Page 78 - History of War - Issue 25-16

THE NEW MODEL

Charles I’s personal
baggage was captured
at Naseby, and Cromwell
later published his letters
from the Irish Catholic
Confederation

Royalists were the complete opposite in their “This was an army that stood apart
behaviour, being described as arrogant, drunk
and pretentious. This was an army that stood from others in that it was speciically
apart from others in that it was speciically
designed to aid a modern political and religious designed to aid a modern political and
movement. The term ‘New Model’ was apt –
nothing like it had been seen before. The pious religious movement”
passions of its soldiers would be the deciding
factor in the outcome of the Civil War.
Within months of its creation, parliament’s smashed the Royalist centre before Rupert’s its spurs at Naseby, but it would face many
army gained its irst major victory at Naseby cavalry returned and then remained on the more battles in the coming years, and it was
on 14 June 1645. This battle showed the ield to consolidate their position. When Rupert these encounters that would conirm the New
difference in discipline between the Royalists eventually rallied his troops to return to the Model’s reputation as the era’s pre-eminent
and Parliamentarians. Fairfax was the overall battleield, they refused to attack the Ironsides. ighting force. After Charles I’s surrender, there
commander, but it was Cromwell’s Ironsides Naseby was a decisive triumph. Charles was an extended period where parliament,
that again tipped the balance in parliament’s I’s army was shattered and all its artillery the army and the Scots struggled to reach
favour. After breaking many of the Roundhead and stores captured. The New Model Army’s an agreement on how to settle the kingdom.
horsemen, Prince Rupert could not prevent superiority was conirmed. Before Naseby, Although Charles was a prisoner, he was
his cavalry from breaking away from the main the Royalists had mockingly referred to considered crucial to the proceedings. The king
battle in order to attack the Parliamentarian parliament’s reorganised army as ‘The New was unco-operative and secretly negotiated
baggage train. This repeat blunder, reminiscent Noddle’. Now they could no longer hope to win with the Scots to invade England on his behalf.
of Edgehill, contributed to the Royalist defeat. the war. Within a year, Charles surrendered This sparked another civil war and a Scottish
However, what was more essential to the and the First Civil War was won for parliament, army crossed the border in July 1648. After a
Parliamentarian victory was Cromwell’s thanks largely to the New Model Army. month of skirmishes, Cromwell marched north
disciplined command of his cavalry. Forbidden However, parliament’s victory did not end the to confront it. The two armies met outside
to leave the battleield, instead the Ironsides conlict. In a sense, the New Model Army won Preston in mid-August.

78