The Civil War: Royalists

During the English Civil War (1662-1651), the Royalists championed the divine right of the monarch to govern England and fought against the opposing Parliamentarians. They had a deep-seated loyalty to the monarch and to the protection of King Charles I. Gentry, noblemen and Catholics were staunch supporters of the monarch, as were those who lived in the countryside, particularly the less economically developed northern and westerns parts of England. The Parliamentarians referred to them as Cavaliers taken from the French word chevalier meaning horseman, the derogatory term was later adopted by the Royalists themselves. The term made reference to the elaborate fashion of the court, their long hair worn in ringlets and their strong allegiance to the king. The Royalists achieved early victories during conflict due to their skills as horsemen. Despite these early victories, King Charles II was defeated by the Parliamentarians New Model Army of 28,000 soldiers at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.