page_title: First English Civil War
section_title: 1643
hierarchical_section_title: First English Civil War / 1643
caption_attribution_description: English: Location map of Northern England Equirectangular projection, N/S stretching 170&#160;%. Geographic limits of the map: * N: 56.0° N * S: 52.33° N * W: 4.17° W * E: 2.0° E
context_page_description: The First English Civil War was fought in England and Wales, from August 1642 to June 1646. It forms one of the conflicts known collectively as the 1638 to 1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which also took place in Scotland and Ireland. These include the 1638 to 1640 Bishops' Wars, the Irish Confederate Wars, the Second English Civil War, the Third English Civil War, and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
  It is estimated that from 1638 to 1651, 15–20% of all adult males in England and Wales served in the military, and around 4% of the total population died from war-related causes, compared to 2.23% in World War I. These figures are important in understanding the impact of the conflict on society, and the bitterness it engendered.
  In 1642, the vast majority supported the institution of monarchy, but disagreed on who held ultimate political power. Those who supported Charles I in his claim to be above Parliament were known as Royalists, while their Parliamentarian opponents backed Constitutional monarchy. This simplifies a very complex reality, and the choice often came down to personal loyalties.
context_section_description: The events of 1642 showed the need to plan for a lengthy conflict. For the Royalists, this meant fortifying their new capital in Oxford, and connecting areas of support in England and Wales; Parliament focused on consolidating control of the areas they already held. Although peace talks were held, both parties continued to negotiate for Scots and Irish support.
  Fighting continued during the winter in Yorkshire, as Royalist leader Newcastle tried to secure a landing place for an arms shipment from the Dutch Republic. He had insufficient troops to hold the entire area, and Parliamentary forces under Lord Fairfax and his son Sir Thomas, retained key towns like Hull, and Leeds. In late February, the weapons convoy carrying Henrietta Maria landed at Bridlington; on 4 June, she left York escorted by 5,000 cavalry, arriving in Oxford in mid-July.
  In the south-west, Royalist commander Sir Ralph Hopton secured Cornwall with victory at Braddock Down in January. In June, he advanced into Wiltshire, inflicting a serious defeat on Waller's 'Army of the Southern Association' at Roundway Down on 13 July. Arguably the most comprehensive Royalist victory of the war, it isolated Parliamentary garrisons in the west. On 26 July, Prince Rupert stormed Bristol, gaining the second largest city in Britain, and a landing point for reinforcements from Ireland.
  Throughout the war, following a co-ordinated strategy was an issue for both sides, since troops were often reluctant to fight outside their home regions. Weak central control made this a greater problem for the Royalists, with their Northern and Western Armies acting as independent commands. However, these successes seemed an opportunity to force Parliamentary moderates into a negotiated peace, and in September, they agreed a three-part offensive against London. 
   
  After taking Gloucester, the main army under Prince Rupert would move against London, while Newcastle tied down the Eastern Association army by advancing into East Anglia and Lincolnshire. Finally, Hopton would march into Hampshire and Sussex, threatening London from the south, and closing the iron foundries that were Parliament's main source of armaments.
  However, Essex forced Prince Rupert to abandon efforts to take Gloucester, then checked his advance on London at Newbury on 20 September. Although Hopton reached Winchester, Waller prevented him making further progress; in October, Newcastle abandoned the second siege of Hull, while victory at Winceby secured eastern England for Parliament. By the end of 1643, the war appeared set for a long and bloody struggle.
  In Ireland, a truce between the Catholic Confederation and Irish Royalists allowed them to transfer troops to England. However, it cost Charles the support of many Irish Protestants, especially in Munster, and ended negotiations with the Covenanter government. In the Solemn League and Covenant of September, the Scots agreed to provide Parliament military backing, in return for subsidies, and discussions on creating a single, Presbyterian church.
caption: Northern England 1643
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