'The Battle of Edge-hill, 1642', (late 17th century). The Battle of Edgehill (or Edge Hill) was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War, fought on on Sunday, 23 October 1642 in southern Warwickshire. Royalist cavalry for King Charles I (1600-1649), under Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619-1682) routed the cavalry of Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex (1591-1646) vanguard at the Battle of Powick Bridge.