England on the Brink of Civil War, 1642

The first half of the seventeenth century was gripped by a power struggle between monarchy and Parliament. The question of who held ultimate control over political and religious matters in Great Britain were hotly debated and fought over. In the summer of 1641, England seemed ready to return to peace after King Charles I agreed to work with Parliament. But a dramatic series of events, driven by principles, fear, and miscalculation, led the country to dissolve into civil war.

This talk will explore how the country veered into conflict. Who were the key personalities involved, and how was the crisis experienced and driven by ordinary people? Join us for this fascinating, and revealing, picture of a nation suddenly in freefall.

Image: Cromwell in the Battle of Naseby in 1645, by Charles Landseer. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Nationalgalerie / SMB