What was the nickname for Royalist soldiers during the English Civil War?
Cavaliers
To the Parliamentarians, the Royalists were ‘Cavaliers’ – a term derived from the Spanish word ‘Caballeros’, meaning armed troopers or horsemen.
Who were the Royalists in the English Civil War?
During the English Civil War (1662-1651), the Royalists championed the divine right of the monarch to govern England and fought against the opposing Parliamentarians. They had a deep-seated loyalty to the monarch and to the protection of King Charles I.
How were soldiers recruited in the English Civil War?
At the beginning of the Civil War, Parliament relied on soldiers recruited by large landowners who supported their cause. In February 1645, Parliament decided to form a new army of professional soldiers and amalgamated the three armies of William Waller, Earl of Essex and Earl of Manchester.
Who were royalist and Roundheads?
The name given to the supporters of the Parliament of England during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against Charles I of England and his supporters, the Cavaliers or Royalists, who claimed rule by absolute monarchy and the divine right of kings.
Did the English Civil War use pikes?
The infantry of the English Civil War consisted of pikemen and musketeers. A pike was a wooden pole up to 18 feet long with a sharp metal spike. At the beginning of the English Civil Wars, armies would have roughly one pikeman for every two musketeers.
What was the most important cause of the English Civil War?
A key factor which led to the outbreak of the Civil War was King Charles and his lack of money. Charles’ father King James I, had led a lavish, extravagant lifestyle, which had left the Royal treasury depleted. The cost of running the Royal household of Charles I was similarly expensive.
When did Pikes stop being used?
A common end date for the use of the pike in infantry formations is 1700, although some armies such as the Prussians had already abandoned the pike decades prior, whereas others such as the Swedish and Russians continued to use it for several decades afterward—the Swedes of King Charles XII in particular were using it …
Are Pikes Spears?
A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear formerly used extensively by infantry. Generally, a spear becomes a pike when it is too long to be wielded with one hand in combat.
