To Settle the Crown: Waging Civil War in Shropshire, 1642-1648(85 Century of the Soldier 1618-1721)

While the First, or 'Great', English Civil War of 1642-6 was largely contested at regional and county level, in often hard-fought and long-lasting local campaigns, historians often still continue to dwell on the well-known major battles such as Edgehill and Naseby. This book redresses this imbalance. While the First, or 'Great', English Civil War of 1642-46 was largely contested at regional and county level, in often hard-fought and long-lasting local campaigns, historians often still continue to dwell on the well-known major battles, such as Edgehill and Naseby, and the prominent national leaders. To help redress this imbalance, To Settle The Crown: Waging Civil War in Shropshire, 1642-1648 provides the most detailed bipartisan study published to date of how the war was actually organised and conducted at county level. This book examines the practicalities, the 'nuts and bolts', of contemporary warfare by reconstructing the war effort of Royalists and Parliamentarians in Shropshire, an English county on the borderland of Wales - a region that witnessed widespread fighting. Shropshire was contested during the First Civil War - when it became one of the most heavily garrisoned counties in England and Wales - and experienced renewed conflict during the Second Civil War of 1648. Based on a doctoral thesis, and therefore drawing primarily on contemporary sources revealing much new information, this book examines key aspects of the military history of the English Civil Wars: allegiance and motivation; leadership and administration; recruitment and the form of armed forces; military finance; logistics; and the nature and conduct of the fighting. Furthermore, while previous studies have tended to concentrate on the Parliamentarians, the comparatively plentiful evidence from Shropshire has allowed the Royalist war effort there to be reconstructed in rare detail. This book reveals for the first time the extent of military activity in Shropshire, describing the sieges, skirmishes and larger engagements, while reflecting on the nature of warfare elsewhere across Civil War England and Wales. In also providing a social context to the military history of the period, it explains how Royalist and Parliamentarian activists set local government on a wartime footing, and how the populace generally became involved in the administrative and material tasks of war effort. Extensively illustrated, fully referenced to an extensive bibliography, and including a useful review of Civil War historiography, To Settle The Crown: Waging Civil War in Shropshire, 1642-1648 is a significant fresh approach to the military history of the English Civil Wars. AUTHOR: Dr Jonathan Worton has a lifelong and wide-ranging interest in Military History. In studying for the PhD from which this book is derived, he explored in particular military and social aspects of the English Civil Wars in the borderlands of Wales. He has lectured on aspects of the period on educational programmes and to various organisations, and has had several articles published. He has acted as an advisor and co-curator on heritage projects and is currently an independent researcher, speaker, writer and educator. Prior to achieving a Masters Degree in Military History - setting him on a fresh career path - Jonathan spent 20 years in industry as a marketing, publicity and graphic design professional. He lives with his family in Shropshire. 60 maps, tables, and b/w & colour plates

About the Author :
Dr Jonathan Worton has a lifelong and wide-ranging interest in Military History. In studying for the PhD from which this book is derived, he explored in particular military and social aspects of the English Civil Wars in the borderlands of Wales. He has lectured on aspects of the period on educational programmes and to various organisations, and has had several articles published. He has acted as an advisor and co-curator on heritage projects and is currently an independent researcher, speaker, writer and educator. Prior to achieving a Masters Degree in Military History - setting him on a fresh career path - Jonathan spent 20 years in industry as a marketing, publicity and graphic design professional. He lives with his family in Shropshire.

Review :
"This color-illustrated military history chronicles the fight over Shropshire County between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War. The art program offers color photos of locations, color historical art, and modern color illustrations of historical events, plus b&w maps. The book also provides social context of the military history of the period and includes a review of English Civil War historiography. A chronology is also included." “It is a well-produced book, and as a work of reference, warrants a place on the bookshelves of anyone who has a serious interest in the English Civil Wars.”