Sir John, Lord, Byron (1599-1652)

Fierce and intensely loyal Cavalier, honoured by the King, but notorious as the "Bloody Braggadocio" to the Roundheads

The eldest of seven sons of Sir John Byron (d. 1625), a member of an old Lancashire family which had settled at Newstead, near Nottingham. He was knighted in 1625 and sat as MP for Nottinghamshire in the parliaments of 1624 and 1628. Byron gained military experience in the Low Countries during the 1630s and in the Bishops' Wars 1639-40. King Charles appointed him governor of the Tower of London in December 1641, but the House of Commons insisted upon his removal from this office early the following year.

Byron was active in the King's cause from the very beginning of the First Civil War. In August 1642 he attempted to fortify the city of Oxford in the King's name. At the approach of superior Parliamentarian forces, however, he made off with a quantity of college silver and withdrew to Worcester. Prince Rupert covered his withdrawal from Worcester to join up with the King's main army, resulting in the skirmish at Powick Bridge in September 1642. The following month Byron commanded a regiment of horse at the battle of Edgehill, at which all seven of the Byron brothers are said to have been present fighting for the King. Against orders, Byron joined the pursuit of the fleeing Parliamentarian horse which Prince Rupert and Lord Wilmot scattered in the opening stages, thus leaving the Royalists with no cavalry in the field for most of the battle.

Byron fought with greater distinction in July 1643 at the battle of Roundway Down, riding with Prince Maurice and Lord Wilmot to relieve Sir Ralph Hopton's beleagured army. Byron's charge shattered the Parliamentarian cavalry and greatly contributed to Sir William Waller's "dismal defeat". Byron also distinguished himself at the first battle of Newbury in September 1643, where his cavalry succeeded in gaining the summit of the Parliamentarian position on Round Hill before being driven back through lack of infantry support. In recognition of his services, King Charles created him Lord Byron of Rochdale in October 1643 and appointed him commander of Royalist forces in Lancashire and Cheshire.

With his army reinforced by the first contingents of troops to be brought over from Ireland to fight for the King, Byron made considerable progress against Parliament's commander in Cheshire, Sir William Brereton. Amongst Parliamentarians, Byron gained a reputation as the "Bloody Braggadocio" after boasting in an intercepted letter to the Marquis of Newcastle about the massacre of a detachment of Brereton's forces who had taken refuge in Barthomley Church and who refused to surrender at Byron's first summons. Early in 1644, Sir Thomas Fairfax crossed the Pennines and joined forces with Brereton to inflict a decisive defeat on Byron at the battle of Nantwich, January 1644.

After Nantwich, Byron withdrew to Chester where he was appointed governor by Prince Rupert. In May 1644 he joined Rupert on the "York March" which culminated in the decisive battle of Marston Moor, July 1644. Byron commanded the Royalist right wing but his forces were routed by Cromwell's Ironsides. After Marston Moor, Byron retired to Chester which he defended until February 1646 when he surrendered to Sir William Brereton.

On the outbreak of the Second Civil War, Byron returned from exile and declared for the King on Anglesey. He attempted to incite a Royalist uprising in Wales to support the Engager invasion of England, then escaped back to France when the Engagers were defeated. Byron remained at the court-in-exile of Charles II until his death in August 1652. Although twice married, Byron left no children and the title passed to his brother Richard (1605-1679), who had been governor of Newark 1643-5.

His descendant the 6th Lord Byron (1788-1824) was the great romantic poet, "mad, bad and dangerous to know."



	Sir John, Lord, Byron (1599-1652) Fierce and intensely loyal Cavalier, honoured by the King, but notorious as the "Bloody Braggadocio" to the Roundheads The eldest of seven sons of Sir John Byron (d. 1625), a member of an old Lancashire family which had settled at Newstead, near Nottingham. He was knighted in 1625 and sat as MP for Nottinghamshire in the parliaments of 1624 and 1628. Byron gained military experience in the Low Countries during the 1630s and in the Bishops' Wars 1639-40. King Charles appointed him governor of the Tower of London in December 1641, but the House of Commons insisted upon his removal from this office early the following year. Byron was active in the King's cause from the very beginning of the First Civil War. In August 1642 he attempted to fortify the city of Oxford in the King's name. At the approach of superior Parliamentarian forces, however, he made off with a quantity of college silver and withdrew to Worcester. Prince Rupert covered his withdrawal from Worcester to join up with the King's main army, resulting in the skirmish at Powick Bridge in September 1642. The following month Byron commanded a regiment of horse at the battle of Edgehill, at which all seven of the Byron brothers are said to have been present fighting for the King. Against orders, Byron joined the pursuit of the fleeing Parliamentarian horse which Prince Rupert and Lord Wilmot scattered in the opening stages, thus leaving the Royalists with no cavalry in the field for most of the battle. Byron fought with greater distinction in July 1643 at the battle of Roundway Down, riding with Prince Maurice and Lord Wilmot to relieve Sir Ralph Hopton's beleagured army. Byron's charge shattered the Parliamentarian cavalry and greatly contributed to Sir William Waller's "dismal defeat". Byron also distinguished himself at the first battle of Newbury in September 1643, where his cavalry succeeded in gaining the summit of the Parliamentarian position on Round Hill before being driven back through lack of infantry support. In recognition of his services, King Charles created him Lord Byron of Rochdale in October 1643 and appointed him commander of Royalist forces in Lancashire and Cheshire. With his army reinforced by the first contingents of troops to be brought over from Ireland to fight for the King, Byron made considerable progress against Parliament's commander in Cheshire, Sir William Brereton. Amongst Parliamentarians, Byron gained a reputation as the "Bloody Braggadocio" after boasting in an intercepted letter to the Marquis of Newcastle about the massacre of a detachment of Brereton's forces who had taken refuge in Barthomley Church and who refused to surrender at Byron's first summons. Early in 1644, Sir Thomas Fairfax crossed the Pennines and joined forces with Brereton to inflict a decisive defeat on Byron at the battle of Nantwich, January 1644. After Nantwich, Byron withdrew to Chester where he was appointed governor by Prince Rupert. In May 1644 he joined Rupert on the "York March" which culminated in the decisive battle of Marston Moor, July 1644. Byron commanded the Royalist right wing but his forces were routed by Cromwell's Ironsides. After Marston Moor, Byron retired to Chester which he defended until February 1646 when he surrendered to Sir William Brereton. On the outbreak of the Second Civil War, Byron returned from exile and declared for the King on Anglesey. He attempted to incite a Royalist uprising in Wales to support the Engager invasion of England, then escaped back to France when the Engagers were defeated. Byron remained at the court-in-exile of Charles II until his death in August 1652. Although twice married, Byron left no children and the title passed to his brother Richard (1605-1679), who had been governor of Newark 1643-5. His descendant the 6th Lord Byron (1788-1824) was the great romantic poet, "mad, bad and dangerous to know."