Seventeenth-century English Civil War

The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a conflict between King Charles I and Parliament over political power and religious issues. Parliament sought greater control over government and religious practices, while the king wanted to maintain authority. The war resulted in significant violence, the temporary overthrow of the monarchy, and the establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. It reflected broader struggles over governance, religious freedom, and individual rights, shaping modern concepts of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The conflict ended with Charles I's execution and the eventual restoration of the monarchy in 1660.