The Battle of Naseby
Why did Parliament win the battle that decided the Civil War? Study Naseby in 1645, the disciplined New Model Army, the cavalry of Oliver Cromwell and the Royalist mistake that lost the day.
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The battle that decided a war ⚔️
On 14 June 1645, the Parliamentarian New Model Army met the Royalist army of King Charles I near the village of Naseby. The battle destroyed the main Royalist army and decided the English Civil War. This module looks at WHY the Parliamentarians won, and at the role of Oliver Cromwell.
Words to know 🔑
Four terms run through this topic. Learn them first.
The two sides 🏴
The two armies at Naseby were led and organised very differently.
Weigh the reasons 💡
The best answers WEIGH the reasons the Parliamentarians won: the professionalism of the New Model Army, the discipline of the cavalry, and a Royalist mistake. Judge which mattered most, rather than simply telling the story of the battle.
Match the role 🔗
- New Model Army
- Oliver Cromwell
- Thomas Fairfax
- Prince Rupert
- The professional Parliamentarian force
- Led the Parliamentarian cavalry
- Overall commander of the New Model Army
- Led the Royalist cavalry
Why the cavalry mattered 🎯
Why was the discipline of the Parliamentarian cavalry so important at Naseby?
- After charging, it regrouped and returned to the battle
- It chased the fleeing enemy far off the field
- It hid in the woods until the battle ended
- It refused to fight until it was paid
Match the term 🏇
- Royalist
- Parliamentarian
- Cavalry
- Infantry
- A supporter of King Charles I
- A supporter of Parliament
- Soldiers who fought on horseback
- Soldiers who fought on foot
Why Parliament won ✅
Which TWO reasons help explain the Parliamentarian victory at Naseby? Choose all that apply.
- The disciplined, well-trained New Model Army
- The cavalry regrouping after it charged
- The Royalists having far more soldiers
- The king personally leading the cavalry
Put it in order 🪜
An interactive activity.
Complete the sentences 🧩
At Naseby in 1645 the Parliamentarian _____ Model Army defeated the _____ army of King Charles I. The cavalry of Oliver _____ was decisive because it stayed _____ and returned to the battle. The Royalist cavalry of Prince _____ chased fleeing men off the field instead.
Count the years 🔢
An interactive activity.
Spot the reasons 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Sort the reason 🧭
An interactive activity.
Explain the victory ✍️
An interactive activity.