The histories of the British and Irish civil wars of the mid-Seventeenth century are usually written from the perspective of the conflict fought on land while the strategic importance of the war at sea which contributed so much to Parliament’s eventual victory, is often ignored or only mentioned in passing. But these maritime  engagements were ... Read more

As civil war raged in Britain, the heart of Europe was being torn apart by a bitter conflict which lasted from 1618 to 1648. These three decades became a byword for the horrors of war unsurpassed until the world wars of the 20th century. Every European power apart from Russia, was sucked into the fighting as ... Read more

The Sealed Knot was the most important, and certainly the most famous, royalist organization to emerge in England during the Protectorate. At its heart was a group of second sons of Royalist families in East Anglia, each of whom had fought for the King in the Civil War. Their experiences left them suspicious of reckless ... Read more

For the first time the role played by women in the espionage networks of both sides in the Civil Wars is being recovered through the pioneering research conducted by Nadine Akkerman, Professor of Early Modern Literature and Culture at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Professor Akkerman tells publisher, Mike Gibbs, how she uncovered the extent ... Read more

The British civil wars were largely played out around numerous fortified strongpoints at locally important strategic sites throughout the three Kingdoms. Such “fortresses” ranged from purpose-built artillery platforms known as sconces which can still be seen in places such as Newark in Nottinghamshire, through to medieval castles such as Corfe in Dorset or local homes ... Read more

It is surprising to learn that the carnage of the civil wars took place against an often unrecognised background of near-constant peace negotiations and that popular agitation for an end to the conflict was frequently expressed in petitions with thousands of signatures and public demonstrations calling for an end to the conflict. Apart from small ... Read more

On 19th March 1649 the House of Lords was abolished by an Act of Parliament, which declared that “…the House of Lords is useless and dangerous to the people of England.” But in 1657, the Cromwellian regime established a second Parliamentary chamber – the “Other House” – under the terms of The Humble Petition and Advice. ... Read more

In our regular series of programmes Key Questions: Expert Answers, we invited leading academics to address some of the most important questions – often controversial – asked about the causes, conflicts and consequences of the British Civil Wars. These are the thorny questions which are regularly asked about this unique period of British history which ... Read more

General George Monck is best known for the key role that he played in the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 when his actions undoubtedly changed the course of British history. Without his military intervention it is likely that Charles Stuart would not have regained the throne, that Britain would have remained a Republic or ... Read more

In just 40 weeks Oliver Cromwell ruthlessly subdued Ireland in a bloody and ruthless campaign which still casts a shadow over the remembrance of one of the most famous – or infamous – figures in British history. This campaign continues to be bitterly argued over by historians and politicians today. When he arrived on 15th ... Read more