The Battle of Chalgrove Field
by Ellen Castelow
Early in June 1643, news of a nearby convoy carrying £21,000 of parliamentary pay reached the ears of the Royalist Commander Prince Rupert. Unable to resist such rich pickings, on the afternoon of 17 June 1643 Rupert set off from Oxford to intercept the convoy.
Although he failed to locate the convoy, Rupert successfully raided the Parliamentarian quarters at Postcombe and Chinnor, killing and wounding many enemy soldiers in the process.
Engaged in a tactical withdrawal back to Oxford, Rupert found himself being chased by Parliamentarian troops. Ignoring all advice to the contrary, Rupert turned his horse and followed by his 1,000 strong cavalry charged the enemy.
The fight was short and sharp, with the Parliamentarian troops breaking rank and fleeing over the nearby hill to Easington.
Date: 17th June, 1463
War: English Civil War
Location: Near Chalgrove, Oxfordshire
Belligerents: Royalists and Parliamentarians
Numbers: Royalists around 1,000, Parliamentarians around 1,150.
Casualties: Royalists negligable, Parliamentarians negligible.
Commanders: Prince Rupert (Royalists – pictured below), Sir Philip Stapleton (Parliamentarians)