Home » History » U.K. History » Monarch and Commander – Charles I in Battle

Monarch and Commander – Charles I in Battle

© Mark Turnbull

In 1643, he refused consent to storming Gloucester, because he would not abide the casualties, which must ensue with a victory. He preferred to do a less bloody formal siege, knowing that it would take longer and would lessen the chance of victory.

Again, when his fervent enemy, John Hamden was mortally wounded, Charles sent his own physician to his bedside. Charles simply hoped for peace by showing his enemies he would and could win and that he was committed to fair play, hoping it forced them to the diplomacy table. That it did not work says something for the calibre of his opponents, for they were obviously hell-bent on overturning the laws, despite Charles's good intentions.

Often Charles would sink into deep moods of bleak depression and melancholy, mainly due to the fact that the war was dragging on and more and more of his subjects were being killed. As time went on, Parliament invited the then foreign country of Scotland to invade the kingdom in their support. Charles could not hope to hold out for long and still he kept on giving up advantages in the hope of sparing lives.

At Lostwithiel in 1644, he defeated Lord Essex and his whole army, capturing all 6000 of his foot regiments. Charles let all the men march away, with a guard of his own men for protection.

But the King could not forgive the leaders of the rebellion whom he thought had led their soldiers against him with false lies. Indeed Parliament was not above lying when it suited them, claiming a victory when they had badly lost, claiming that the King was trying to take England back to Catholicism.

Charles the commander was also dedicated to his cause's victory, commanding a victorious battle at Cheriton, riding into his men at Edgehill, despite his safety, to boost moral and taking an active part in the running of his armies.

Indeed, Charles was ready at Naseby to lead his reserve in a win or die charge against the superior Roundheads. He was about to take this decision off his own back, after he picked up on the fact that the battle now hung in the balance and the immediate use of his reserve could tip it to his favour. A nearby courtier tugged his horse away, thus stopping the reserve from being committed and Charles's life to be left out of danger.

Although Charles had no military experience before the war, his own judgement and intelligence was great. The only problem was that he lacked confidence in using it, which made him rely on stronger willed men, who were sometimes more of a liability to have on your side. The likes of Lord Digby, Lord Goring and Lord Percy all helped Parliament win overall by continually stirring trouble in the Royalist command, advising the King to take an action which was disastrous and also telling him what they thought he wanted to hear, to stay in favour.