Marston Moor, Battle Of

(July 2, 1644) First major Royalist defeat in the English Civil Wars.

Royalist forces under Prince Rupert relieved the siege of York and pursued the Parliamentary forces to nearby Long Marston. A surprise counterattack by Parliamentary forces under Oliver Cromwell caused heavy losses to Royalist troops. With the fall of York, Charles I lost control of the north, and Cromwell emerged as the leading Parliamentary general.