Parliamentarians Win Decisive Battle of Naseby
During the First English Civil War, Royalist forces under King Charles I faced Parliament's New Model Army commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. On June 14, 1645, near Naseby in Northamptonshire, the Parliamentarians routed the Royalists in a foggy morning engagement. The victory destroyed the main Royalist field army, capturing thousands and ending hopes of a decisive Royalist comeback. Charles I escaped but the battle shifted momentum permanently toward Parliament.
Why it matters: Naseby crippled Royalist military capacity and paved the way for Parliament's ultimate triumph, reshaping English governance and setting precedents for constitutional monarchy.