<P> Having learned of the King 's actions in Nottingham , Parliament dispatched its own army northward under the Earl of Essex , to confront the King . Essex marched first to Northampton , where he mustered almost 20,000 men . Learning of the King 's move westwards , Essex then marched north - westwards towards Worcester . On 23 September , in the first clash between the main Royalist and Parliamentarian armies , Royalist cavalry under Prince Rupert of the Rhine routed the cavalry of Essex 's vanguard at the Battle of Powick Bridge . Nevertheless , lacking infantry , the Royalists abandoned Worcester . </P>
<P> Having learned of the King 's actions in Nottingham , Parliament dispatched its own army northward under the Earl of Essex , to confront the King . Essex marched first to Northampton , where he mustered almost 20,000 men . Learning of the King 's move westwards , Essex then marched north - westwards towards Worcester . On 23 September , in the first clash between the main Royalist and Parliamentarian armies , Royalist cavalry under Prince Rupert of the Rhine routed the cavalry of Essex 's vanguard at the Battle of Powick Bridge . Nevertheless , lacking infantry , the Royalists abandoned Worcester . </P>
first major battle of the english civil war
first major battle of the english civil war
Battle of Powick Bridge
Battle of Powick Bridge