 |
| Prince
Rupert of the Rhine |
| 1619 |
Born Dec 17th
in Prague. The third son of the Elector Frederick V of the
Palatinate and Elizabeth, daughter of King James I. |
 |
|
Fled with his family to the Hague. [Detail]
He was educated by tutors at his home (the Prinzenhof) in Leiden. |
| 1630 |
Started at the University of Leiden
at the age of 10. Very keen on hunting and military matters. |
| 1633 |
Rupert attended many of the battles
and sieges in Europe (Thirty Years war). |
| 1636 |
In Feb
Rupert came to England and was enthralled by the court of his uncle King
Charles I. |
|
| 1637 |
On the verge of leading an
expedition to conquer Madagascar for the British, Rupert went back to
Holland to ride with an army to invade the Palatinate and retrieve it from
the Catholics. While waiting for preparations to be made, he joined his
brother Maurice at the siege of Breda. |
|
| 1638 |
Rupert was made colonel of a
regiment of horse which he was to lead towards the Palatinate. He led his
first cavalry charge at the town of Rheine. In subsequent action at Vlotho
he was captured and spent three years imprisoned in the castle at Linz on
the Danube. He was given a dog 'Boy' as company by the English Ambassador
in Vienna. |
|
| 1641 |
Released by Archduke Leopold under
pressure from Charles I and Cardinal Richelieu. Arrived back at the Hague
on Dec 20th. |
|
| 1642 |
Feb 17th Rupert met Charles at
Dover but he returned to the Netherlands a few days later. He helped his
aunt Queen Henrietta Maria raise money and buy arms for the Royalist
cause.
Charles appointed Rupert General of the Horse and summoned for him. He
sailed with his brother Maurice to Tynemouth. [Details]
When the King raised his standard at Nottingham, Rupert was training
his horsemen, recruiting from the neighbouring towns and scavenging for
arms and military equipment.
Sep 11 - He attacked and captured a house
in Warwickshire which was vigorously defended - only to discover that it
had been defended by the owner's wife and her son-in-law and a few
servants.
Sep 23 - Took part in the skirmish at Powick
Bridge before returning to Shrewsbury. He marched with the King's army
to Edgehill where he led the first
cavalry charge.
Rupert stayed near Oxford and the King for the winter training his
regiments of horsemen. |
Rupert
was not only General of Horse for the King's army but also his chief
military adviser. |
|
|
|
| 1643 |
In February
he captured Cirencester. He then took a look
at Gloucester but, realising it was too strong, he moved back to Oxford.
There he sat with the King in negotiations with Parliament.
In March, he took a detachment to Bristol.
A plot from within the walls to deliver the city failed and Rupert
returned to Oxford.
In April he captured Birmingham
and Lichfield.
In June he rode through the
Parliamentarian lines and won a skirmish at Chalgrove.
He captured Bristol in July.
Sept. In action at Newbury
then returns to Oxford. Leaves to occupy Towcester and then recaptures
Cirencester.
|
Between
skirmishes Rupert tirelessly recruits men for the Royalist cause. |
|
That autumn, the King makes Rupert
Duke of Cumberland and Earl of Holderness so as to give him a seat in the
House of Lords. |
He
also makes him President of Wales and Captain General of Cheshire,
Lancashire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. |
| 1644 |
Rupert sets up his headquarters at
Shrewsbury.
March. Rupert relieves the siege of Newark
June. Rupert marches to relieve York
which leads to defeat at Marston Moor.
Rupert withdraw to the Welsh borders.
Nov. Appointed Lieutenant-General of all
the King's armies and returns to Oxford.
|
|
| 1645 |
Jan.
Rupert attacks Abingdon.
March. Rupert establishes himself in
Ludlow.
May. Attacks Leicester.
June. Defeated at Naseby.
Digby claims it was Rupert's fault.
|
|
|
Aug.
Rupert fortifies Bristol and assures the King
he can hold out for at least four months. Rupert loses Bristol
in two weeks. |
When
the King heard of the loss of Bristol he considered it as a betrayal of
trust by Rupert and stripped him of all his commands. |
|
Oct.
Rupert confronts the King and demands a
court martial.
|
|
| 1646 |
April.
Reconciliation with the King follows, and Rupert offers to accompany him
when he leaves Oxford to give himself up
to the Scots. The king turns Rupert down because his height might give
them away.
June. Oxford surrenders. Rupert is allowed
to stay in England for up to 6 months as long as they get no nearer than
20 miles from London.
Rupert and Maurice meet Charles Louis at Guildford. Parliament claims
this breaks the 20-mile limit imposed and insists they leave within 10
days.
July 5. Rupert sails for Calais. He makes
for St Germain where Henrietta Maria and Prince Charles hold court. They
welcome him warmly.
Rupert collects a brigade of 2,000 men to fight for France.
|
|
| 1647 |
Rupert fights for France against
the Spanish in the Netherlands.
He receives a serious head wound from a Spanish ambush. |
|
| 1648 |
Commands a fleet of warships which
were based at Kinsale in Ireland. They harass ships in the English Channel
selling the booty to support the Royalist cause. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1652 |
Rupert made a piratical cruise to
the Caribbean. |
|
| 1654 |
He returned to Germany. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1682 |
Dies |
|
|
|
|