July 2, 1644 · North Theater
July 2, 1644
The largest battle fought on English soil during the war. The combined Parliamentary and Scottish army of some 27,000 confronted Prince Rupert's 18,000 Royalists on the flat moorland west of York. As evening approached and a cavalry engagement seemed delayed, Parliamentary forces launched a surprise attack across the whole front. Cromwell's cavalry routed Rupert's horsemen on the left, then — uniquely — rallied and turned to strike the Royalist infantry in the flank and rear. Within two hours the Royalist army was shattered.
Commanders