The Great Civil War In Dorset 1642 1660

The English Civil War is a subject which continues to excite enormous interest throughout the world. This atlas consists of over fifty maps illustrating all the major - and many of the minor - bloody campaigns and battles of the War, including the campaigns of Montrose, the battle of Edgehill and Langport. Providing a complete introductory history to the turbulent period, it also includes: * maps giving essential background information * detailed accompanying explanations * a useful context to events.

Originally published between 1910 and 1991 the volumes in this set cover a relatively big subject, especially in the UK and in the area of Early Modern History. They: Provide coherent introductions to a complex period, with maps in certain volumes adding lucidity Include broad coverage of social, political and judicial history Cover lesser known battles right through from 1639 to 1660 Include letters from private collections between Charles I and Royalist commanders and exiles.

A revisionist history showing a gradual build-up of opposition and a drift to conflict which few expected or wanted. And this was despite growing Stuart absolutism, threats to Parliament and the accepted civil order and religious controversy. It is forensic study, full of fascinating and even unexpected details, principal actors come to life and readers will feel involved in an existential crisis of the British state(s). The study of the three Kingdoms covers the major themes of religious dispute with Laud, Wentworth and Strafford - towering figures - church reform, 'godly'religions and explosion of 'news' and pamphlets, the King and Lords and Commons, the Queen's, often suspect influence, King Charles' absolutism and rigidity, and iconic events like the Grand Remonstance, arrest of the Five Members, Charles' departure from London and the raising of the Royal Standard for war.

With hindsight, the victory of Parliamentarian forces over the Royalists in the English Civil War may seem inevitable but this outcome was not a foregone conclusion. Timothy Venning explores many of the turning points and discusses how they might so easily have played out differently. ?What if, for example, Charles I had capitalized on his victory at Edgehill by attacking London without delay? Could this have ended the war in 1642? His actual advance on the capital in 1643 failed but came close to causing a Parliamentarian collapse Ð how could it have succeeded and what then? Among the many other scenarios, full consideration is given to the role of Ireland (what if Papal meddling had not prevented Irish Catholics aiding Charles?) and Scotland (how might Montrose's Scottish loyalists have neutralized the Covenanters?). The author analyses the plausible possibilities in each thread, throwing light on the role of chance and underlying factors in the real outcome, as well as what might easily have been different.