The Battle of Marston Moor

In the spring of 1644 on the territory of the northern and eastern shires, a break was achieved in favour of Parliament. Cromwell's forces of the so-called eastern association cooperated with Lord Fairfax's army and the Scottish to attain a certain success, winning a large territory from the royalists. The troops under Fairfax's command besieged the city of York. The king was forced to suspend combat operations in the west and detach an army under Rupert to the north, aiming to unite with troops under Newcastle operating there, and relieve York. Parliamentarian and Scottish troops concentrated to the west of York at Marston Moor numbered about 20,000 infantrymen commanded by Crafford, Baile and Leven, and 7,000 cavalrymen under Fairfax, Cromwell and Leslie. The royalist army under Newcastle also had 7,000 cavalrymen, but only 11,000 infantrymen, half as many as Parliament. The battle ended in the total destruction of the royal forces. The royalists lost 6,000 men killed and wounded, and 1,500 were taken prisoner. The army of Parliament lost 1,500 killed and wounded. Due to the victory of Marston Moor, the whole north of England was now under the control of Parliament. The king had lost a substantial part of his forces. The victory inspired people to continue the fight against the king and his followers.