'A collection of considerable value' says the TLS of this beautifully illustrated book. Now available in paperback as part of the Oxford Illustrated History series, this book offers a unique analysis of the civil wars as they were fought in the kingdoms ruled by Charles I.Between the years of 1638 and 1660 the countries of England, Scotland, and Ireland were engulfed in a bitter struggle. This was a conflict that has had a profound effect on the course of history, the ramifications of which can still be seen in today's political climate. The impact of such a war onthe people caught up in it was huge and reached far beyond the battles that were won and lost. This was a political war as well as a military war. It was a war that began as a clash of ideologies and became a battle for identity.With chapters written by an international team of nine distinguished historians, all experts in their own fields, this book provides on the one hand a detailed analysis of how the 'War of the Three Kingdoms' was contested in each of the Stuart kingdoms, comparing and contrasting their experiences,and on the other an outline of the various civil wars that were fought within these countries.How were the troops raised, trained, clothed, armed, and fed in countries that had little or no experience of combat?What strategies were used to fight the war?What tactics were used by the generals leading the troops?What role did siege warfare play in the development of the war?What contribution did naval operations make to the course of events on land?How did the war affect the development of military technology during that period?What impact did a decade of brutal war have on the people of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland?What factors led to one side winning and the other loosing?In addition to detailed analysis, the book offers extra material including notes to all chapters, a select bibliography guiding readers to further study, a useful chronology charting events in each of the countries involved against events in the rest of Europe, and an invaluable index.Authoritative, comprehensive, and highly readable, this book provides an indispensable guide to one of the defining periods in British and Irish History.