English Civil War: Charles Routed at Naseby

June 14, 1645 - King Charles I's army is routed at the Battle of Naseby. Following the Royalist storming of Leicester, Sir Thomas Fairfax moved north with the New Model Army to engage King Charles I. Meeting outside the village of Naseby in Northamptonshire, the two armies maneuvered for position during the early hours of June 14, 1645. Beginning in mid-morning, the battle opened with a Royalist attack on Fairfax's lines. While this met with initial success, it was largely halted by superior Parliamentarian numbers. The climatic moment occurred when Lt. Gen. Oliver Cromwell led his cavalry in a decisive attack on the Royalist flank. The tide turned, the New Model Army drove the Royalists from the field. A key turning point in the English Civil War, Charles surrendered less than a year later.