BattlefieldsHull Magazine Dispute — Charles I Refused Entry April 1642
English Civil War

Hull Magazine Dispute — Charles I Refused Entry April 1642

1642
England
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Charles I
Forces
Hull garrison under Hotham loyal to Parliament
VS
Victor
Parliament
Forces
Charles I with royalist retinue
Outcome
Charles I refused entry to Hull; Hotham held for Parliament; king declared Hotham a traitor; first armed standoff of the Civil War
The Battle

History & Significance

In April 1642, Charles I attempted to gain control of the large military magazine stored at Hull, which contained arms and ammunition from the Bishops Wars. Governor Sir John Hotham refused the king entry to the city on orders of Parliament on 23 April 1642. This was the first time a royal command was openly defied in military terms, with the king declared a traitor by his own governor. The Hull magazine dispute is often cited as the practical opening of the Civil War.

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