"Essex - has history been kind to him?" Topic
10 Posts
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Action Log
30 Jul 2025 9:27 p.m. PST
by Editor in Chief Bill
- Changed title from "Essex- has history been kind to him?" to "Essex - has history been kind to him?"
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| Field Marshal | 24 Aug 2009 4:08 a.m. PST |
Whats the modern take on Essex? I believe he was good general whose heart wasnt truly in the fight dragging on especially after the carnage of First Newbury. What cannot be doubted is his personal bravery exemplified by fighting in the front with pike at Edgehill and the cavalry charge he led at First Newbury.
I think he is forced into the shadow of Cromwell and Fairfax and was a moderate in the parliamentary faction but the "extremists" (for want of a better word) came to dominate the roundhead cause and Essex was on the outer. Whats your take? I am only new to this period and so my reading is limited, I am more than happy to be corrected! |
| Pictors Studio | 24 Aug 2009 5:32 a.m. PST |
I think it is difficult to say that it was just the political aspect of his generalship that put him on the outs. There were opportunities that he missed to press advantages and his dilly dallying at times ended up putting him in some tight spots. Overall I don't think he was a bad general but his eclipse by Fairfax was not political, Essex did not really have the agressiveness or energy to do the job properly at the time. Maybe his political leanings were a part of it, maybe he was sick of war, maybe he lacked the imagination. Ultimately he was not getting the job done as efficiently as others were and his replacement is something that can be explained without the resort to politics. |
| Grizwald | 24 Aug 2009 6:03 a.m. PST |
"He has a line of minis named after him while Fairfax does not." Actually they're named for the county where the company is based rather than the eponymous Earl. :-) |
| Lee Brilleaux | 24 Aug 2009 7:27 a.m. PST |
Mike, I note that your humour detector has been calibrated incorrectly. |
| Grizwald | 24 Aug 2009 7:38 a.m. PST |
"Mike, I note that your humour detector has been calibrated incorrectly." You obviously didn't notice the emoticon at the end of my post!! |
| Plynkes | 24 Aug 2009 10:54 a.m. PST |
Not a huge fan, but he was The Artilleryman in Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds, so he gets a pass. |
| aecurtis | 24 Aug 2009 11:40 a.m. PST |
Many people used to think highly of Essex, but numerous lines of better-proportioned figures have appeared since, and so they have fallen out of favor. Allen |
| reddrabs | 24 Aug 2009 12:14 p.m. PST |
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| Field Marshal | 24 Aug 2009 2:49 p.m. PST |
Great link reddrabs and a good discussion……I cant help but like Old Robin…..faults and all…. |
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