But it struck me that the extreme violence and cruelty of the English Civil War has gone understated.

–Simon Schama

The English Civil War was a nine year long armed conflict between the Parliamentary Army and the Royalists over the formation of government in England. The result of the War was the replacement of the monarchy with a Commonwealth and later a Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell. Another major outcome was the execution of Charles I, the King of England at the time. The Parliamentary armies were able to capture Charles I on 30th November in 1648 and his execution was scheduled on 30th January of the following year. The King was executed for treason.

The War shows how democratization of the Great Britain was a protracted process which as violent as it was slow.