Outline of the wars of the Three Kingdoms

Civil wars in England, Ireland, and Scotland (1639–1651) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the wars of the Three Kingdoms:

Wars of the Three Kingdoms – A series of interconnected conflicts within the kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland which took place from 1639-1651.

Background

Incidents which can be seen as leading to the wars of the Three Kingdoms:

Personal Rule - The period of 1629-1640 where King Charles I ruled without recourse to Parliament.
Jenny Geddes starts riot in Edinburgh - Incident in 1637 starting protests over the use of the Book of Common Prayer by the Church of Scotland.
Signing of the National Covenant - 1638 declaration to defend the Church of Scotland from the reforms of King Charles I

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Participants

The wars of the Three Kingdoms was fought between combatants of the following forces:

Royalists - Forces in all three kingdoms loyal to Charles I of England and his son Charles II of England.
Covenanters - Scottish Presbyterians organised by the Church of Scotland.
Confederate Ireland - For a period from 1642-1649 this faction achieved self rule, and was allied to the Royalists.
Parliamentarians - Fought with the goal of giving Parliament supreme executive power.

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Governing bodies

The following bodies were all involved in governing one of the participating groups.

Long Parliament - Parliament of England sitting from 1640-1660
Committee of Estates - Governed Scotland
Oxford Parliament (1644) - Formed by Charles I as part the Royalist war effort.

Main conflicts

The wars of the Three Kingdoms included the following conflicts:

Bishops' Wars - Conflicts in 1639 and 1640 over the governance of the Church of Scotland.
Irish Confederate Wars - Conflict in Ireland from 1641-1653.
- Irish Rebellion of 1641 - Rebellion by Irish Catholics.
- Cromwellian conquest of Ireland - Conquest of Ireland led by Oliver Cromwell from 1649-1653.
English Civil Wars - Series of conflicts over the rule of England which included combatants from Scotland and Ireland as well.
- First English Civil War - 1642-1646.
- Second English Civil War - 1648.
- Third English Civil War - 1649-1651.

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Notable events

The following non-military events were connected to the wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Short Parliament - Sat for three weeks in 1640, before being dissolved by Charles.
Treaty of Ripon - 1640 agreement ceding Northumberland and County Durham to Scottish Covenanter forces, forcing King Charles I to recall Parliament.
Grand Remonstrance - List of grievances presented by Parliament to King Charles I in 1641.
Solemn League and Covenant - 1643 agreement between Scottish Covenanters and English Parliamentarians.
Execution of Charles I - Occurred in 1649.

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Notable individuals

Political leaders

King Charles I - Ruler of the Three Kingdoms from 1625-1649.
King Charles II - King of Scotland from 1649-1651 and then ruler of all three kingdoms from 1660.
John Pym - Leader of Parliamentary opposition to the King.
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll - De facto head of the Scottish government throughout most of the period.

Military leaders

Oliver Cromwell - General in the Parliamentarian army.
Thomas Fairfax - Commander-in-Chief of the Parliamentarian army.
Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven - Covenanter commander.
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose - Fought initially for the Scottish Covenanters, before later fighting for King Charles I as the English Civil War developed.
Prince Rupert of the Rhine - Royalist commander.

Others

Jenny Geddes - Incited riot thought to have led to the Bishops' Wars

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Events outside the Three Kingdoms

Prior to and during the wars of the Three Kingdoms, the Kingdom of England held dominion over a number of colonies and protectorates. The wars spread to these areas as well.