Battle of Naseby - 14 June 1645

If there is one discernable point where Oliver Cromwell's star emerged from mere cavalry commander to driving force in the New Model Army, the battle of Naseby may be it. Cromwell convinced his commander, Fairfax to move to an adjacent, more neutral hill, so as to encourage the Royalists to attack. This level of confidence was not misplaced. Cromwell's actions, as well as the actions of Prince Rupert on the Royalist side, were to confirm their reputations. Rupert was the European shock trooper with elan and Cromwell, as the disciplined English soldier and stern Puritan.
At Naseby, both armies put forward their "A" teams with Prince Rupert, Prince Maurice and the King himself present on the Royal side. Fairfax, Cromwell and Skippon led the Parliamentarian's New Model Army. There would be no denying the superior force after Naseby.
Although the King was present, Rupert commanded the Royal lines. Rupert's plan was to crush the Roundhead left with his signature cavalry charge, which he would lead, and then cross behind the Roundhead centre to turn Cromwell's flank. The first part went well as Roundhead Ireton's cavalry was beaten from the field. However, Rupert's cavalry did not cross behind the New Model Army's infantry centre, either due to battlefield congestion or through their excessive exuberance. Eventually, Rupert's cavalry ended up in the Parliamentarian rear attacking the baggage trains. One might say it was unplanned, but one must ignore Rupert's previous actions to call it unlikely.
Unfortunately for the Royalists, Cromwell also performed to stereotype. After working through rough ground on the Royalist left, Cromwell attacked and dispersed the Royalist cavalry, then worked over the Lifeguard, then completed the encirclement of virtually the entire Royalist infantry. The King tried to rally his cavalry for a counter attack, but thought better of it as he watched his infantry surrender.
Naseby was an unmitigated disaster for the King. Virtually all of his northern infantry was captured or killed. He could never recover from the loss of such a force this late in the war. The war would drag on, but the cause was militarily lost on these Northamptonshire fields.

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

35-40 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the A5199 out of Northampton to Thornby and turn right on the Naseby Road. In Naseby, follow the signs to the memorial along the Sibbertoft Road. The memorial is in a field on the left after crossing over the A14. Continue to Sibbertoft and turn left onto the Sibbertoft / Welford Road. At the junction with the A5199, turn right and go to the A4304 and turn right towards Market Harborough. At Lubenham take a right and follow the sign to Clipston (local roads names are too confusing to use here). From Clipston, follow the Naseby Road past another obelisk to the battle on the left hand side.
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 141. The battlefield is centred on SP 684799. If using a road map, the battlefield is 10 miles north of Northampton.