Challenges for the Kirk Party

The Kirk Party was very passionate about their religious beliefs. However, this didn't always help them in battles. Before a big fight called the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, they made a strange decision. They spent three days checking the religious and political views of their soldiers.

This check led them to remove many experienced soldiers and officers. They called these people "Malignants." About 80 officers and 3,000 skilled soldiers were removed. These soldiers were very close to the enemy army. The Kirk Party replaced them with new recruits who had strong religious beliefs but little fighting experience.

Defeat at Dunbar

Because of these changes, the Kirk Party's army was badly beaten. Oliver Cromwell's powerful army, called the New Model Army, easily defeated them at the Battle of Dunbar in September 1650. This big loss made the Kirk Party lose much of its power and respect.

After the Defeat

After the Battle of Dunbar, other groups in Scottish politics became more important. They tried to bring together the different Covenanter groups and Scottish Royalists. Their goal was to fight against the English Parliament, which was invading Scotland.

However, these combined Scottish forces were also defeated. They lost at the battle of Worcester in 1651. This defeat eventually led to Scotland becoming part of the English Commonwealth.

The Nickname 'Whigs'

The Kirk Party was sometimes called "whiggamores" or "whigs" by their Scottish rivals. This was meant as an insult. The name "Whig" was later used for another group in England. This English group, led by Earl of Shaftesbury, wanted to stop James, Duke of York from becoming king. They didn't want him to rule because he was Catholic.

See also

• History of Scotland
• Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms