Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Born on 17th December 1619, Rupert - Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness (more commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine) - was the youngest son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine. Frederick's wife (Rupert's mother), was Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of James I of England, making Rupert nephew to King Charles 1 of England. Rupert's sister, Electress Sophia, was the mother of George 1 of Great Britain. Rupert was born in Prague during his father's short-lived tenure as King of Bohemia, exiled soon after and growing up in the Netherlands and England.
Rupert first tasted battle in the Netherlands, fighting against Spain in the 80 Years War (1568 - 1648), and against the Holy Roman Emperor in Germany during the 30 Years War (1618-1648). He was taken prisoner after a battle at Vlotho, on the River Weser in Germany, spending the next three years in captivity. Refusing to gain his freedom by converting to Catholicism he was eventually freed by English diplomacy after promising never again to bear arms against the Emperor.
When Charles 1 raised the Royal Standard at Nottingham on the eve of the English Civil War he appointed Rupert as General of Horse. Although only 22, he cut a dashing figure, being both tall, handsome and 'sparkish in his dress'. He served his uncle with devotion and was held in great affection by the troops under his command. Despite his relatively tender years, he was a student of war (and, also, of art) and combined his panache and energy with efficiency and well-honed leadership. A truly professional soldier, he was nonetheless held in suspicion by many among the King's advisors, being both a foreigner and a young military adventurer.
Rupert was involved in one of the earliest skirmishes of the civil war, improvising a cavalry charge when a small group of royalists were surprised at Powick Bridge, near Worcester. A few days later his charge routed the Parliamentarian horse at the Battle of Edgehill, the first major engagement of the war. Unfortunately Rupert's horsemen charged too far, only returning to the field as the battle ended in a bloody stalemate. It was not to be the last time. He trained his men well, eschewing the normal method of discharging their pistols at the beginning of the engagement and relying instead on an instant and overwhelming charge with the blade, using firearms only after the enemy had routed (a method learned from Sweden's Gustavus Adolphus). Although this method was often successful, it led to difficulties in controlling his men after the enemy had broken.
After Edgehill, Rupert was involved in numerous small actions, mostly around the new Royalist capital of Oxford. His biggest success was the capture of the Parliamentarian stronghold of Bristol. By January 1644 he had been appointed President of Wales and captain-general of four West Midland counties. To the Parliamentarians he was a bogeyman and, though some of the more outlandish accusations levelled against him can be put down to war propaganda, he was certainly feared by his enemies and there is also evidence to suggest that, while he himself remained chivalrous and humane, certain acts were carried out by soldiers nominally under his command that, today, would be labelled war crimes.
His fortunes were to decline in 1644, when a Scottish army entered the north of England in support of Parliament. At Marston Moor, near York, Rupert's army was defeated. Rupert only avoided capture, it is said, by hiding in a field of beans and his beloved dog, Boy, which had always accompanied him into battle, was killed. Despite this setback he was appointed General of all forces in England but, after the defeat at Naseby in 1645, he began to urge the king to sue for peace. In charge of the defence of Bristol, he surrendered the city after a brief siege to save its defenders from the sword and, although this was to blacken his name among the supporters of the king, it also had the effect of cleansing him of some of the hateful Parliamentarian propaganda which had seen him labelled as 'Prince Robber'. 'I am confident,' wrote one witness as Rupert rode out from the surrendered city, 'we are much mistaken in our intelligence concerning him. I find him a man much inclined to a happy peace, and will certainly employ his interest with His Majesty for the accomplishing of it.'
Believing himself betrayed, a furious Charles dismissed Rupert, ordering him to 'seek your subsistence somewhere beyond the seas'. Rather than flee, Rupert forced an audience with his uncle, demanding to be court-martialled. Obtaining his wish he was cleared of any lack of courage but, though his honour was saved he would never receive back his commission. In July 1646 he took service abroad with the French army.
When the Second Civil War broke out in 1648, Rupert was again in The Hague. He took command of the royal fleet, preying on English shipping first from bases in Ireland and then in Portugal. Finally driven from European waters, he continued his campaign in the Caribbean and then off the coast of Africa until he eventually joined the exiled court of Charles II in Cologne.
After the restoration of the monarchy he continued with his nautical adventures, fighting against the Dutch as an admiral of the Royal Fleet before taking up a post as governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. In his declining years he became enthusiastic about the advancement of science and was responsible for a great many inventions and experiments, even setting up a laboratory in Windsor Castle, of which he had been made governor. He died at the age of 62 in 1682, having lived a remarkably full and colourful life.
Rupert first tasted battle in the Netherlands, fighting against Spain in the 80 Years War (1568 - 1648), and against the Holy Roman Emperor in Germany during the 30 Years War (1618-1648). He was taken prisoner after a battle at Vlotho, on the River Weser in Germany, spending the next three years in captivity. Refusing to gain his freedom by converting to Catholicism he was eventually freed by English diplomacy after promising never again to bear arms against the Emperor.
When Charles 1 raised the Royal Standard at Nottingham on the eve of the English Civil War he appointed Rupert as General of Horse. Although only 22, he cut a dashing figure, being both tall, handsome and 'sparkish in his dress'. He served his uncle with devotion and was held in great affection by the troops under his command. Despite his relatively tender years, he was a student of war (and, also, of art) and combined his panache and energy with efficiency and well-honed leadership. A truly professional soldier, he was nonetheless held in suspicion by many among the King's advisors, being both a foreigner and a young military adventurer.
Rupert was involved in one of the earliest skirmishes of the civil war, improvising a cavalry charge when a small group of royalists were surprised at Powick Bridge, near Worcester. A few days later his charge routed the Parliamentarian horse at the Battle of Edgehill, the first major engagement of the war. Unfortunately Rupert's horsemen charged too far, only returning to the field as the battle ended in a bloody stalemate. It was not to be the last time. He trained his men well, eschewing the normal method of discharging their pistols at the beginning of the engagement and relying instead on an instant and overwhelming charge with the blade, using firearms only after the enemy had routed (a method learned from Sweden's Gustavus Adolphus). Although this method was often successful, it led to difficulties in controlling his men after the enemy had broken.
After Edgehill, Rupert was involved in numerous small actions, mostly around the new Royalist capital of Oxford. His biggest success was the capture of the Parliamentarian stronghold of Bristol. By January 1644 he had been appointed President of Wales and captain-general of four West Midland counties. To the Parliamentarians he was a bogeyman and, though some of the more outlandish accusations levelled against him can be put down to war propaganda, he was certainly feared by his enemies and there is also evidence to suggest that, while he himself remained chivalrous and humane, certain acts were carried out by soldiers nominally under his command that, today, would be labelled war crimes.
His fortunes were to decline in 1644, when a Scottish army entered the north of England in support of Parliament. At Marston Moor, near York, Rupert's army was defeated. Rupert only avoided capture, it is said, by hiding in a field of beans and his beloved dog, Boy, which had always accompanied him into battle, was killed. Despite this setback he was appointed General of all forces in England but, after the defeat at Naseby in 1645, he began to urge the king to sue for peace. In charge of the defence of Bristol, he surrendered the city after a brief siege to save its defenders from the sword and, although this was to blacken his name among the supporters of the king, it also had the effect of cleansing him of some of the hateful Parliamentarian propaganda which had seen him labelled as 'Prince Robber'. 'I am confident,' wrote one witness as Rupert rode out from the surrendered city, 'we are much mistaken in our intelligence concerning him. I find him a man much inclined to a happy peace, and will certainly employ his interest with His Majesty for the accomplishing of it.'
Believing himself betrayed, a furious Charles dismissed Rupert, ordering him to 'seek your subsistence somewhere beyond the seas'. Rather than flee, Rupert forced an audience with his uncle, demanding to be court-martialled. Obtaining his wish he was cleared of any lack of courage but, though his honour was saved he would never receive back his commission. In July 1646 he took service abroad with the French army.
When the Second Civil War broke out in 1648, Rupert was again in The Hague. He took command of the royal fleet, preying on English shipping first from bases in Ireland and then in Portugal. Finally driven from European waters, he continued his campaign in the Caribbean and then off the coast of Africa until he eventually joined the exiled court of Charles II in Cologne.
After the restoration of the monarchy he continued with his nautical adventures, fighting against the Dutch as an admiral of the Royal Fleet before taking up a post as governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. In his declining years he became enthusiastic about the advancement of science and was responsible for a great many inventions and experiments, even setting up a laboratory in Windsor Castle, of which he had been made governor. He died at the age of 62 in 1682, having lived a remarkably full and colourful life.