James King (soldier)
Encyclopedia
James King, 1st Lord Eythin (1589–1652) was a Scottish
soldier, who served in the Swedish
army, and who later supported King Charles I
in the English Civil War
.
He was born on Warbester Hoy, in the Orkney Islands
. He was recruited into the Swedish Army in 1615, and in 1622 he was a Captain in Ruthven
's regiment. In 1636, he was a Major General and commanded the left wing of the Swedish Army at the Battle of Wittstock
. Two years later, as a Lieutenant General, he was defeated at the Battle of Vlotho
. Prince Rupert of the Rhine
was captured by the victorious Imperialists. It was unfortunate that King blamed Rupert's boldness for the defeat, while Rupert in turn blamed King's caution.
After quarrels with the Swedish commanders, King was sidelined to duties in Stockholm
, although he was ennobled. He travelled to Hamburg
in 1639, where King Charles
employed him initially as a military recruiter. He sat out the Bishops' Wars
between England under Charles and the Scottish Covenanter
s, thus avoiding conflict with his long-time comrade, Alexander Leslie
. Indeed his actions may have been sanctioned by Leslie who appeared to constantly protect him in the Scottish Parliament.
After the Civil War broke out in England, King was created Lord Eythin and was despatched to the continent once more to recruit experienced soldiers from the various European armies and acquire munitions. He returned to England in the suite of Queen Henrietta Maria. Landing at Bridlington
, he was appointed Lieutenant General to the Marquess of Newcastle
.
On 2 July 1644, Prince Rupert relieved York
, where Newcastle's army had been besieged. He summoned Newcastle's troops to join him on Marston Moor, where he was preparing for battle with the Covenanter and Parliamentarian
besiegers. The meeting in the late afternoon between Rupert and King was apparently chilly. King fatefully dissuaded Rupert from attacking so late in the day, and from redeploying to a better defensive position. In the subsequent Battle of Marston Moor
, the Royalist
army was destroyed. Newcastle and his senior officers, among them King, went into exile in Hamburg
.
In March 1650 he was to have taken part as Lieutenant General in Montrose
’s expedition which initially landed in the Orkney Islands, but did not succeed in enlisting any men. He died in Stockholm, and was given a state funeral.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
soldier, who served in the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
army, and who later supported King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
He was born on Warbester Hoy, in the Orkney Islands
Orkney Islands
Orkney also known as the Orkney Islands , is an archipelago in northern Scotland, situated north of the coast of Caithness...
. He was recruited into the Swedish Army in 1615, and in 1622 he was a Captain in Ruthven
Patrick Ruthven, 1st Earl of Brentford
Patrick Ruthven, 1st Earl of Brentford and 1st Earl of Forth was a Scottish nobleman, general, and diplomat.Patrick Ruthven distinguished himself in the service of Sweden, which he entered about 1609 and left 1637...
's regiment. In 1636, he was a Major General and commanded the left wing of the Swedish Army at the Battle of Wittstock
Battle of Wittstock
The Battle of Wittstock took place during the Thirty Years' War . It was fought on 24 September or 4 October 1636. A Swedish-allied army under general Johan Baner decisively defeated a combined Imperial-Saxon army, led by Count Melchior von Hatzfeld and the Saxon Elector John George I...
. Two years later, as a Lieutenant General, he was defeated at the Battle of Vlotho
Battle of Vlotho
The Battle of Vlotho was the culmination of an attempt by Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine to launch a campaign with the aim of recapturing the Rhenish Palatinate. Charles Louis' defeat marked the last time either Palatine or English forces played an important role in the Thirty Years'...
. Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, KG, FRS was a noted soldier, admiral, scientist, sportsman, colonial governor and amateur artist during the 17th century...
was captured by the victorious Imperialists. It was unfortunate that King blamed Rupert's boldness for the defeat, while Rupert in turn blamed King's caution.
After quarrels with the Swedish commanders, King was sidelined to duties in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, although he was ennobled. He travelled to Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
in 1639, where King Charles
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
employed him initially as a military recruiter. He sat out the Bishops' Wars
Bishops' Wars
The Bishops' Wars , were conflicts, both political and military, which occurred in 1639 and 1640 centred around the nature of the governance of the Church of Scotland, and the rights and powers of the Crown...
between England under Charles and the Scottish Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s, thus avoiding conflict with his long-time comrade, Alexander Leslie
Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven
Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven was a Scottish soldier in Dutch, Swedish and Scottish service. Born illegitimate and raised as a foster child, he subsequently advanced to the rank of a Dutch captain, a Swedish Field Marshal, and in Scotland became lord general in command of the Covenanters,...
. Indeed his actions may have been sanctioned by Leslie who appeared to constantly protect him in the Scottish Parliament.
After the Civil War broke out in England, King was created Lord Eythin and was despatched to the continent once more to recruit experienced soldiers from the various European armies and acquire munitions. He returned to England in the suite of Queen Henrietta Maria. Landing at Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
, he was appointed Lieutenant General to the Marquess of Newcastle
William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle
William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne KG KB PC was an English polymath and aristocrat, having been a poet, equestrian, playwright, swordsman, politician, architect, diplomat and soldier...
.
On 2 July 1644, Prince Rupert relieved York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, where Newcastle's army had been besieged. He summoned Newcastle's troops to join him on Marston Moor, where he was preparing for battle with the Covenanter and Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
besiegers. The meeting in the late afternoon between Rupert and King was apparently chilly. King fatefully dissuaded Rupert from attacking so late in the day, and from redeploying to a better defensive position. In the subsequent Battle of Marston Moor
Battle of Marston Moor
The Battle of Marston Moor was fought on 2 July 1644, during the First English Civil War of 1642–1646. The combined forces of the Scottish Covenanters under the Earl of Leven and the English Parliamentarians under Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester defeated the Royalists commanded by Prince...
, the Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
army was destroyed. Newcastle and his senior officers, among them King, went into exile in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
.
In March 1650 he was to have taken part as Lieutenant General in Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
’s expedition which initially landed in the Orkney Islands, but did not succeed in enlisting any men. He died in Stockholm, and was given a state funeral.