Event Wars of the Three Kingdoms

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Were a series of intertwined conflicts fought between 1639 and 1653 in the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, then separate entities united in a personal union under Charles I. They resulted in victory for the Parliamentarian army, the execution of Charles I, the abolition of monarchy, and founding of the Commonwealth of England, a Unitary state which controlled the British Isles until the Stuart Restoration in 1660.

Chronology

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  • May 1659: The Protectorate Parliament was dissolved by Richard Cromwell.
  • April 1654: In 1654, under the rule of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, the Ordinance for uniting Scotland with England was issued, leading to the creation of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
  • May 1659: The Protectorate Parliament was dissolved by Richard Cromwell.
  • April 1654: In 1654, under the rule of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, the Ordinance for uniting Scotland with England was issued, leading to the creation of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
  • April 1654: In 1654, under the rule of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, the Ordinance for uniting Scotland with England was issued, leading to the creation of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
  • January 1650: The Commonwealth was the political structure during the period from 1649 to 1660 when England and Wales, later along with Ireland and Scotland.

1. Irish Confederate Wars

Was the Irish theatre of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, a series of civil wars in the Kingdoms of Ireland, England and Scotland - all ruled by Charles I.

  • June 1642: Siege of Limerick.
  • September 1642: The people of Galway were now solidly on the Irish Confederate side.
  • November 1642: Irish Catholic upper classes and clergy formed the Catholic Confederation in May 1642.
  • September 1647: Cashel is acquired by the Kingdom of Ireland (Great Britain).
  • March 1645: Siege of Bangalore.

1.1. Irish Rebellion of 1641

The revolt began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for Catholics. The coup failed and the rebellion developed into an ethnic conflict between Irish Catholics on one side, and English and Scottish Protestants on the other.

1.2. Cromwellian conquest of Ireland

Was the re-conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

  • August 1650: Siege of Tecroghan.
  • October 1650: Battle of Meelick Island.
  • December 1649: Carrickfergus surrendered on 13 December.
  • June 1650: Battle of Scarrifholis.
  • June 1650: Siege of Pyongyang.
  • March 1650: Siege of Kilkenny.
  • April 1650: Early in 1650, Monro agreed to evacuate Enniskillen.
  • May 1650: Battle of Macroom.
  • August 1650: Siege of Charlemont.
  • May 1652: Siege of Galway.
  • October 1651: Siege of Limerick.
  • July 1651: Battle of Knocknaclashy.
  • October 1649: Sack of Wexford.
  • May 1650: Siege of Clonmel.
  • September 1649: Siege of Drogheda.
  • November 1649: Battle of Arklow.

2. First English Civil War

Was a civil war in England and Wales that opposed the Royalists (that believed in the in the superiority of the king over the parliament) and the Parliamentarians (that wanted a constitutional monarchy). The war was won by the Parliamentarians who imposed a constitutional monarchy on king Charles I. The refusal of the king to make concession caused the Second English Civil War.

  • May 1644: Bolton massacre.
  • June 1645: Siege of Carlisle (1644).
  • January 1644: Battle of Nantwich.
  • December 1643: Second Battle of Middlewich.
  • November 1642: Royalist forces sacked Brentford.
  • April 1644: Battle of Selby.
  • May 1646: The Parlamentarians captured Exeter and Barnstaple in April.
  • June 1646: Siege of Newark.
  • December 1642: Storming of Farnham Castle.
  • June 1644: Battle of Oswestry.
  • April 1644: Siege of Wardour Castle.
  • July 1645: Battle of Langport.
  • January 1644: Siege of Arundel.
  • January 1643: Battle of Braddock Down.
  • July 1645: Great Siege of Scarborough Castle.
  • March 1647: Harlech Castle in Wales held out until 13 March 1647 but then surrendered to the Parlamentarians.
  • May 1645: Battle of Auldearn.
  • May 1644: Siege of Lincoln.
  • September 1645: Battle of Rowton Heath.
  • August 1645: Battle of Kilsyth.
  • June 1645: Leicester was recovered by Parliament.
  • May 1643: Battle of Stratton.
  • February 1645: Battle of Weymouth.
  • February 1646: Battle of Torrington.
  • July 1645: Battle of Alford.
  • September 1645: Siege of Bristol.
  • June 1645: The Royalist forces surrendered at Truro in Cornwall.
  • July 1646: Siege of Oxford.
  • December 1642: Fairfax was defeated at the Battle of Tadcaster on 6 December and both Leeds and Pontefract Castle were captured.
  • July 1643: After a three-day siege, Gainsborough surrendered to the Royalists.
  • August 1642: In 1642, Charles I declared war on Parliament, sparking the English Civil War.
  • December 1642: Siege of Chichester.
  • July 1643: Battle of Burton Bridge.
  • May 1643: The Parlamentarians captured Wakefield.
  • September 1644: Battle of Aberdeen (1644).
  • April 1643: Siege of Jerusalem.
  • July 1643: Storming of Bristol.
  • November 1645: Siege of Basing House.
  • November 1642: Prince Rupert swept down the Thames Valley, capturing Abingdon, Aylesbury and Maidenhead.
  • July 1643: Cromwell rode into Gainsborough.
  • October 1644: Siege of Myitkyina.
  • October 1642: King Charles I was greeted by cheering crowds as he arrived in Oxford.
  • September 1645: Battle of Philiphaugh.
  • August 1642: In 1642, Charles I declared war on Parliament, sparking the English Civil War.
  • May 1645: The Royalists stormed the Parliamentarian town of Leicester.
  • December 1645: Siege of Lathom House.
  • December 1642: Battle of Tadcaster.
  • January 1643: Battle of Leeds.
  • April 1643: Siege of Reading.
  • February 1645: Battle of Inverlochy.
  • September 1644: Battle of Tippermuir.
  • July 1644: York is besieged by the Parlamentarians.
  • February 1646: Siege of Chester.
  • July 1646: Siege of Waterford.
  • January 1646: Fall of Hereford in December 1645.
  • September 1642: Siege of Portsmouth.
  • October 1642: After the Battle of Edgehill, King Charles I captured Banbury.
  • September 1642: Battle of Powick Bridge.
  • April 1646: Siege of High Ercall Hall.

3. Second English Civil War

Was a civil war in England and Wales that opposed the Royalists (that believed in the in the superiority of the king over the parliament) and the Parliamentarians (that wanted a constitutional monarchy). The war was won by the Parliamentarians who executed king Charles I and established the English Commonwealth.

  • January 1648: With backing from English Presbyterians, in December 1647, the Scottish Engagers agreed to restore Charles to the English throne.
  • August 1648: Battle of Preston.

4. Third English Civil War

Was a war between the Commonwealth of England and the Kingdom of Scotland that result in the inglobation of Scotland into the Commonwealth.

4.1. Incoronation of Charles II

Charles II, son of the executed king Charles I, was crowned King in Scotland.

  • June 1650: Charles II landed in Scotland at Garmouth in Morayshire on 23 June 1650 and signed the 1638 National Covenant and the 1643 Solemn League and Covenant shortly after coming ashore.

4.2. English invasion of Scotland

Was the invasion of Scotland by the English Commonwealth in the Third English Civil War.

  • July 1650: In 1650, during the Third English Civil War, the Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, conducted military operations around Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The city was under the control of the Royalists, who were loyal to King Charles II. The Parliamentarians eventually captured Edinburgh, securing their control over Scotland.
  • December 1650: In 1650, during the Third English Civil War, Edinburgh Castle surrendered to the forces of Oliver Cromwell, leader of the Parliamentarians.
  • September 1651: Scotland conquered by Parlamentarians.
  • July 1651: On 30 July 1651, the English Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, marched upon Perth during the Third English Civil War.
  • August 1651: Monck took Stirling on 14 August.
  • August 1650: After the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, Oliver Cromwell retreated to Musselburgh in Scotland. The Royalists, led by Charles II, had defeated Cromwell's forces, forcing him to regroup in Musselburgh before eventually launching a successful counterattack.
  • July 1651: Battle of Inverkeithing.
  • July 1651: On 30 July 1651, the English Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, marched upon Perth during the Third English Civil War.
  • July 1651: Burntisland, a town in Scotland, surrendered to John Lambert, a prominent military leader of the Parliamentarians, on 29 July 1651 during the English Civil War.
  • July 1651: Burntisland, a town in Scotland, surrendered to John Lambert, a prominent military leader of the Parliamentarians, on 29 July 1651 during the English Civil War.
  • December 1650: In 1650, during the Third English Civil War, Edinburgh Castle surrendered to the forces of Oliver Cromwell, leader of the Parliamentarians.
  • July 1650: In 1650, during the Third English Civil War, the Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, conducted military operations around Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The city was under the control of the Royalists, who were loyal to King Charles II. The Parliamentarians eventually captured Edinburgh, securing their control over Scotland.
  • August 1650: After the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, Oliver Cromwell retreated to Musselburgh in Scotland. The Royalists, led by Charles II, had defeated Cromwell's forces, forcing him to regroup in Musselburgh before eventually launching a successful counterattack.

4.3. Royalist Invasion of England

Was the invasion of England by the Kingdom of Scotland in the Third English Civil War.

  • September 1651: Battle of Worcester.
  • September 1651: Battle of Worcester.
  • August 1651: Battle of Warrington Bridge (1651).
  • August 1651: Battle of Warrington Bridge (1651).