Why was Oxford a divided city during the Civil War?

Religously the divide round the city was very much the same divide as it was Politically. Many Parlimentarians were Puritans and wanted to purify the Church of England as they strongly belived that Archbishop William Laud and the king were trying to make the Church too much like a Catholic Church. King Charles and his wife, French queen Henrietta Maria, were dedicated Catholics and so had the support again from the University who were also firm Catholics. Everyone knows the rivalry between Purtitans and Catholics, add the Political segregation and this divison was made a lot stronger.

Economically though Charles split all religious and Political divides. He confiscated people’s wealth, which wasn’t liked at all. He also forced people to share or even give up their homes to soliders who needed shelter. The people that Charles did this to were mainly poor people. The King also deceived the poor people by giving richer companys monopolys. This ment that poorer companys couldn’t compete with larger, richer companys as these monopolys were set in place.

Some people did benefit from the King and more specifically the soliders and courtiers. Publicans trade was through the roof as the soldiers and courtiers would be in the pub every night or so.

Of course the main and most famous divide all the way through the city was the Town and Gown divide, which was the foundation of most divides in the city. No matter who you were in the city you were either town or gown. The town are basically the citizens of Oxford and the Gown are the Oxford University. The rivalry had existed for centuries and had been a divide long before the civil war had started. The Town and Gown divide was also much like the economical divide, as the dons and scholars from the University were very rich and led magnificent lifestyles. By comparison though the Town were comparatively poor. This is also linked Religously as most members of the University were High Anglicans.

As the Civil War approached, it was clear that the University were going to support King Charles. It was not suprising; therefore, that many townsfolk were going to support Parliament.

In conclusion, divisions were made all the way throught the city. All linked in some way. The Gown were rich, heavy puritans and much in favour of the king. The Town were poor, mostly Catholic and supported Parliament. There were exceptions to these divides, not all townsfolk were poor and not every gown were puritan, but mainly these were the divides throughout the city of Oxford.