Civil Affairs in the 17th Century: Civil–Military Relations During the English Civil War

Civil affairs is becoming an increasingly important part of the special operations force structure. Its development during the 20th century represents the formalization of historical trends in civil-military operations. The principles of these operations can be seen much earlier in history. This report seeks to detail examples of civil-military operations conducted during the English Civil War and tie them to current trends in 21st century doctrine and operations. In particular, this paper examines English garrison operations as a form of military government. The process of quartering and sustaining troops required the cooperation of the civilian population. This was made efficient through the deliberate maintenance of good relations through various measures. While the process of impressment of goods and the contribution system created certain discontent it was mediated by a strict policy against looting and other offenses. This paper examines case studies of garrison commanders, both Royalists and Parliamentarians, in their interactions with the civil populace. These case studies demonstrate that the English Civil War, unlike the Thirty Years War, represented a less violent approach to civil-military relations. Garrison commanders heard civilian petitions, regulated soldiers’ conduct, and reimbursed civilians for damages. The garrison itself brought a new economy to the English countryside. Soldiers provided monetary supply to local businesses, as long as they paid for the services rendered. The presence of a garrison or company of soldiers overall provided a better situation for local inhabitants of an area. The English Civil War stands as an example of civil-affairs principles in the seventeenth century.

The poster will be arranged using images of contemporary correspondence and account records collected through archival research. In addition, other relevant imagery will be displayed with appropriate captions. Select excerpts of text written by the author will be included in order to provide synthesis to the collected evidence.