Oliver Cromwell (left) and Charles I (right) were the dominant figures during this turbulent era
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The Civil Wars of the 17th century tore the British Isles apart, pitting Parliament against the King, and brother against brother. In 1642, disagreements and mistrust between Charles I and his government boiled over into the unthinkable – years of bloodshed and devastation, and the legally sanctioned execution of an anointed monarch, something that had never happened in England before and has not been repeated since.
How did the British Isles reach the brink of war? Over the next 30 pages, with the help of historian Professor Mark Stoyle, we’ll reveal how the Civil Wars unfurled, meet the key figures – including Charles I and Oliver Cromwell – and explore some of the major battles. We’ll also take a look at how the New Model Army changed the course of the Civil Wars and look at how each side used propaganda to its advantage.