homework encyclopedia

406 History

English Civil War

From 1642 to 1648 people in the British Isles were split

by a war between King Charles I and Parliament. The

king was said to be influenced by his wife, a French

Catholic. He brought in unpopular taxes and tried to

force his will on Parliament. This led to civil war.

Thirty Years’ War

The Thirty Years’ War engulfed

Europe between 1618 and 1648. It

began as a clash between Protestants

and Catholics in Germany, which

spread into a wider conflict involving

Denmark, Sweden, and France.

WHO WAS THROWN FROM A WINDOW IN PRAGUE?

The Catholic Habsburg family ruled the Holy Roman

Empire and Spain. When the Habsburgs tried to place

a Catholic on the throne of Protestant Bohemia, their

representatives were hurled from a window of Prague

castle. Rebellion spread across Germany as Protestant

princes within the empire challenged its authority.

WHO WAS THE LION OF THE NORTH?

The war was part of a wider struggle between

the Holy Roman Empire and its enemies.

Denmark, Sweden, and France all opposed the

Empire. The Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus,

“Lion of the North”, won many victories,

but died in battle at Lützen in 1632.

MAGDEBURG DESTROYED 3

In 1631, the German city of

Magdeburg was burnt down

by Holy Roman Empire

forces. Peace brought

more religious freedom

and greatly weakened

the Holy Roman Empire.

FIND OUT MORE. Holy Roman Empire 385

1618 Protestant revolt

in Prague

1625– Denmark enters

1629 war for the

Protestants

1630 Sweden joins

Protestant

cause

1635 France joins the

war as Sweden’s

ally

1646 France and

Sweden invade

Bavaria

1648 Treaty of

Westphalia ends

the war

THIRTY YEARS’ WAR

FIND OUT MORE. Monarchy 410

1 DEATH WARRANT OF CHARLES I

Convicted as a traitor to his people, King Charles I was beheaded in Whitehall,

London, on 30 January 1649, by order of the English Parliament. News of this event

shocked the whole of Europe. Many people believed that kings ruled by divine right,

or the will of God – so the execution was regarded as a terrible sin.

WHO WAS “OLD IRONSIDES”’?

Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) was a farmer and

Member of Parliament. In the Civil War he proved

himself to be a brilliant soldier. He and his armoured

troopers became known as Ironsides. Cromwell led a

savage invasion of Catholic Ireland in 1649.

WHO WERE ROUNDHEADS AND CAVALIERS?

The forces of Parliament included many of the more

extreme Protestants called Puritans (also known as

Roundheads, because of their short haircuts). The

royalists were called Cavaliers (meaning “knights”).

Their war ended with the capture of Charles I.

WHO WERE THE DIGGERS AND LEVELLERS?

The leaders of the Parliamentary forces were mostly

country landowners, squires and merchants. Many of

the poor people who fought for them wanted the land

to be shared out and equal rights for all. Cromwell

crushed these Diggers and Levellers in 1649.

WHAT WAS THE COMMONWEALTH?

In 1649 a republic, or Commonwealth, was declared.

There was now a Council of State instead of a king.

However the army was impatient for greater change,

so in 1653 power was handed over to Oliver

Cromwell, who was given the title “Lord Protector”.

Cromwell died and under his son the Commonwealth

soon collapsed. In 1660 the monarchy was restored,

but with limited powers.

Signature

of Oliver

Cromwell

Warrant

authorizes

the king’s

execution

Signatures

and seals

of the

High Court

n

e

s,

M

I

M

Thirty Years’

War

English Civil

War