The New Model Army: Agent of Revolution

The definitive account of the superior fighting force that powered the English Revolution The New Model Army was one of the most formidable fighting forces ever assembled. Formed in 1645, it was crucial in overthrowing the monarchy and propelling one of its most brilliant generals, Oliver Cromwell, to power during the English Revolution. Paradoxically, it was also instrumental in restoring the king in 1660. But the true nature of this army has long been debated.   In this authoritative history, Ian Gentles examines the full scope of the New Model Army. As a fighting force it engineered regicide, pioneered innovative military tactics, and helped to keep Cromwell in power as Lord Protector until his death. All the while, those within its ranks promoted radical political ideas inspired by the Levellers and held dissenting religious beliefs. Gentles explores how brilliant battlefield maneuvering and logistical prowess contributed to its victories—and demonstrates the vital role religion played in building morale and military effectiveness.

About the Author :
Formerly of York University, Ian Gentles is Distinguished Professor in History at Tyndale University, Toronto. An expert on the English Revolution, he is the author of The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms and Oliver Cromwell, among numerous other books and articles.

Review :
“Authoritative and incisive. . . . This is far from just a military history. Gentles, formerly of York University, deals briskly with the key battles and sieges that made, for better or worse, the New Model’s reputation—Naseby, Dunbar, Colchester, Drogheda. . . . Gentles is fascinating too when writing about procurement.”—Paul Lay, Times (UK) “Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army won the decisive battles of the English civil war, overthrew the monarchy in 1649 and sustained the republic until its collapse in 1660. In this expanded version of a study published in 1992, Gentles shows why he is considered the leading authority on the army.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times, “Best Summer Books of 2022: History” “A thorough study. . . . The author’s mastery of the relevant manuscript and printed primary sources and secondary works is exemplary.”—Edward M. Furgol, Seventeenth-Century News “Gentles hits full stride in his accounts of individual battles, providing vivid accounts of the view from the trenches.”—Journal of Modern History “Explores not just the intricacies and complexities of the army, but also what made it such a formidable battlefield force.”—Military History Matters “This new account shows how powerful the New Model Army was at fighting not just with the sword but also with “The Word.” . . . New insight is given, proving that religion was beating strongly at its heart and that this faith was a force in building morale, military skill and ultimately victory.”—Bruce Kemble-Johnson, Let’s Talk “The purpose of this book is not to provide yet another military history of the wars, but to look beyond the accounts of the fighting, and to consider why the New Model Amy was so formidable on the battlefield, and why it had such an impact on politics and religion off it. Here the author succeeds admirably, delivering an indispensable study that is both insightful and thoroughly readable.”—David Flintham, Military History Matters “A richly detailed and authoritative survey of Parliament’s formidable army formed in 1645 and disbanded at the Restoration.”—Jackie Eales, History Today “Gentles provides a lively and accessible prose, without sacrificing scholarly rigour and analysis. The book will become a standard text for students of the Civil Wars in the Three Kingdoms for decades to come.”— Andrew Hopper, International Journal of Military History and Historiography “Ian Gentles has long been the leading authority on the most important and influential army in English history: and this latest book proves that he still is!”—Ronald Hutton, author of The Making of Oliver Cromwell “Gentles recovers the heart of revolutionary England in this indispensable and definitive landmark book. He masterfully charts the astonishing rise and successes of the New Model Army. Now, in this updated and fresh edition, he provides a view from the inside into the fears, failures, and wider aspirations of the army during its final and most elusive years.”—Polly Ha, associate professor of the history of Christianity, Duke University “Students of the English Revolution, for whom the first edition of The New Model Army has long been required reading, will be thrilled. . . . A tour de force which presents the New Model as a political phenomenon as well as a highly effective military force.”—David Appleby, author of Black Bartholomew’s Day “This is an important and timely reworking of a classic study of the military wrecking ball of the English Revolution. Authoritative yet accessible, the lively narrative guides the reader through a complex and transformative period in the histories of England, Ireland, and Scotland. Henceforth, Gentles’ account will be essential reading for those interested in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.”—Micheál Ó Siochrú, Trinity College Dublin, author of God’s Executioner: Oliver Cromwell and the Conquest of Ireland