Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who led the parliamentary forces in the English Civil War and ruled the country as the Lord Protector. He is one of the most controversial figures in British history.
Early Life and Education
Cromwell was born in Huntingdon in 1599 into a family of the gentry. He was educated at the grammar school and at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
He was a devout Puritan and a member of the parliament. He sat in the parliaments of 1628 and 1640.
He was a landowner and a farmer in the eastern counties. He became the leader of the parliamentary group in the county.
The English Civil War
Cromwell raised a cavalry troop for the parliament at the outbreak of the civil war in 1642. He became the commander of the New Model Army.
He led the parliamentary forces to the victories against the royalists. The army defeated the king and captured him.
He was one of the signatories of the death warrant of King Charles I in 1649. The king was executed in January of that year.
He led the campaigns in Ireland and in Scotland. The campaigns were marked by the massacres at Drogheda and Wexford.
The Protectorate
Cromwell dismissed the parliament in 1653 and was installed as the Lord Protector. He ruled the country as the head of the republic.
He governed with the council and the parliaments of his own choosing. He divided the country into the military districts under the major-generals.
He promoted the religious tolerance for the Protestant sects. He also promoted the education and the reform of the law.
He refused the offer of the crown in 1657. He remained the Lord Protector until his death.
The Death and the Legacy
Cromwell died in 1658 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His son Richard succeeded him but was unable to govern.
The monarchy was restored in 1660 and the body of Cromwell was exhumed and executed. The head was displayed on a pole.
He is a deeply divisive figure in the British history. He is regarded as a tyrant by some and as a defender of the liberty by others.
He is commemorated by the statue outside the parliament in London. The debate over his legacy continues to the present day.
The New Model Army
Cromwell was one of the founders of the New Model Army. The army was the professional force that became the instrument of the parliamentary victory.
He created the cavalry regiment that was known as the Ironsides. The regiment was the model of the discipline and the efficiency.
He insisted on the merit and the religious conviction. He appointed the officers on the basis of their ability rather than their birth.
The Rule of the Protector
Cromwell ruled the country as the Lord Protector from 1653. He governed with the council and the parliaments.
He divided the country into the military districts under the major-generals. The rule was unpopular and was criticised as the military dictatorship.
He refused the offer of the crown in 1657. He remained the Lord Protector until his death.
The Rise in the Parliament
Cromwell was a member of the parliaments of 1628 and 1640. He was a devout Puritan and a critic of the king.
He raised the cavalry troop for the parliament in 1642. He became the commander of the New Model Army.
He led the forces to the victories against the royalists. He was one of the signatories of the death warrant of the king.
The Campaigns in Ireland and Scotland
Cromwell led the campaigns in Ireland in 1649. The campaigns were marked by the massacres at Drogheda and Wexford.
He led the campaign in Scotland against the supporters of the king. He defeated the Scottish army and the resistance ended.
The campaigns established the control of the parliamentary forces over the British Isles. The legacy of the campaigns is the subject of the continuing debate.
The Death and the Restoration
Cromwell died in 1658 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His son Richard was unable to govern.
The monarchy was restored in 1660 under Charles II. The body of Cromwell was exhumed and the head was displayed on a pole.
He remains a divisive figure in the British history. He is regarded as a tyrant by some and as a defender of the liberty by others.
The Legacy and the Debate
Cromwell is a deeply divisive figure in the British history. He is regarded as a tyrant by some and as a defender of the liberty by others.
The statue outside the parliament in London commemorates his rule. The debate over his legacy continues to the present day.
He established the military rule and the religious tolerance. The ambiguity of his achievement is the source of the continuing discussion.
See also
- English Civil War
- Puritanism
- Commonwealth
- Lord Protector
References
- ↑ Carlyle, Thomas. Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches. London: Chapman and Hall, 1845.
- ↑ Fraser, Antonia. Cromwell: Our Chief of Men. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1973.
- ↑ Hill, Christopher. God's Englishman. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1970.
- ↑ Morrill, John. Oliver Cromwell and the English Revolution. London: Longman, 1990.