In this ongoing series of specially commissioned programmes for the World Turned Upside Down, Peter Gaunt, Professor of History at the University of Chester and author of the acclaimed The English Civil War: A Military History, discusses some of the pivotal battles fought during the conflict. In this programme he explores the second battle of Newbury fought in October 1644.
There was no clear winner, despite the parliamentarian forces’ overwhelming numerical advantage of two to one. For the parliamentarians, its aftermath witnessed bitter divisions and recriminations among their divided military leadership and each factions’ supporters in Parliament. The failure was primarily blamed on the fragmented leadership of the parliamentarian generals: Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex; Edward Montagu, Earl of Manchester and Sir William Waller. Poor communication and friction between them made the weaknesses of Parliament’s war effort clear for all to see, particularly to Oliver Cromwell. A consensus was reached that things had to change.
By the following February, the decision had been made to establish a professional national army, and in April, the Self-Denying Ordinance removed Essex, Manchester and Waller from their commands. They were replaced by Sir Thomas Fairfax in overall command of a single, New Model Army. And although it was unclear at the time, this opened the way for Oliver Cromwell to further advance his military career.
