The Parliamentary victory at Naseby destroyed the main Royalist field army, effectively ending any realistic prospect of a Royalist victory in the First English Civil War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 14 June 1645
- Royalist casualties
- Over 1,000 killed or wounded
- Royalist infantry captured
- Over 4,500
- Artillery lost by Royalists
- All artillery and stores
- Published consequence
- The King's Cabinet Opened pamphlet
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The newly formed Parliamentarian New Model Army was redirected from a siege of Oxford to confront the Royalist force after Charles I stormed Leicester on 31 May 1645. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Charles chose to stand and fight rather than withdraw, bringing his principal field army into a decisive engagement near Naseby in Northamptonshire.
On 14 June 1645, the New Model Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell engaged and overwhelmed the Royalist army commanded by Charles I and Prince Rupert. After several hours of fighting, the Royalist force was effectively destroyed, suffering over 1,000 casualties and losing more than 4,500 infantry as prisoners.
The Royalists lost all their artillery, stores, and Charles I's private correspondence, which exposed his negotiations with the Irish Catholic Confederation and foreign powers. The papers were published as The King's Cabinet Opened, boosting Parliament's cause. Charles never again fielded an army of comparable strength and finally surrendered in May 1646.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Sir Thomas Fairfax, Oliver Cromwell.
Side B
1 belligerent
Charles I, Prince Rupert.