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Initial Strengths and Weaknesses of the Sides (Parliament (Strengths…
Initial Strengths and Weaknesses of the Sides
Parliament
Strengths
Possession of London the capital, key possession- source of loans and custom duties and also meant they had access to financiers- enabled them to raise more money and men
Control of vital ports in the South (including London and Bristol) and control of the navy- parliament could collect revenues from customs and prevent the King from bringing in troops from abroad to help him
Parliament controlled the iron making area of Sussex and this assisted with weapons and ship production
Control of the institutions of state and the 'civil service' in London gave them greater control over finances and more experienced administrators
Navy declared for parliament apart from five ships
Government records and political leadership in London
Economy central in London
Biggest military centre in London- tower of London armoury
Has northern and southern armouries
Has supply of gunpowder in armouries
Had control over London trained bands
Inspired by religious belief that God was on their side and would bring them victory
Controlled the more prosperous south and east of the country and so gained more revenue from taxation in the assessments
Navy went over to them and so they could control trade and stop reinforcements meeting Charles
Had experienced Generals like Essex and Waller
Could hope to form an alliance with the Scots
Weaknesses
Political divisions amongst parliaments supporters
Parliament initially lacked good trained troops, especially cavalry
Commanders, Essex and Machester lacked experience and flair
Control of London not always easy to maintain- riots broke out
Some unwillingness to inflict total defeat on the King
Religious divisions about the kind of church they were fighting to set up
Loyalty of the trained bands or militia was not reliable
Army
6 cavalry regiments
19 infantry regiments
5 troops of dragoons (mounted infantry)
Approx 15,000 men in total
The Royalists
Strengths
United leadership and Charles an able strategist
Initially enjoyed superiority of quality of troops. The cavalry, was better than that of parliament
Excellent cavalry commanders in Prince Rupert of the Rhine and his brother Maurice, the sons of Elizabeth of the Palatinate, Charles' sister
Initially finances good
Gentry supporters were better riders with better horses
Charles had support from trained bands of Cornwall and he also recruited in Wales
Charles had support of two wealth nobles, the earl of Newcastle and Marquis of Worcester
King had control over a lot of the West
Money and support from nobles
Men fought for the crown as an institution and the source of authority in Church and state
Other supporters sold land and goods to provide Charles with funds
Other generals like Hopton were able men
Weaknesses
Charles was not a great field commander
Divisions quickly evident among commanders and King's advisors over how to conduct the war
After the first few months, lack of financial resources. Once gold and silver from private sources had been used up, the king had no real taxation base and no regular supply. Lost control of customs- resulted in shortages of supplies and of troops as the war progressed
Less resources due to parliament controlling large areas- depended on individual contributions
Attempts to raise troops in Europe failed as they were occupied with the Thirty Years War
Lack of artillery due to parliament controlling the armouries
Controlled the north and west- less wealthy parts of the country- less revenue collected
Contributions from supporters ran out when they had sold all they could
Prince Rupert's relationship with other generals was not always good
Loyalty of the trained bands or militia was not always reliable
Army
8 cavalry regiments
15 infantry regiments
1 troops of dragoons (mounted infantry)
Approx 13,500 men