Cavalier
Cavaliers were supporters of the royal family during the tumultuous period known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which spanned from 1639 to 1651. Primarily backing King Charles I, the Cavaliers opposed the parliamentary forces led by Oliver Cromwell, known as the Roundheads. Central to the conflict was a disagreement over the divine right of kings, with Cavaliers advocating for the monarch's absolute power, while Roundheads sought to limit that power through parliamentary authority. This ideological clash ignited England's civil wars, ultimately leading to the execution of Charles I in 1649.
The Cavaliers, often depicted as wealthy and fashion-conscious, favored dramatic military tactics but lacked the discipline and organization that characterized the Roundheads. Despite an initial advantage due to noble support, the Cavaliers faced logistical difficulties, which diminished their effectiveness in the prolonged conflict. Following their defeat and the establishment of a republican government under Cromwell, anti-Cavalier sentiments influenced laws and societal norms. However, after Cromwell's death, the political landscape shifted, allowing for the restoration of the monarchy with Charles II, signifying a resurgence of Cavalier influence in England's governance. The legacy of the Cavaliers reflects a complex interplay of social, political, and military dynamics during a pivotal era in British history.
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Cavalier
Cavaliers were the supporters of the royal family during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639 – 1651). Cavaliers are best known for supporting the English King Charles I, who was opposed by the puritanical leader Oliver Cromwell and his supporters, the roundheads. The king believed that the royal family's divine right to rule gave them absolute power over the nation. Cromwell and the roundheads believed that parliament should be able to check the king's power. This disparity caused England's civil wars, which eventually resulted in Charles I being executed for treason. After a brief rule by Cromwell, Charles I's son took the throne.
Background
At the beginning of the English civil wars, England, Scotland, and Ireland had a precarious relationship. Scotland and Ireland were ruled by the Stuart dynasty and England was ruled by Charles I. Scotland had invaded England twice, once in 1639 and again in 1640. Seeing England as weak after the invasions, Ireland rebelled against British rule.
England could not allow Ireland's rebellion to succeed—but the crown and parliament disagreed on who should lead the army against Ireland. The argument escalated and was influenced by a cultural disparity between the supporters of the crown and the supporters of parliament. Charles I and his followers believed that royalty had a divine right to rule. According to this right, God had placed the royals in a position to rule over the country with absolute power. Neither their authority nor their will was to be questioned. Parliament and its supporters believed that parliament should be able to limit and modify the legislative power of the crown. As tensions increased and the king refused to compromise, Parliament revolted.
Overview
When Parliament revolted, a civil war broke out in England. Northern England, western England, and most of Ireland remained loyal to Charles I. However, southeast England, the entirety of Scotland, and England's navy all stood against the king.
Those who supported the king were often called cavaliers. Most were wealthy individuals who enjoyed the finer things—fashion, parties, exotic foods, alcohol, and card games. Cavaliers also wore their hair long, often in fashionable tight curls. If they were unable to style their hair this way, they wore wigs and wide-brimmed, feathered hats.
The cavaliers' opposition, the roundheads, were radically different. Led by Oliver Cromwell, the roundheads valued hard work and strict adherence to religion and rule of law. The men kept their heads closely trimmed, leading to the nickname roundheads. They believed appearances should be kept simple. Many roundhead men wore only black, and roundhead parliament members tried to ban women from wearing makeup. They also believed that Sundays should be exclusively reserved for prayer, the consumption of alcohol was immoral, and pagan-influenced holidays such as Christmas and Easter should be banned.
As the cavaliers and the roundheads went to war, their social predispositions influenced their military styles. The cavaliers preferred large numbers of cavalry, massive charges, and other dramatic military tactics. However, they were not fond of discipline and were less organized than their opposition.
The roundheads applied their attitude toward life to their military service. They were strictly disciplined, hardworking, and efficient. Overall, this made them a more effective fighting force than the cavaliers.
The first English civil war officially began in 1642. Charles I had more support at the outset of the war and the backing of much of the nobility. This gave the king a decisive early advantage. However, the roundheads were personally commanded by Oliver Cromwell, an extremely talented soldier and strategist. The representatives in parliament were able to secure consistent funding for the roundheads. Charles I was unable to do the same for the cavaliers. For this reason, the cavaliers were forced to work with fewer supplies and soldiers than the roundheads. The war dragged on for four years, the cavaliers were eventually defeated, and Charles I was exiled.
The two camps then entered a period of tense negotiations. The surviving cavaliers and their supporters refused to compromise their ideals. However, the roundheads held most of the power after their victory and attempted to enforce their will through parliament. This resulted in a second civil war in 1649. This time, Charles I had secured the support of Scotland and attempted to force Cromwell and his roundheads out of England. The cavaliers failed again, and their armies were crushed more thoroughly than before. At the end of the second civil war, Charles I was executed for treason against England. After this second defeat, the cavaliers no longer had the influence to stand against the roundheads in English politics.
With the roundheads in power, England became a republic for the first time. Cromwell became head of government, under the title "Lord Protector." He turned many anti-cavalier sentiments into law, including banning public consumption of alcohol and legally reserving Sunday for worship. While these changes were unpopular with cavaliers and cavalier sympathizers throughout Britain, the roundheads kept complete control of the government until Cromwell's death in 1658.
After this death, Cromwell's son Richard became Lord Protector, but he failed to command the same respect his father had. Without this unifying element, the roundhead's control over the government began to slip. After Richard Cromwell resigned, Charles I's son Charles II was invited back to England. He was made king, and the cavaliers' monarchy was restored.
Bibliography
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Kennedy, Rita. "The Political Beliefs of the Roundheads and the Cavaliers in England," Leaf Group Ltd. http://classroom.synonym.com/political-beliefs-roundheads-cavaliers-england-5539.html. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.
"Oliver Cromwell, 1599-1658." BCW Project, http://bcw-project.org/biography/oliver-cromwell. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.
Siochru, Michael. "Ireland and the War of the Three Kingdoms." BBC, 17 Feb. 2011, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil‗war‗revolution/ireland‗kingdoms‗01.shtml. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.
Stubbs, John. "A Cavalier Defence." History Today, 2 Feb. 2011, http://www.historytoday.com/john-stubbs/cavalier-defence. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.
"The English Civil War." Sirclisto.com, http://www.sirclisto.com/cavalier/cavaliere.html. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.