# Outline of the wars of the Three Kingdoms

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the wars of the Three Kingdoms:
Wars of the Three Kingdoms – A series of interconnected conflicts within the kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland which took place from 1639-1651.

## Background

Incidents which can be seen as leading to the wars of the Three Kingdoms:
* Personal Rule - The period of 1629-1640 where King Charles I ruled without recourse to Parliament.
* Jenny Geddes starts riot in Edinburgh - Incident in 1637 starting protests over the use of the Book of Common Prayer by the Church of Scotland.
* Signing of the National Covenant - 1638 declaration to defend the Church of Scotland from the reforms of King Charles I

## Participants

The wars of the Three Kingdoms was fought between combatants of the following forces:
* Royalists - Forces in all three kingdoms loyal to Charles I of England and his son Charles II of England.
* Covenanters - Scottish Presbyterians organised by the Church of Scotland.
* Confederate Ireland - For a period from 1642-1649 this faction achieved self rule, and was allied to the Royalists.
* Parliamentarians - Fought with the goal of giving Parliament supreme executive power.

## Governing bodies

The following bodies were all involved in governing one of the participating groups.
* Long Parliament - Parliament of England sitting from 1640-1660
* Committee of Estates - Governed Scotland
* Oxford Parliament (1644) - Formed by Charles I as part the Royalist war effort.

## Main conflicts

The wars of the Three Kingdoms included the following conflicts:
* Bishops' Wars - Conflicts in 1639 and 1640 over the governance of the Church of Scotland.
* Irish Confederate Wars - Conflict in Ireland from 1641-1653.
** Irish Rebellion of 1641 - Rebellion by Irish Catholics.
** Cromwellian conquest of Ireland - Conquest of Ireland led by Oliver Cromwell from 1649-1653.
* English Civil Wars - Series of conflicts over the rule of England which included combatants from Scotland and Ireland as well.
** First English Civil War - 1642-1646.
** Second English Civil War - 1648.
** Third English Civil War - 1649-1651.

## Notable events

The following non-military events were connected to the wars of the Three Kingdoms.
* Short Parliament - Sat for three weeks in 1640, before being dissolved by Charles.
* Treaty of Ripon - 1640 agreement ceding Northumberland and County Durham to Scottish Covenanter forces, forcing King Charles I to recall Parliament.
* Grand Remonstrance - List of grievances presented by Parliament to King Charles I in 1641.
* Solemn League and Covenant - 1643 agreement between Scottish Covenanters and English Parliamentarians.
* Execution of Charles I - Occurred in 1649.

## Notable individuals
### Political leaders

* King Charles I - Ruler of the Three Kingdoms from 1625-1649.
* King Charles II - King of Scotland from 1649-1651 and then ruler of all three kingdoms from 1660.
* John Pym - Leader of Parliamentary opposition to the King.
* Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll - De facto head of the Scottish government throughout most of the period.

### Military leaders

* Oliver Cromwell - General in the Parliamentarian army.
* Thomas Fairfax - Commander-in-Chief of the Parliamentarian army.
* Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven - Covenanter commander.
* James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose - Fought initially for the Scottish Covenanters, before later fighting for King Charles I as the English Civil War developed.
* Prince Rupert of the Rhine - Royalist commander.

### Others

* Jenny Geddes - Incited riot thought to have led to the Bishops' Wars

## Events outside the Three Kingdoms

Prior to and during the wars of the Three Kingdoms, the Kingdom of England held dominion over a number of colonies and protectorates. The wars spread to these areas as well.
* Channel Islands in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
* English overseas possessions in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms

## Aftermath

The wars of the Three Kingdoms resulted in the following situations:
* Commonwealth of England - Created in 1649 following the execution of Charles I of England.
* Interregnum (1649–1660) - Ended when Charles II of England ascended to the throne.