AAG 1646-1649 To Kill a King

November 3, 2024·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

Cornet Joyce seizes King Charles with 500 armed troopers, leading to a witty exchange about authority.

This episode covers the period from 1646 to 1649, focusing on the aftermath of the First English Civil War, the political struggles between Presbyterians and Independents, the rise of radical groups like the Levellers, and the events leading to the trial and execution of King Charles I. It explores how Charles's intransigence and the army's politicization culminated in a revolutionary transformation of English politics.

As heard by us

The Army turns political, and the road to the king's trial comes into focus.

The episode follows the Army after the First Civil War, when it begins to act like a political force as much as a military one. The best stretches come from that shift: Henry Ayrton draws up the Solemn Engagement of the Army, the agitators are pulled into decisions, and Fairfax…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get the Army's shift from grievance to political force, as 1646 to 1649 heads toward the king's trial.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The History of England