Rupert, Prince (1619-1682), a German nephew of Charles I, served as a cavalry general and later as commander in chief of the Royalist forces in the English Civil War (1642-1648). Early in the war, Rupert’s dashing cavalry charges were the most powerful weapon of the Royalist forces. But his cavalry lacked discipline. The Parliamentary cavalry learned to take advantage of Rupert’s recklessness.
Rupert was born on Dec. 17, 1619, in Prague, in what was then Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). He fought in the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) before joining the army of Charles I in 1642. In the Civil War, Rupert took part in many sieges and battles, including Edgehill (1642), Newbury (1643), and Marston Moor (1644). Despite his bravery, he achieved little success against the superior might of the Parliamentary forces. In November 1644, Rupert was named commander in chief of the Royalist forces. He suffered a major defeat at Naseby in June 1645 before surrendering the stronghold of Bristol in September of that year and being replaced as commander.
In late 1648, Rupert took command of the Royalist fleet. Robert Blake, the admiral of the Parliamentary fleet, defeated him in 1650. Rupert then spent two years as a pirate in the West Indies and eight more in Europe before returning to England in 1660. He fought as an admiral in battles against the Netherlands in the late 1600’s.
Rupert was an amateur scientist. He was a pioneer of mezzotint, a method of copperplate engraving, and made several improvements in guns and cannons. Rupert was an early member of the Royal Society. He helped finance exploration in the Hudson Bay area of North America and was a founder of the Hudson’s Bay Company. He died on Nov. 29, 1682.
