Naseby, Battle of

Decisive battle of the English Civil War on 14 June 1645, when the Royalists, led by Prince Rupert, were defeated by the Parliamentarians (‘Roundheads’) under Oliver Cromwell and General Fairfax. It is named after the nearby village of Naseby, 32 km/20 mi south of Leicester.

Both armies drew up in similar formation, infantry in the centre, cavalry on the flanks, and reserves behind. The Royalists opened the battle by dashing downhill, across the intervening valley, and up the facing hill to where the Roundheads were massed. Prince Rupert's cavalry broke the Parliamentary right wing and then recklessly pursued them toward the village of Naseby. On the other wing, however, Cromwell's cavalry routed the force opposing them and then turned inward to take the Royalist infantry in the flank. King Charles I ordered his last reserves to charge, but the Earl of Carnwath, seeing this to be a futile move, turned his horse away and led his troops off the field; the Parliamentarians took heart from this, rallied, and completed the victory. Prince Rupert, returning from his chase, found the battle over and could do nothing but follow the king to Leicester. About 1,000 loyalists were killed and 5,000 taken prisoner, together with all their artillery.