#OTD Alexander Leslie, as overall commander of the combined Covenanter & English Pariamentarian armies defeated the Royalists at #MarstonMoor. My debunking of the Cromwellian victory is in the link below. In this thread let's consider Royalist errors https://www.academia.edu/36951855/Marston_Moor_The_Myth_Revisited_from_the_book_Alexander_Leslie_and_the_Scottish_Generals_of_the_Thirty_Years_War_London_2014_pp.126-134

Only days before, the Royalists under Lord General Patrick Ruthven defeated the Parliamentarians. He was seconded by Prince Rupert. An impetuous commander, Rupert had lost the battle of Vlotho Bridge in 1638 by charging before the rest of his allies had formed up.

So who was Ruthven? Well he had been Alexander Leslie's commander for years in Swedish service. No-one knew Leslie better. But he and Rupert fell out after thr victory at Cropredy leaving Rupert in command. Impetuosity over a commander of 30 years field experience

When Rupert got to York, he met James King. This was one of the finest cavalry commanders of the #ThirtYearsWar but the man Rupert tried ( but failed) to blame his stupidity at Vlotho Bridge on. King had achieved a 360 encirclement at Wittstock in 1636 "the 2nd Cannae"

So what did Rupert do .... put him in charge of the Infantry out of spite leaving himself as cavalry commander with Goring - a man who earned his experience in the Anglo-Dutch brigade as an infantry commander (see the problem emerging?)

So with the finest Royalist infantry commander (Ruthven) having gone back to The King's Camp, and their to cavalry commander played out of position, the Royalists were doomed to fail. hen the Royalist left wing cavalry swept away Fairfax & some Covenanter foot, inexperience shone

Goring and Urry, rather than swing round and into the main battalia, went in pursuit of the baggage train. Rank amateurs. King would have "done a Wittstock" on them. 3 regiments of Covenanter cavalry simply side stepped them then pressed forward i to the left of the Royalist inf.

On the left of the SLC allies Cromwell is said to have gone in pursuit of Rupert. David Leslie being a professional concentrated on hitting the right flank of the Royalists.

It was all over and the blame squarely lies with Rupert's ability to lose Ruthven and mis-deploy King

I'll just let you all ponder that one for a while. But it's my birthday so any feedback will come tomorrow. For tonight I'll take a couple of very special drams

#EnglishCivilWars @A_J_Lind @MuseumCromwell