An Easy Victory
Prince Rupert was the first to act soon after 10 am when he attacked Henry Ireton. Rupert enjoyed initial success by smashing through his enemy’s defenses. However, instead of attacking the Parliamentary infantry that was now exposed, Rupert made the critical error of moving on to Naseby and attacking a baggage wagon. While he may not have won the battle for Charles, Rupert could have ensured a hard fight for the Parliamentarians.
Langdale attacked Cromwell at almost the same time as Rupert launched his assault. However, Cromwell crushed Langdale’s forces, and instead of pausing when the king’s infantry was exposed, Cromwell went for the jugular; although he kept some men in reserve as an insurance policy. This move was the decisive moment in the battle. The Royalist infantry, led by Lord Astley, was quickly swarmed by the enemy and panic ensued.
While Astley’s men forced back the initial line of Parliamentary infantry, led by Sir Philip Skippon, it is likely that Skippon allowed this to happen as a means of trapping the enemy in a pincer movement. At this stage, the Royalist force was exposed to cavalry attack on both sides and soon realized that surrender was the best option.
When the dust settled at Naseby, the New Model Army lost 400 men compared to 1,000 Royalist casualties. Another 5,000 men surrendered. At one point in the battle, Charles had contemplated launching a counter-attack against Cromwell with his reserves but was talked out of it the Earl of Carnwath.
Aftermath & Analysis
Fairfax’s men pursued the 1,000 or so Royalists who had managed to flee the battlefield. Hundreds of Royalists were murdered as were around 100 women camp-followers. It was a terrible atrocity, and even today, historians don’t know the reason for it. Fairfax captured Leicester just four days after winning at Naseby. Meanwhile, Charles had lost around 500 officers and most of his veteran infantry. He would be unable to muster up another significant fighting force for the duration of the war. On May 5, 1646, Charles surrendered and the last Royalist stronghold, Wallingford Castle, fell after a 65-day siege on June 24.
Although the war technically lasted another year, Charles’ defeat at the Battle of Naseby was the beginning of the end. It is interesting to note that Prince Rupert had long since been working on a speedy cavalry attack as a viable battlefield tactic. It even worked at Naseby, but his inability to follow up was crucial. Had Langdale enjoyed similar success on the opposite flank against Cromwell, the outcome of the battle could have been very different. Instead, he was overwhelmed, and the battle was lost soon after.
According to many British historians, the Battle of Naseby, along with Bosworth Field, Hastings, and the Battle of Britain, is one of the most significant engagements to have ever taken place on British soil. After all, it led to the execution of King Charles I in 1649. Upon the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles II disbanded the New Model Army although several of its regiments served in the king’s new standing army.