First English Civil War: The Rise of Cromwell

The First English Civil War, fought between England and Wales from around August 1642 to June 1646, saw a war-related population collapse of around 4%, twice that of World War I.
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[@MirageGSM]

"No one [] really knew how to fight a conflict that didn't involve immediately losing to Scotland." I'm SO glad I wasn't drinking anything when you said that line!

[@Nostripe361]

I always find stories like this, on just how nonsensically unprepared armies were for wars, so fascinating. Its always funny how up until the modern era people seemed to think you could win a war just with enthusiasm or grit.

[@thomaswilliamson625]

@@Nostripe361, in a lot of ways it was. Armies would break on the field quickly if they didn’t have good morale. You could loose 10% of you men and boom. Your army is broke and routing.

[@Darryl_Francis]

Battle of Flodden wants a word

[@jesuschrist9513]

@@Nostripe361 *and the sheer overwhelming force of God's obvious favor

[@ometalogos]

​@Nostripe361 a verlo de

[@MuddieRain]

“Lord Protectorate is another name for king and you're a cruel one”

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:20 - Chapter 1 - 1 king, 3 kingdoms 5:50 - Chapter 2 - Fire in scotland , volcano in ireland 10:30 - Chapter 3 - England burning 14:50 - Chapter 4 - The rise of fairfax 19:45 - Chapter 5 - The rise of cromwell 24:35 - Chapter 6 - A new model victory

[@BinkyBorky]

Just get youtube premium and watch the whole thing.

[@mattyb7183]

When Simon says the Battle of Edgehill started by accident. He isn't wrong. Both armies have been blundering around the countryside looking for each other for several weeks. Due to the almost total lack of military expertise on both sides, neither army has any reconnaissance units or any other means of intelligence gathering. This had meant that the day before the battle, both armies had set up camp almost on top of each other without realising it. They only discovered each other when troops from each army tried to take supplies and lodging in the same village which started a skirmish. And that led to the battle the next day.

[@louisgiokas2206]

When I lived in Winchester, my children went to Oliver's Battery Primary School. I was a Governor of the school. The name came from the fact that the location is where Cromwell kept his battery of cannon, which used to batter down the walls of the Castle of Winchester.

[@mytigger1957]

This whole era of UK history has always been fascinating to me. Basically monarchy to civil war, to independence, execution of said monarch, military dictatorship, then back to monarchy (albeit with curtailment of royal power). Living as a commoner during this time would have been insane. In addition, the impact of this period on the later enlightenment thinking leading into the US war for independence and the later French Revolution pretty much reshaped a lot of the western world’s thinking about absolute monarchies moving forward.

[@DarkShroom]

i'm not sure how you can concider Cromwell a "military dictator", as if the previous monarch who had discolved parliment for 10 years, also raised many armies to fight parliment, literally walked into parliment looking this up i think you are repeating Windtson Churchills view, which sounds like it was against popular concensus, which would make sense from Churchills royalist perspective i mean he raised Elizabeth 2nd

[@mytigger1957]

@@DarkShroom I think if you look at Cromwell’s actions after the execution of Charles I, it looks more like a dictatorship than a modern government. I guess you could also say it was a monarchy but typically that would be based upon a lineage claim to power. The use of military governors for control and force, his own dissolutions of parliament by force, the naming of his son as ruler after his death all point to a dictatorship rather than a representative democracy.

[@norwegianboyee]

@@mytigger1957 Parliament after the English king was executed was quite incompetent so i think even if Cromwell wished for democracy beforehand, he just said "fuck it" at some point and decided to just take full command and effectively became an dictator.

[@user-ly6pl5ot9m]

Dear Simon! Please make the sequel to the first English Civil War, Second English Civil War: Electric Boogaloo! Thank you!

[@michaelsinger4638]

It’d be cool if you did a video on James Graham, Marquis of Montrose. Or Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven. They were prominent military leaders of this time. Good video. Cromwell might have been a brutal fanatic. But he was a brilliant military leader.

[@juliadagnall5816]

You should consider doing a Biographics on Charles’ sister Elizabeth Stuart, wife of the Elector Palatine and hypothetical Queen of Bohemia. She ended up stuck right smack in the middle of the thirty years war and saw some stunning reversals in fortune. It’s through her family line that the house of Hanover came to be the next ruling family in England.

[@highlandoutsider8148]

When I 1st read this, I read "Emperor Palpatine "🤦🤣

[@mmilller452]

@@highlandoutsider8148 so did I

[@ethanjacobrosca7833]

Incidentally, Elizabeth Stuart was also the princess whom the Gunpowder Plotters planned would replace James I once they killed him!

[@treydodson4726]

Elector Palpatine, how many people know the reference in Star Wars? Lucas is deeper than people realize!

[@BA-gn3qb]

When I see Hanover, I think of Pretzels. 🤗

[@massiverabbit3454]

He really likes Voltron

[@WideLoad405]

And now I'm chomping at the bit for episodes on the other English Civil Wars.

[@paulherman5822]

Ones before this "first" one, or after?

[@WideLoad405]

Idk what's going on but on my end it looks like my comment disappeared. But specifically the conflicts, starting with the one this video covers, that took place between 1642-1651. The other conflicts seem to have gone by names other than "English Civil War".

[@tabletadmin5553]

I love seeing all your videos. Im actually glad to see you actually having a laugh with it.

[@EmilyJelassi]

Excellent video.. very interesting. Well done Simon and team 😊👏🏻💯

[@JPriz416]

great video! I hope the next one on the 2nd civil war comes soon.

[@als3022]

Yes was waiting for this one. I know little in this subject, but what I do know always wants me to learn more

[@nomoss9600]

I’m a sucker for this era in general. Looking forward to the next chapter!

[@ericgrace9995]

Did Winchester have a castle ? Or was it defended by a series of earthworks and bastions?

[@markjarrett9400]

Never understand why the Wars of the Roses and other wars over who is to be the next king are not seen as a Civil Wars.

[@fireforger9192]

Good video as others have said not really the 1st Civil war. In relation to the groups you mentioned could you please do a video on these, particularly the Levellers?

[@gooner72]

I live in Colchester, Essex, and there's loads of English Civil War history here. One of the most important locations is round the back of Colchester Castle, which is the largest surviving Norman Keep in the World btw, there is a small memorial that marks the spot where forces loyal to Cromwell "knocked out cold" Lord Lucas. There's also lots of buildings that are from that era, which survive to this day and some of them have bullet holes in them from the Siege of Colchester. There's also an intact fancy Abbey gateway entrance and parts of the old Roman Wall which was built way back when Colchester was the capital of Roman Britain......FACT!! So, here we have roads named after Lucas, Fairfax and Cromwell.

[@grimdesaye6534]

Thank you very interesting. God Bless.😊

[@MrBobbyd45]

I enjoy history and your videos always make me enjoy it even more. Thanks for all the work to put the channel to-gether.

[@robdon3472]

fantastic video!!! The weekend doesn't start until Warographics drops

[@pgbrown12084]

Omg I love seeing Simon's personality come out in his more serious videos!

[@timmy2shoez]

You sir, have been my most watched host on KZbin, from the OG channel to the many others that you and your team put the many hours of hard work into. Keep it up! Cheers from across the pond! 🤙

[@baalzeebub4230]

I second EVERY word. Watched the young egg shaped nekkid headed kid with his top tenz. Watched your career grow and flourish. Watched you mature into the man who juggles too many channels. Great job. Edit: should that be channelz ?

[@thcdreams654]

Another great video. Thanks for the content.

[@spankflaps1365]

I recommend the movie ‘Cromwell’ (1970). It has an all star cast, massive production, amazing score, and it’s proper edge of the seat stuff. 👍

[@kieronparr3403]

Troll

[@duncancurtis5971]

The late great Richard Harris as the fiery dictator.

[@michaelsinger4638]

Ironic, an Irish actor playing Cromwell.

[@199019852007]

And future( Welsh )James Bond

[@SerialChiller1000]

It's dogshit. It doesn't even mention the largest battle, Marston Moor, which cemented Old Ironsides's reputation and his rise to the top of The Good Old Cause.

[@string_fellow_hawk]

Great work Morris M.

[@AQLV]

It also gave us the lovely iron bathtub known as the Cromwell tank

[@robertbodell55]

You know both sides were scrapping the bottom of the barrel and seriously out of practice with war, when one of the Royalist most experienced officers starting off was the king's 22 year old nephew from the continent.

[@kevinstachovak8842]

Great job making a complicated subject seem simple

[@mauricedavis2160]

Excellent episode Mr. Whistler, can't wait for the next chapter...I wonder 🤔 how that one will turn out!!!🙏👍👻

[@MistaLiir]

I just got out of bed, and right away, its KZbin and history lessons with Simon Whistler.. :D you start my day mate!!

[@SerjioDragonis]

As a long time viewer who has never really proposed one there's one video which I think might be worth making- do you think the Battle of Cartagena (part of the War of Jenkins' ear) might be an interesting one to cover? Some of the personalities like Blas de Lezo... A man who with his wounds of " he lost his left eye, left hand, complete mobility of the right arm, and had his left leg amputated in situ" literally personified what we think of pirates in the Caribbean...though plot twist he wasn't

[@Kameeho]

I second this. I can see memes coming from Simon in this!

[@tomhill8093]

Great clip.

[@richardsawyer5428]

Bristol has plenty of sites associated with the siege. St Nick's Church by Bristol Bridge has shrapnel marks on it although which are due to the Civil War and which are due to the Blitz is hard to tell. Brown's Restaurant at the top of Park Street also has a plaque whilst the hill above it contained forts from the era.

[@Wicksley73]

Absolutely brilliant Siimon, I hold a fist class degree in Scottish history from Edinburgh and you nailed this! Scots involvement is often over looked int the ‘English civil war-‘ I’d thread of the three kingdoms,well done you!

[@Wicksley73]

* in steadl

[@coling3957]

you could have saved yourself the years of university and gone and watched "Braveheart" which seems to be the prime history source of a generation of Scottish nationalists :P

[@Chuck-PK]

21:00 Its astounding how much this part reminds me of Simmerson from Sharpe's Rifles

[@karlgrimm3027]

One thing they forgot to mention is that Parliament had absolutely no intention of keeping their promise to make England Presbyterian.

[@reddhead2948]

I would like to see a warographics video on the boxers of the early 1900s

[@Knight860]

Charles's problem wasn't that he was another King John only out for himself and everyone else be damned, it's that he thought he alone knew best and could not accept humility, his father was the same but had the grace of temperance being a foreign king in a new kingdom and desiring not to charge through like a frieght train. Charles however didn't know temperance and remained pig headed until he lost his head. As bloody and awful as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms were (A.K.A. English Civil Wars) they did signal the beginning of the end of Stuart Absolutism with Charles II learning to take the political temperature of the room and not to gamble unless you were sure the deck was stacked in your favor, though James II/VII decided to emulate his father if not more and turned the catholic Stuart line into Beggar Kings of sorts.

[@DieNextInLINE]

I agree wholeheartedly but that viewpoint wasn't unique. Tsar Alexander I believed in a constitutional monarchy and democratic rights for the people. However, he also simultaneously believed that God himself favored him and his rule. Historia Civilis talks about it perfectly. In his mind, there was no conflict in holding the simultaneous beliefs of freedom for the people and his own God given, not just right, but his duty/responsibility to rule with absolute authority. Also, I've never heard of the English Civil Wars called Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Any mention of Three Kingdoms usually makes me think of the Three Kingdoms period and the semi-historical Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers the formation of the Kingdoms of Wu, Shu-Han, Wei and their eventual fall to the newly formed Jin dynasty.

[@Knight860]

@@DieNextInLINETrue and before the second war with the Scots the Parlimentarians and Royals treated it like a dueling match and whoever won was the person God backed, however once the second war with Scotland kicked off all good will and respect towards Charles I went out the window. Cromwell was in favor of a deal with Charles after the first war but once Charles got the Scots to invade all good faith went out the window. Wars of the Three Kingdoms is used interchangably with English Civil War but academics and Scots and Irish especially favor it, because this was before the Acts of Union of 1707 and 1800 so all three were techincally seperate kingdoms ruled by one monarch and there have been a lot of civil wars in England (ie. The Anarchy, the Plantagenet Civil War, the Barons Wars, the Civil War of 1326 and the Wars of the Roses) in order for clarificaiton.

[@neilbuckley1613]

@@Knight860 From what I have read of Charles he does not seem to have been a stupid or a wicked man. In contemporary terms he comes across as a man trapped in his ideological echo chamber, the Divine right of Kings , leading to him making foolish and deceitful actions, when reason should have led him to a different outcome.

[@Knight860]

@@neilbuckley1613 Exactly, he wasn't willing to back down because he couldn't accept just having the ideological high ground like his father, he felt being king made it so only his way was acceptable. The Ultra-Puritans in the country didn't help by their inability to compromise either add in the Thirty Years War and Charles being married to a french catholic and that created a recipie of division in the country.

[@toforgetisagem8145]

There are one or two parliamentarians today that could learn from Charles's mistakes.

[@joanhuffman2166]

Oliver Cromwell was the great great grand nephew of Thomas Cromwell. His family's original name was Williams (and Welsh). Most ethnic groups in the UK do not admire him. However I have heard that when other nations were persecuting the Jews, he let them move into England.

[@valnarehood834]

Entertaining, educational, and, because I played the game, have a pretty decent buzz! No one needs to know this, just wanted to bump the channel. Much obliged, carry on!

[@DegnaDings]

“How balls-out awesome it was the just keep on raising taxes.” I’ve never heard a more historically accurate yet funny line in my life. I’m dying 😂

[@rtonib2103]

I get it Simon but for the love of God will you finish the civil wars. This video was class. Great man.

[@jobanh7ify]

Cheers 🍺😵‍💫

[@chewydewok]

Why do I have a feeling if you do take a drink every time Parliament is dissolved, you will be a little drunk. 😂

[@prussia1557]

As an American I'm happy to learn about this war. Not many sources here to read.

[@outsidevent]

If you haven’t already done so, read The Cousins’ Wars by Kevin P Phillips. It doesn’t completely focus on the English Civil War, but also the American Revolution and American Civil War and how they are all linked among the English speaking “cousins”.

[@ZKT611]

My ancestors were minor nobles in Munster, they fled to North America after leading a rebellion against Cromwell’s forces in Ireland in the 1640’s

[@welshman8954]

And Mine fled to Wales

[@justin8894]

I figured the first English Civil War would be about when and what kind of tea to drink.

[@julianaylor4351]

😁❤️

[@Battleblunt420]

Can't wait for round 2🪖

[@jjlortez]

I would of played that drinking game .... BUT! I still remember the biographics videos in these soluble characters

[@mythicaldakka]

"Have you heard? The King dissolved Parliament again." "Oh, is it Tuesday already?" Everybody has to have a hobby I suppose.

[@mktf5582]

Could you please do a Biographics on John Lambert (General) in the British Civil War.

[@DarkShroom]

this is a great addtional channel... i was a big fan of biographics still am, i would struggle to watch every last video you do admittedly!... please cover the rest of this as you mention.... they will be cult classics don't worry... prob will get loads of views in the long run!.. seriously how can this not appeal to viewers, us Brits, Americans and all ex-anglo colonies

[@davidsalesman6436]

It would be amazing to see some kind of Halo modded Arma 3 screens played out via community participation. The large scale battles from the books could be played out. We also have some recent books that will add to the lore. I certainly will be watching whatever you put out about those.

[@griffinsalmon5798]

You should cover the Glencoe Massacre, the act that the Red Wedding is based on in GOT

[@phyrkiel]

Hey, could you make a film about the Great Heathen Army?

[@nunyabeeswax3936]

Motivation won the "Day"....

[@BrianMcAvoy13]

Me (recovering alcoholic): *Hears drinking game* "...oh no, not again" Flash backs of college and terrible singing at karaoke begins

[@mrt88music]

I think the thing I find the most entertaining about the first English civil war is that it's actually at least the sixth

[@davidnotonstinnett]

The Trial of Charles I is so interesting He was a tyrant, in his own words aiming at absolute monarchy. Moreover, he did fight a war against parliament. But his trial had no legal standing….

[@hendriktonisson2915]

*Charles I

[@ian4175]

Historia Civilis watcher I’d assume?

[@andresgil7076]

Compare him to Cromwell and I believe the man is a royal martyr look at Cromwell persecution of the Irish people he was a merciless dictator

[@davidnotonstinnett]

@@hendriktonisson2915 thank you, sir :)

[@davidnotonstinnett]

@@ian4175 never have I been so enthralled by squares.

[@BruceMusto]

So Simon; when you say "not very much", are we then to infer from that statement that you do indeed have some experience in professional wrestling? I can see it now. Simon Whistler wrestling as The Masked Beard

[@mktf5582]

Could you please also do 1st Duke Marlborough Battles (Spanish succession war).

[@theawesomeman9821]

Yes! Please!

[@erichheyse3517]

Anybody else just hearing Monty Python on repeat the whole time?

[@ryuuwyvern90]

Has simon done a video on Culloden?

[@seangannon6081]

“ not very much”??? Does that mean Simon has at least some professional wrestling experience?

[@Kezmanisgod9]

I mean he does look like a bald version of PAC aka Neville so maybe?!? 🤷‍♂️😂

[@jerrywaterfalls5865]

Man, Elizabeth and James get off way to easily in these English civil war videos.

[@Konser_konge]

Idea for a buisness: warographics drinking games. Features chassis such as scandinavian wars between denmark and swden and the battles of the and battles of the isonzo.

[@uruuphiil8335]

yay! this shouldbe fun..:P

[@maggotmusic757]

Simon Whistler in Professional Wrestling would just be Simon Miller 🤣🤣🤣

[@hoodoo2001]

"No man is free unless a King has his rights"

[@duncancurtis5971]

Children of the New Forest was a popular TV series based on a royalist family hiding from the ironsiders.

[@julianaylor4351]

Based on a well known novel.

[@SwiftLynx87]

One king to rule them all, got me.

[@PresidentAutumn]

“Remember, remember, the Fifth of November…”

[@chrisking1900]

It was the 3rd Civil war in England. The first was Stephen v Matilda, 12C. The second was the "Cousins War, ( War of the Roses), in the 15C.

[@anumeon]

I was just about to write that very same thing.

[@Matthew-nw1zn]

Well if you throw in the 1st and 2nd Baron’s Wars it’s more like the 5th lol. I think in the context of this video, it’s referred to as the first because it’s the first civil war of the overall English Civil War.

[@unculturedweeb4240]

Oh please I've tried taking a shot every time Luis Black says F@#$.

[@AKAZA-kq8jd]

Battle of Cannae next

[@user-mr1js7ws4n]

That couldn’t be said to be an impartial examination. You let yourself down.

[@paulnolan4971]

I'm off my head with all these shots😁

[@wyattfreihon4048]

Was I ever upset that I had cracked open a bottle of whiskey before enjoying this video this evening. My liver rages against you Sir Simon

[@alexanderveritas]

*Parliament: **_*EXISTS_** *Charles I: **_Dissolve the Parliament._* 😤 *Royal Advisor: **_But sir…_* 😳 *Charles I: **_RIGHT NOW!_* 😡

[@iphail4733]

Wasn't the first civil war in the British isles, the war of the roses?

[@elwolf8536]

Yes incorrect tittle, not giving this video eny attention

[@richardjameskemp911]

The Anarchy was actually, from 1135-54. William the Conqueror's grandchildren fighting it out for the throne of England.

[@neveniusvondubowatz7705]

Whose was it? His who is gone. Who shall have it? He who will come.

[@tayday424]

God I love these old stories. U.K., never stop being awesome

[@elkosins1686]

Simon what about the isles of Mann?

[@jasonkeenan4154]

My aunt, who's into genealogy, says we share some distant lineage to Cromwell. Don't know if that's actually true or not.

[@BattalionCommanderMK]

Oliver cromwell, cromwell tank.

[@jonha2404]

It really bugs me how zoomed in this video is. The top 25% of Simons head is cropped out.

[@hendriktonisson2915]

Is it true that Cromwell tried to create a "Great England" by trying to completely both politically and culturally assimilate Scotland?

[@malegria9641]

Yes.

[@justonecornetto80]

The Scots raised an army with the intention of putting Charles II on the throne so Cromwell launched a pre-emptive strike by invading Scotland and subsequently crushing its army at the Battle of Dunbar despite being outnumbered by more than two to one. He then appointed General George Monck as military governor of Scotland who set about dismantling Scotland's institutions in order to weaken the power base of Charles II's supporters. What should also be noted is that it wasn't so much about assimilating Scotland but putting the whole of the British Isles under the control of a strict Puritan theocracy, the excesses of which reached their height during the era of what came to be known as the rule of the Major-Generals and the most oppressive period in British history.

[@hendriktonisson2915]

@@justonecornetto80 I see. Thanks for the info!

[@elwolf8536]

Tyrant

[@DERP_Squad]

If you want to see his method of 'assimilation' look at what he did in Ireland.

[@fincorrigan7139]

In relation to the taxes raised by Charles, how much was it as a % per capita increase? Was it 3% 5% 10%? Who paid it? Where did the money actually go? Normally speaking war economies boom as a redistribution occurs along with fuller employment so raising taxes is a bad thing? Would the people of almost 400 years ago be aghast at our marginal tax rates of 40% plus VAT, Duty, Council Tax etc etc? I've not been able to research any quantitative data on individual rates but would love someone who can recommend sources to point me in the right direction. Cheers.

[@damiensadventure]

Simon I'm 7 minutes in and I'm already vomiting alcohol. X _ X

[@aceundead4750]

I know what im doing when i get home. José is calling my name

[@SerialChiller1000]

I believe the most influential figure from The Wars of Three Kingdoms is Sir Henry Vane the Younger. This period should be taught to all English-speaking peoples because of how it cemented legislative, and thus democratic, supremacy.

[@jimadams7765]

It only lasted 10 years. So bit of a short interlude really.

[@savagedarksider5934]

Oliver Cromwell became A Monarch.

[@dancarey7204]

Ok what's Simon's professional wrestling name? The Bearded Bruiser?

[@ahouyearno]

1:28 The brittish isles are home to 2 states, "for now". That's some really hopefully phrasing.

[@johnlee5423]

What's the chances of Charles the 3rd ending up like the first one.

[@daniloalves1139]

I want to know what Simon knows about wresteling. Can he arm bar me?

[@justindowling281]

Where is the follow up?