View English Civil War
The English Civil War was actually series of wars from 1642 to 1648, but most people usually mean the 1st civil war from 1642 to 1645. The conflict came about from attempts by Charles I to raise taxes by direct imposition without reference to Parliament (e.g. Ship Money). Parliament took exception to what they saw as a usurpation of their role but Charles maintained that he was merely exercising the divine right of kings.
The relationship between king and parliament deteriorated steadily until open warfare broke out at Edgehill in 1642. The war raged across the whole of Britain until Charles was finally defeated at Naseby in 1645. Royalist troops continued to defy Parliament sporadically until the battle of Worcester in 1651 when Charles II was forced to flee the country.
The ensuing peace was the period known as the Commonwealth. During this period there was no king of England, but Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector until his death. Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660.
Battles of the English Civil War