All major wars produce exceptional people, whether by circumstance or choice these people by force of character, bravery, tenaciousness, or a combination of these attributes are able to influence the outcome of major battles or play some other role in helping to bring about defeat on the common enemy.
One such person was Thomas Fairfax an early supporter of Parliaments cause, this man was influential in moulding the New Model Army into a disciplined and efficient fighting force, which would be the deciding factor in bringing about victory against the Royalist army at Naseby.
Some information about the man.
Nickname(s) Black Tom Rider of the White Horse
Born 17 January 1612 Denton Hall, Yorkshire (1612-01-17)
Battles/wars Battle of Marston Moor, Battle of Naseby, Siege of Oxford, Siege of Colchester, Suppression of Leveller mutiny
Died November 12, 1671, Nun Appleton Priory
Parents Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Education St John's College, Cambridge
Fairfax introduced some radical ideas for the New Model Army such as Officers being promoted on their individual merits and abilities rather than on the basis of their family background, this was a stroke of genius given the hierarchical nature of society at that time, this led to motivated and committed men leading from the front;.
Not only were soldiers in the New Model payed regularly, another motivational factor which helped the men and also may have helped in preventing looting on the populace at large at least to some extent. Discipline amongst the common soldier and their leaders was vital and Fairfax made sure to instill this and later at Naseby not to make the same mistake his opposite number made in chasing a fleeing enemy from the field of battle.
Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Rupert won a reputation as a dashing cavalry commander and was a soldier through and through, unfortunately his perceived arrogance distanced him from other Royalist Commanders, he could be hot headed and his decision to pursue a fleeing enemy from the field of battle was a lesson well learnt by his opponent Fairfax.
Born 17 December 1619 Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia (1619-12-17)
Burial Westminster Abbey, London, England
Issue Dudley Bard (1666–86) Ruperta Howe (1671–1740)
House Palatinate-Simmern branch of the House of Wittelsbach
Occupation Soldier, statesman, privateer and scientist
Died November 29, 1682, Westminster, United Kingdom
Parents Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, Frederick V, Elector Palatine
To the left Thomas Fairfax and Prince Rupert.