Skip to content

Second English Civil War (1648)

The Second English Civil War broke out in 1648, following the failure to reach a settlement between King Charles I, Parliament and the other parties involved in the English Civil Wars. The conflict followed the First English Civil War and renewed the struggle over the future of the monarchy and the government of the three kingdoms.

Pontefract Castle, the last major stronghold to fall to Parliament in the Second English Civil War.
Pontefract Castle. It’s surrender to Parliament on 24 March 1649 marks the end of this phase of the English Civil Wars.

Second English Civil War (1648)

By 1647 Parliamentary unity had disintegrated. There was confusion about the direction in which the war ought to take, how to settle issues with the Royalists, and disagreement over the end aims and objectives of the conflict. Royalist rhetoric highlighted the flaws in Parliamentarian actions and words. If Parliament was split on major issues, it could lead to further dissent and different forms of conflict.

Why did the Scots change sides?

The relationship between Parliament and the Scottish Covenanters broke down. At the same time, the Covenanters were in communication with Royalists who sought to address their concerns. The King had made concessions to them before and was not going to attempt to undo those, whereas Parliament might. Charles, though imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle, brokered a deal with the Scots. If they invaded England and assisted him in regaining the throne, he would accept Presbyterianism in England for a limited period.

The agreement, known as the Engagement, brought a Scottish army into the renewed conflict. It also divided Scottish opinion over the terms of the proposed settlement with Charles I.

The renewal of warfare in 1648

When the Second Civil War broke out, the leadership took the opportunity to rid the New Model Army of Leveller agitation. Leaders were executed and others put on trial. For the time being, Leveller ideas were quashed.

Royalist risings took place in several parts of England and Wales, while the Scottish army advanced into England in support of Charles I. Parliamentarian forces moved to suppress the uprisings and oppose the Scottish invasion.

The Scottish army was defeated by Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Preston in August 1648. The campaign lasted several days and ended in a decisive defeat for the Scottish Engagers.

The defeat of the Royalists and Scots

The defeat of the Scottish army and the suppression of Royalist risings weakened the prospects of restoring Charles I to power by force. The King’s agreement with the Scots further damaged the prospects of reaching a lasting political settlement.

Charles had been in the custody of the Scots and then the New Model Army before renewed warfare broke out. His continued attempts to secure his restoration contributed to the growing belief among his opponents that a settlement with him could not be trusted.

The Siege of Pontefract Castle, 1648–1649

Pontefract Castle was an important Royalist stronghold in northern England. Royalists regained control of the castle in 1648, and Parliamentarian forces besieged it during the final phase of the conflict.

The siege continued after the defeat of the Scottish army and the execution of Charles I on 30 January 1649. The garrison proclaimed Charles II as king and continued to resist Parliament. Pontefract became the last significant Royalist stronghold in England to hold out against the new regime.

The garrison surrendered on 24 March 1649. This marked the end of the last major Royalist resistance in England following the Second English Civil War. Parliament subsequently ordered the castle’s fortifications to be dismantled so that it could not again serve as a major military stronghold.

Consequences of the Second English Civil War

The renewed conflict further undermined attempts to reach a settlement with Charles I. His agreement with the Scots and the return to warfare strengthened the position of those who believed that a lasting settlement with the King was impossible. The failure to secure peace was followed by the trial and execution of the King in 1649.

The surrender of Pontefract Castle in March 1649 brought the final major Royalist stronghold in England under Parliamentarian control. The wider conflict between the kingdoms continued. Read more about the Execution of Charles I (1649) and the wider Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639–1651).

Further Reading