For King and State: The Ashburnham Family in the Times of the English Civil War

This thesis deals with the history of the Ashburnham family during the English Civil War. The research is based primarily on the examination of published and unpublished archival sources. The first chapter outlines the origin of the Ashburnham family from their arrival in England, probably with the troops of William the Conqueror, until the early seventeenth century when their prosperity came from the processing of iron. The diploma thesis also analyses the reasons that caused the outbreak of the English Civil War. The core of the thesis is focused on the relationship between John Ashburnham and Charles I, mainly on king's escape from Hampton Court to the Isle of Wight in 1647 and John's part in it. Although the history of the Ashburnhams is followed mainly during the times of the English Civil War, the thesis also covers the period following the execution of Charles I focusing on the social and financial situation of the Ashburnham family. The thesis is concluded with the post-war settlement of Charles II with the Ashburnhams and the short-and-long term consequences on their family resulting from their involvement in the English Civil War