Uncivil war

In the seven years between 1642 and 1649 a staggering one in ten of the adult male population of the British Isles died. This was more than three times the proportion that died in the First World War and more than five times the proportion that died in World War Two.

If disease, dislocation and famine are added to battle deaths, and the timeframe extended to include the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland (1649 – 1653) the total number of dead could be as high as 868,000. The vast majority of these were in Ireland in the later period (with up to 600,000 deaths).

The English Civil War is poorly named on two main counts – it had an even greater impact on Ireland, Wales and Scotland and was as much warfare between these countries as it was internal strife. As a percentage Ireland was most affected (losing up to 40% of its population), followed by Scotland (6%) and England (3.7%). The total number of civil war deaths in Great Britain is estimated to be around 185,000 – around 4% of the total population (compared to the First World War’s 2.19% and the Second World War’s 0.94%).

Other pre-twentieth century conflicts resulted in a smaller proportional death toll, largely because the fighting took place far from the island fortress. Britain lost between 250,000 and 300,000 in the Napoleonic Wars (1803 – 1815) (representing just 1.875% of Britain’s growing population) and only 22,000 in the Crimean War. 

An island divided dividing islands

The English Civil War pitted fathers against sons, brothers against brothers in the bitter conflict between King and Parliament that divided the country. The enmity spread far beyond the borders of England. Although routinely referred to as the English Civil War, its effects were felt in Scotland, Ireland and England’s overseas colonies.

Even the Channel Islands would succumb to intrigue and division. Jersey, the largest of the islands, remained in the hands of the Royalists under George de Carteret. It became a place of refuge for the future Charles II, as recounted in an inscription: “he has been twice received in safety when he was excluded from the remainder of his dominions ... during the fury of the civil wars.”

Given the rivalry between the islands, it is perhaps no surprise that Guernsey sided with Parliament. Well, most of Guernsey. Castle Cornet, overlooking St. Peter Port and under the Governorship of Peter Osborne, remained loyal to the King. One explanation for the people of Guernsey’s anti-Royalist sentiment was the high proportion of Calvinists on the island.

The fortress and town would exchange intermittent cannon and musket fire for the best part of a decade, riddling both the castle and waterfront with shot and damaging many buildings. Castle Cornet survived amidst its hostile hinterland by receiving supplies from neighbouring, and Royalist, Jersey. By the end of the Civil War, the castle would be the last point of Royalist resistance in the British Isles, finally succumbing to Parliamentary forces on 17 December 1551 (Jersey’s Elizabeth Castle surrendered on 12 December 1551).

Jersey was rewarded for its loyalty on the Restoration, with Charles II presenting a sumptuous Royal Mace to the Bailiff of Jersey on 28 November 1663. Guernsey was left to implore Charles II for his “gracious pardon” for having “quitted their dutys to obedience to their native Soverain”. Clemency was granted on 13 August 1660.