The Stars at War: How Astrologers Shaped the English Civil War

The 17th century was a time when the heavens and politics collided in extraordinary ways. While modern historians often focus on the religious tensions and constitutional struggles that led to the English Civil War, there's a fascinating undercurrent that's frequently overlooked: the profound influence of astrologers during this tumultuous period.

When the Stars Aligned Against the King

The 1640s in England weren't just marked by parliamentary rebellion and royal intransigence—they were a time when celestial events were seen as divine commentary on earthly affairs. As Charles I's relationship with Parliament deteriorated, astrologers across the country were busy interpreting the movements of planets and stars, finding cosmic justification for political positions.

"Most folk today would scoff at the notion of Mars in Scorpio influencing battlefield outcomes," noted our researcher at Wilfred Hazelwood during a recent study of 17th-century manuscripts. "But in Civil War England, these predictions carried the weight of scientific certainty."

William Lilly, perhaps the most celebrated astrologer of the period, published his 'Christian Astrology' in 1647—a masterwork that continues to influence modern practice. But it was his earlier predictions about parliamentary victory that truly cemented his reputation. When Parliament's New Model Army triumphed at Naseby in 1645, Lilly had already foretold it in his almanacs. Coincidence? His contemporaries thought not.

Prophets and Profits: The Business of Wartime Prediction

Astrology wasn't merely spiritual guidance during the Civil War—it was big business. Almanacs sold thousands of copies, making them the bestsellers of their day. One contemporary publisher grumbled they "sold better than the Bible itself," which, in deeply religious 17th-century England, was saying something.

These slim volumes contained everything from weather forecasts to political predictions, all based on astrological calculations. During uncertain times, people craved certainty. Even if that certainty came from the stars.

The industry was remarkably partisan. Royalist astrologers like George Wharton published predictions favourable to the king, while parliamentarian star-gazers like Lilly and John Booker foresaw triumph for Oliver Cromwell and his allies.

"You'd have folk from Shrewsbury to Canterbury picking their news sources based on which cosmic interpretation suited their politics," explains Dr. Judith Marsh of Oxford University. "Ain't so different from how we consume news today, is it?"

The King's Last Horoscope

Charles I himself was deeply superstitious and, like many monarchs before him, kept court astrologers close. The irony wasn't lost on his contemporaries—a king who believed in divine right also sought confirmation from the stars.

In the days before his January 1649 execution, rumours swirled that the king had his horoscope cast one final time. The astrologer—whose name is lost to history—reportedly predicted that the king would not live to see February. A safe bet, given the circumstances, but it demonstrates how enmeshed astrological prediction had become in political reality.

One particularly grim account from the Tower of London suggests Charles spent his final evening studying not just his Bible, but astrological charts that had followed him throughout his reign. His little piece of cosmic comfort as the axe loomed.

Celestial Propaganda: Stars as Political Weapons

The competing astrological interpretations of the period served as sophisticated propaganda tools. When a solar eclipse darkened English skies in 1639, both sides claimed it as an omen supporting their cause.

Parliamentary astrologers declared it represented the "dimming of monarchical glory," while royalist interpreters saw it as "heaven's temporary darkness before the restoration of royal light."

William Lilly's famous 1651 pamphlet, "Monarchy or No Monarchy in England," included woodcut illustrations that seemed to prophesy the Great Fire of London—fifteen years before it happened. This eerie accuracy only enhanced the credibility of astrological prediction among the populace.

"These weren't just fortune-tellers," notes historian Simon Jenkins. "They were the political commentators and spin doctors of their day, packaging complex political messages in cosmic wrapping."

Cromwell's Secret Star-Gazer

Despite publicly denouncing superstition, evidence suggests Oliver Cromwell—the staunchly Puritan Lord Protector who replaced the monarchy—consulted astrologers privately. Military campaigns were timed to coincide with favourable celestial alignments, and his personal correspondence includes veiled references to "consulting the heavens" before major decisions.

This contradiction speaks volumes about the period—even those who publicly rejected astrological guidance often secretly sought it. Court records show that Cromwell met with William Lilly at least three times between 1650 and 1654, though the content of these meetings remained strictly confidential.

"Cromwell was pragmatic above all else," writes Professor Thomas Kendrick in his exploration of 17th-century occult practices. "If the stars could give him an edge, he'd take it—while condemning others for the same practice."

The Restoration's Cosmic Timing

When monarchy was restored in 1660, astrologers once again found themselves useful. Charles II's return had been predicted years earlier by several prominent star-gazers who had carefully hedged their bets during the Interregnum.

The new king was less interested in astrological guidance than his father had been, but he understood its propaganda value. His coronation date was selected with astrological considerations in mind, scheduled when Jupiter—the king of planets—was prominently positioned.

"The perfect cosmic moment for a king to reclaim his throne," declared royal astrologer John Gadbury, conveniently overlooking his previous support for Cromwell.

The Legacy in the Stars

The influence of Civil War astrologers extended far beyond their lifetimes. Their publications—thousands of almanacs, pamphlets, and books—provide historians with invaluable insights into how ordinary people understood the tumultuous events unfolding around them.

In some ways, these astrological texts offer a more intimate window into 17th-century minds than formal historical records. They capture hopes, fears, and the desperate human need to find meaning in chaos.

"When we examine Lilly's predictions alongside parliamentary records, we get this remarkable stereoscopic view of the period," says Dr. Eleanor Ruston of Cambridge University. "The formal documentation tells us what happened; the astrological texts tell us how people felt about it."

The practice didn't diminish after the war, either. Astrological almanacs remained popular throughout the Restoration period and beyond. As late as the 18th century, political decisions were still being influenced by celestial considerations—though increasingly behind closed doors as the Enlightenment made such beliefs less fashionable among the educated classes.

Today, the astrological dimensions of the English Civil War remain a fascinating footnote in history—one that reminds us how closely politics, religion, and what we might now call pseudoscience were once intertwined.

Perhaps next time you check your horoscope, spare a thought for those Civil War astrologers—political kingmakers who found revolution and restoration written in the stars.