Parliament's Generals

Waller, Essex, Fairfax, Manchester and Cromwell are among the most famous military men who fought for Parliament during the English Civil War. While their performance as generals has been explored in numerous books on the campaigns, comparatively little has been written by military historians about the political aspects of high command, namely the ever-changing and often fractious relationship with the English Parliament and its executive committees. That is why Malcolm Wanklyn’s study of these men is of such value, for he sheds new light on the qualities they employed in their attempts to achieve their military and political aspirations.

In a series of insightful chapters he follows their careers through the course of the conflict, focusing on their successes and failures in battle and the consequences for their reputations and influence. Dissatisfaction with the leadership of Essex, Manchester and Waller in the inconclusive early campaigns is examined, as are the contrasting strengths of Fairfax and Cromwell. This reassessment sheds new light on how these commanders managed promotions, out-manoeuvred their fellow generals and controlled their subordinates.

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Some books that may interest you

Control in the Sky By: L F E Coombs	Our Chances Were Zero By: Rolf Magener	ShipCraft 25: German Destroyers By: Robert Brown
Billericay in the Great War By: Ken Porter, Stephen Wynn	Brothers in Arms By: Geraint Jones	Kimberley By: Lewis Childs
The Gunners of August 1914 By: John Hutton	The Armed Forces of the United Kingdom 2007/2008 By: Charles Heyman	Armoured Warfare in the Vietnam War By: Michael Green