Battle of Worcester
Background
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians ("Roundheads") and Royalists ("Cavaliers") principally over the governance of the Kingdom of England. The first (1642–1646) and second (1648–1649) wars pitted the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the third (1649–1651) saw fighting between supporters of King Charles II and supporters of the Rump Parliament. The war ended with the Parliamentarian victory at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651.
Prelude to the Battle
The Battle of Worcester was the final battle of the English Civil War. It was fought on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England. The forces of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army, some 28,000 strong, defeated King Charles II's 16,000 Royalists, of whom the vast majority were Scottish.
The Battle
The battle was one of the most decisive of the Civil Wars, ending any serious hope of a Royalist comeback. The victory ensured Oliver Cromwell and his Council of State's control over England and led directly to the start of the major phase of the Interregnum, including the Commonwealth and the Protectorate.
Aftermath
The defeat of Charles II at Worcester ended the Civil War. Charles escaped the battlefield and was on the run for 45 days before he managed to escape to France, marking the final end to the Royalist cause. The Royalists were effectively finished; they no longer posed a significant threat to the Parliamentarian cause.
Legacy
The Battle of Worcester is often overshadowed by other, larger battles of the Civil War, but it was the decisive conflict that ended the war. It is remembered in the local area, with several monuments and plaques in place around the city of Worcester and the surrounding countryside.