Page 73 - All About History - Issue 33-15

THE BATTLE OF

NASEBY

VILLAGE OF NASEBY, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
SATURDAY 14 JUNE 1645

aseby may only be a tiny English village Naseby. Next came Charles’s infantry and remaining
in the Midlands, but on the morning of 14 mounted units, who engaged in a full frontal assault
June, it played host to a pivotal battle in the on the reeling Parliamentarians. The sheer ferocity
English Civil War. The bloody nationwide of the attack drove the Roundheads back but could
Nconflict had been drawn out for more than not maintain its momentum, and the Royalists failed
three years, with neither side managing to assert to strike a crippling blow as the Parliamentarians
any clear authority. The Parliamentarian forces slowly but surely began to regroup.
were now more determined than ever to finally Rupert’s decision to concentrate on the baggage
bring down the Royalist cause, and on this day, train was a timely reprieve for Fairfax, who
the New Model Army, a modernised professional responded by directing his mounted troops, led by
fighting force, would prove its supremacy. Cromwell, to attack the opposing flank. This attack
The Roundheads’ influential leader, Oliver became a key part of the battle. Sir Marmaduke
Cromwell, was present but would not be leading his Langdale’s Royalist troops wilted in the face of the
forces, so the task fell to the talented commander rapid cavalry attack and the Royalist infantry were
Thomas Fairfax. The Royalist army would be led by sucked into a perfectly executed pincer movement
the king, Charles I, and supported by his loyal band before completely breaking. If Langdale’s flank
of subjects. had held out, the Royalists could have potentially
As the clock ticked past 9am, battle began on the recovered, but it wasn’t to be. Charles and his forces
misty open fields of Northamptonshire. Overlooking were now wide open to attack left, right and centre.
the village from a ridge, the 12 regiments of the New Surrender was not far away.
Model Army made the first move and marched into Prince Rupert returned from the baggage train soon
Naseby. The opposing armies now lined up face after but was now too late to bail out his allies. As the
to face, with the cavalry regiments on the flanks dust settled, it became clear that the Royalists had lost
and the infantry occupying the centre ground. The the battle and more than 1,000 men had died in only
Royalists had a German commander in their ranks, three hours of fighting. In contrast, the ruthless New
and it was Prince Rupert of the Rhine who began Model Army only recorded casualties of about 200
proceedings with a rapid cavalry charge through the men. Many of the king’s best officers lay dead and
fog after he spotted enemy dragoon movement on his artillery abandoned as the remaining Royalists
Fairfax’s tactics the battlefield’s western edge. The charge crashed fled the scene. The battle was a hammerblow to the
The New Model Army based its strategy
around its lightly armed cavalry. Their into the Roundhead ranks, sweeping aside the king, and within a year, the final pockets of royal
attacks were built on speed and surprise stunned Parliamentarian horsemen, but instead of resistance were taken care of. Cromwell was now the
and would aim for the flanks to avoid and attacking the now exposed infantry, they pressed undisputed leader of his country and the age of the
outmanoeuvre the strong centre of the on to assault a baggage wagon in the centre of Lord Protectors was begun.
Royal Army.

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