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The English Civil War (1642–1651)

King against Parliament, Cavaliers against Roundheads, and the trial and execution of Charles I.

King Charles I believed in the divine right of kings and clashed repeatedly with Parliament over taxes, religion and the limits of royal power. War broke out in 1642 between his supporters (the Cavaliers) and the supporters of Parliament (the Roundheads, led by Oliver Cromwell). The decisive battle was Naseby in 1645, after which the king was captured.

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Charles refused to compromise. He was tried by a special court, convicted of treason, and beheaded outside the Banqueting House in Whitehall on 30 January 1649 — the only English king ever publicly executed. England, Scotland and Ireland became a republic, the Commonwealth, ruled from 1653 by Cromwell as Lord Protector.

You may be asked which king was executed in 1649 (Charles I), who led Parliament's armies (Cromwell), or what Roundheads and Cavaliers were.

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