Oliver Cromwell: Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector In 1649, after the proclamation of the republican Commonwealth, Cromwell led a punitive expedition into Ireland, especially remembered for the massacre of the royalist garrison at Drogheda. He then initiated a policy of systematic dispossession of the Irish, transferring their lands to Protestant proprietors. In 1650 he invaded Scotland and routed the Scottish royalists at Dunbar; later he defeated the Scots and Charles II himself at Worcester (1651) and left the rest of the conquest of Scotland to Gen. George Monck. Cromwell, now virtual dictator of the Commonwealth, dissolved the Rump Parliament in 1653 after it had failed to effect reforms demanded by the army and had sought to perpetuate its power. His attempt to replace it by the Nominated (Barebone's) Parliament (see Barebone, Praise-God ), appointed by himself from nominations of the Independent congregations, resulted in a reckless, hopelessly divided body that was finally forced to dissolve itself. A group of army officers then drew up the constitutional document known as the Instrument of Government (1653), by which Cromwell became lord protector (see Protectorate ).

The Parliament of 1654, which was elected under the terms of the same document, wanted to prepare a new constitution and was soon dissolved. After that Cromwell resorted to open military government, dividing England into 11 districts, each administered by a major-general. Another, more amenable Parliament was summoned in 1656, and in 1657 it presented to Cromwell a new constitution known as the Humble Petition and Advice and offered him the crown. He declined the crown but accepted (with some modifications) the Humble Petition, which further increased his power and set up a second legislative chamber. The second session of this same Parliament, however, challenged the new constitution, and Cromwell dissolved it (1658) seven months before his death. Cromwell's foreign policy was governed by the need to expand English trade and prevent the restoration of the Stuarts, and by the desire to build up a Protestant league and enhance the prestige of the English republic.

He approved the Navigation Act of 1651, which led to the first (1652–54) of the Dutch Wars , and he pressed the war against Spain (1655–58) as a means of encroaching on Spanish rights of colonization in America. The Dutch war resulted in several important naval victories for the English under Admiral Robert Blake , but the Spanish war, apart from the sinking of a Spanish fleet (also by Blake), brought only Jamaica and imposed a great strain on English finances.

Sections in this article: Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England (1599-1658) | Familypedia | Fandom powered by Wikia Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England (1599-1658) 217,338pages on Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, was born 25 April 1599 in Huntingdon , Cambridgeshire , England to Robert Cromwell of Huntingdon (1560-1617) and Elizabeth Steward\Stewart (c1565-1654) and died 3 September 1658 in Whitehall , Greater London , England of unspecified causes. He married Elizabeth Bourchier (c1597-c1665) 22 August 1620 in St.Giles Cripplegate , Greater London , England . Ancestors are from the United Kingdom , Wales .

Contents Offspring of Oliver Cromwell and Elizabeth Bourchier (c1597-c1665) Name Partly expert discussion of his ancestors and some of their descendants Extended detail (originally from Wikipedia) Oliver Cromwell (born in Huntingdon on 25 April 1599 , died 3 September 1658 ) was an English military leader and politician. After leading the overthrow of the British monarchy , he ruled England , Scotland , and Ireland as Lord Protector from 16 December 1653 until his death, which is believed to have been due either to malaria or poisoning . At the outset of the English Civil War , Cromwell began his military career by raising a cavalry troop, known as the Ironsides Cavalry , which became the basis of his New Model Army . Cromwell's leadership in the Battle of Marston Moor (in 1644 ) brought him to great prominence. As a leader of the Parliamentarian cause, and commander of the New Model Army , (informally known as the Roundheads ), he defeated King Charles I , thus bringing to an end the monarchy 's claims to absolute power.

In 2003 , Cromwell was ranked 10th in a popular BBC poll of " Great Britons ." Family Oliver Cromwell descended from Catherine Cromwell (born circa 1483 ), an older sister of Tudor statesman Thomas Cromwell . Catherine was married to Morgan ap Williams, son of William ap Yevan and Joan Tudor . There is speculation that Joan was an illegitimate daughter of Jasper Tudor , 1st Duke of Bedford . Although Catherine married, her children kept her name, possibly to maintain their connection with their famous uncle. The family line continued through Richard Cromwell (c. 1500-1544) , Henry Cromwell (c. 1524-6 January 1603) , then to Oliver's father Robert Cromwell, Esquire (c. 1560 – 1617 ), who married Elizabeth Steward or Stewart ( 1564 – 1654 ) on 25 April 1599 , the day she delivered him a son.

Another interesting feature of the Cromwell bloodline is that the mother's maiden name , unlike the argument above, might have been kept as the surname for a different purpose: to disguise the male side of the family's heritage instead of merely accentuating the female's side from Thomas Cromwell, which heritage goes through the Tudors , de Valois , and Wittelsbach —three royal dynasties of England , France , and the Holy Roman Empire , respectively. Both Edmund and Jasper Tudor were sons of Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois , daughter of Charles VI of France and Isabeau of Bavaria . Catherine was also widow of Henry V of England . Her mother Isabeau was the daughter of Stephan III, Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt and Thadea Visconti . Member of Parliament Having decided against following an uncle to Virginia , Cromwell instead became the Member of Parliament for Huntingdon in the Parliament of 1628 – 1629 . His maiden speech was the defence of a radical democrat who had argued in an unauthorised pamphlet in favour of giving the vote to all men.

He was also prominent in defending the people of The Fens from wealthy landowners who wanted to drive them off their land . Charles I ruled without a Parliament for the next eleven years and alienated many people by his policies of raising extra-parliamentary taxes and imposing his Catholicized vision of Protestantism on the Church of England . When the king was forced by shortage of funds to call a Parliament again in 1640 , Oliver Cromwell was one of many MPs who bitterly opposed voting for any new taxes until the King agreed to govern with the consent of Parliament on both civil and religious issues. The failure to solve this crisis led directly to civil war breaking out between Parliamentarians (supporters of the power of Parliament) and Royalists (supporters of the King). Cromwell was a passionate supporter of the Parliament, primarily on religious grounds. Although not an accomplished speaker, he was prominent in the Parliamentary cause from the outset. He was related to a significant number of members of Parliament by blood or marriage, and his views were influential. When spies identified him as an insider to the revolt against King Charles, and soldiers were sent to arrest him, Cromwell was one of several members absent.

However, he did not become a leader of the Parliamentary cause until well into the civil war, when his military ability brought him to prominence. Although he was later involved in the King's overthrow and execution, Cromwell started the civil war mot as a radical republican, but with the intention of forcing Charles to reign with the consent of Parliament and with a more consensual, Protestant, religious policy. Religious beliefs Cromwell's understanding of religion and politics were very closely intertwined. He was a committed Puritan Protestant , believing that salvation was open to all who obeyed the teachings of the Bible and acted according to their own conscience. He was passionately opposed to the Roman Catholic Church, which he saw as denying the primacy of the Bible in favour of Papal and Clerical authority and which he blamed for tyranny and persecution of Protestants in Europe. For this reason, he was bitterly opposed to Charles I's reforms of the Church of England , which introduced Catholic-style Bishops and Prayer Books in place of Bible study. Cromwell's associations of Catholicism and persecution were deepened with the Irish Rebellion of 1641 , which were marked by massacres (wildly exaggerated in Puritan circles in Britain) by Irish Catholics of English and Scottish Protestant settlers.

This would later be one of the reasons why Cromwell acted so harshly in his military campaign in Ireland. Cromwell was also opposed to the more radical religious groups on the Protestant side in the Civil Wars. Although he co-operated with Quakers and Presbyterians , he was opposed to their authoritarian imposition of their beliefs on other Protestants. He became associated with the "Independent" faction, which argued for religious freedom for all Protestants in a post-war settlement. Finally, Cromwell was also a firm believer in Providentialism - the belief that God was actively directing the affairs of the world through the actions of chosen people. Cromwell believed, during the Civil Wars, that he was one of these people and interpreted victories as indications of God's approval of his actions and defeats as signs that God was directing him in another direction. The Oxford historian Christopher Hill has written a semi-popular account of his influential studies in this area in 'God's Englishman' (Penguin, 1970) Military commander Oliver Cromwell Cromwell's influence as a military commander and politician during the English Civil War dramatically altered the military and the political landscape of the British Isles .

Having joined the Parliamentary Army with no military experience at the age of 43, he recruited a cavalry unit and gained experience and victories in a succession of battles in East Anglia . He famously recruited his officers based on merit rather than on the basis of noble birth, saying: "I would rather have a plain russet-coated captain who knows what he fights for and loves what he knows than that which you call a gentleman and is nothing else". As a result, the New Model Army under Cromwell's command became a centre for political radicals like the Levellers and a myriad of radical religious sects like the Fifth Monarchists . Cromwell had no formal training in military tactics but had an instinctive gift for command. He succeeded on several occasions in outmanouevring Prince Rupert, who was a veteran of European warfare. Cromwell's troops came to respect his bravery and his concern for their well-being. Promoted to General in charge of cavalry for the New Model Army , he trained his men to rapidly regroup after an attack, tactics he first employed with great success at the Battle of Naseby and which showed a very high level of discipline and motivation on the part of his troops.

With successive military victories he gained political power, until he became the leading politician of the time. By the end of the first civil war in 1646, the King was a prisoner of the Parliament. Cromwell, however, commanded the army that had won this victory and as a result was in a position to dictate the future of England. Cromwell showed in the English Civil Wars that he was a brave and daring cavalry commander. However, in the years to come he would also be recognised as an exceptional commander of whole armies. His successful conquests of Ireland and Scotland showed a great mastery of organising supplies and logistics for protracted campaigns in hostile territory. Execution of the king The Parliamentarians, including Cromwell, hoped to reach a compromise settlement with Charles I. However, the King would not accept a solution at odds with his own Divine right doctrines. The so-called " second civil war ", which broke out in 1648 after Charles I 's escape from prison suggested to Cromwell that no compromise with the king would be possible. In 1649, after being tried for treason, Charles I was executed by the Rump Parliament at Whitehall.

Cromwell came under pressure from the radicals among his own officers to execute the King, whom they termed, "Charles Stuart, that man of blood." Many hold Cromwell responsible for the execution of Charles I in January 1649, although there were 59 signatories to the death warrant. However, Cromwell does hold much of the responsibility, as his troops broke into the Parliament's chambers and only permitted the " regicides " - those in favour of Charles' execution - to vote on the matter. Cromwell did not have long to dwell on the future form of government in England however, as he immediately left the country to crush the remaining Royalist strongholds in Ireland and Scotland. Ireland and Scotland See also: Cromwellian conquest of Ireland , Irish Confederate Wars , and Scottish Civil War . Cromwell's actions made him very unpopular in Scotland and Ireland which, as previously independent nations , were effectively conquered by English forces during the civil wars. In particular, Cromwell's brutal suppression of the Royalists in Ireland during 1649 still has a strong resonance for many Irish people. The most enduring symbol of this brutality is the siege of Drogheda in September 1649.

The massacre of nearly 3,500 people in Drogheda after its capture — comprising around 2,700 Royalist soldiers and all the men in the town carrying arms, including some civilians, prisoners, and Catholic priests — is one of the historical memories that has fuelled Irish-English and Catholic- Protestant strife for over three centuries. Ireland The extent of Cromwell's intentions has been strongly debated. For example, it is clear that Cromwell saw the Irish in general as enemies - he justified his sack of Drogheda as revenge for the massacres of Protestant settlers in Ulster in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 calling the massacre, "The righteous judgement of God on these barbarous wretches, who have imbued their hands with so much innocent blood"- and the records of many churches such as Kilkenny Cathedral accuse Cromwell's army of having defaced and desecrated the churches and having stabled the horses in them. On the other hand, it is also clear that on entering Ireland he demanded that no supplies were to be seized from the inhabitants and that everything should be fairly purchased.

It has been claimed 1 that his actual orders at Drogheda followed military protocol of the day where a town or garrison was first given the option to surrender and receive just treatment and the protection of the invading force. The refusal to do this even after the walls had been breached, meant that Cromwell's orders to show no mercy in the treatment of men of arms was inevitable by the standards of the day. This view has been disputed by historians 2 . Cromwell's men committed another infamous massacre at Wexford , when they broke into the town during surrender negotiations and killed over 2000 Irish soldiers and civilians. These two atrocities, while horrifying in their own right, were not exceptional in the war in Ireland since its start in 1641, but are well remembered, even today, because of a concerted propaganda campaign by the Royalists, which portrayed Cromwell as a monster, who indiscriminately slaughtered civilians wherever he went. However, Cromwell himself never accepted that he was responsible for the killing of civilians in Ireland, claiming that he had acted harshly, but only against those "in arms".

In fact, the worst atrocities committed in that country, such as mass evictions, killings and deportation for slave labour to Barbados , were carried out by Cromwell's subordinates after he had left for England. In the wake of the Cromwellian conquest, all Catholic-owned land was confiscated in the Act of Settlement 1652 , the practice of Roman Catholicism was banned, and bounties were offered for priests. Regardless, Ireland remained a Roman Catholic nation as most Irish Catholics refused to abandon their faith. Scotland Cromwell also invaded Scotland in 1650-1651, after the Scots had crowned Charles I 's son as Charles II and tried to re-impose the monarchy on England. Cromwell had been prepared to tolerate an independent Scotland, but had to react after the Scots invaded England. Cromwell was a lot less hostile to Scottish Presbyterians than to Irish Catholics, seeing them as, "His [God's] people, though deceived". Nevertheless, he acted with ruthlessness in Scotland. Despite being outnumbered, his veteran troops smashed Scottish armies at the battles of Dunbar and Worcester and occupied the country.

Cromwell treated the thousands of prisoners of war he took in this campaign very badly, allowing thousands of them to die of disease and deporting others to penal colonies in Barbados . Cromwell's men, under George Monck viciously sacked the town of Dundee , in the manner of Drogheda. During the Commonwealth, Scotland was ruled from England and kept under military occupation , with a line of fortifications sealing off the Highlands from the rest of the country. Presbyterianism was allowed to be practiced as before, but its Kirk did not have the backing of the civil courts to impose its rulings, as previously. In both Scotland and Ireland, Cromwell is remembered as a remorseless and ruthless enemy. However, the reason for the peculiar bitterness that the Irish especially traditionally held for Cromwell's memory has a lot to do with his mass transfer of Catholic-owned property into the hands of his soldiers as with his wartime actions. Political rule Statue of Oliver Cromwell outside the Palace of Westminster, London. In the wake of the Army's 1648 recapture of the King, the monarchy was abolished, and between 1649 and 1653 the country became a republic , a rarity in Europe at that time.

The republic was known as the Commonwealth of England . However, from all accounts, Cromwell actually ruled as a military dictator . Many of Cromwell's actions upon gaining power were decried by some commentators as harsh, unwise, and tyrannical. He was often ruthless in putting down the mutinies which occurred within his own army towards the end of the war (which were sometimes prompted by failure to pay the troops). He showed little sympathy for the Levellers , an egalitarian movement which had contributed greatly to Parliament's cause. (The Leveller point of view had been strongly represented in the Putney Debates held between the various factions of the Army in 1647, just prior to the King's escape. However, many historians, including those on the left, have conceded that the Leveller viewpoint, though attractive to a modern audience, was too far ahead of its time to be a stable basis for government). Cromwell was not prepared to countenance a radical democracy, but as events were to show, could not engineer a stable oligarchic Parliamentary republic either. With the king gone (and with him their common cause), Cromwell's unanimous backing dissolved, and the various factions in Parliament became engaged in infighting.

In a repeat of the actions the former king had taken that had contributed to civil war, Cromwell eventually dismissed the republican Rump Parliament in 1653 and instead took personal control, effectively, as military dictator . Cromwell's power was buttressed by his continuing popularity among the army which he had built up during the civil wars. File:Cromwell8.png Cromwell's absolute insistence on religious freedom, for all except Roman Catholics, led to his encouraging Jews to return to England, 350 years after their banishment by Edward I . This can now be seen as one of his most important achievements. In 1657 Cromwell was offered the crown by a reconstituted parliament, presenting him with a dilemma since he had been instrumental in abolishing the monarchy. After six weeks of deliberation, he rejected the offer, largely because the senior officers in his army threatened to resign if he accepted, but also because it could have placed existing constitutional constraints on his rule. Instead, he was ceremonially installed as Lord Protector at Westminster Abbey , sitting on the former king's throne. The event was practically a coronation and made him king in all but name.

The written constitution even gave him the right to issue noble titles , a device which he soon put to use in much the same fashion as former kings. (A history of the titles is given in Restoration ). Death and posthumous execution Cromwell suffered from malaria and from "stone", a common term for urinary/kidney infections. Yet he was in generally good health. He was struck by a sudden bout of malaria, followed directly by an attack of urinary/kidney symptoms. Although weakened, he was optimistic about the future as were his attendants. A Venetian diplomat, also a physician, was visiting at the time and tracked Cromwell's final illness. It was his opinion that The Lord Protector's personal physicians were mismanaging his health, leading to a rapid decline and death. Within two years of Cromwell's death from malaria on 3 September 1658 , parliament restored Charles II as king, as Cromwell's son Richard Cromwell had proved an unworthy successor.

This should have been the end of the story; but in 1661 Oliver Cromwell's body was exhumed from Westminster Abbey and was subjected to the ritual of a posthumous execution – on January 30, the same date that Charles I had been executed. He was in fact hanged, drawn and quartered . At the end his body was thrown into a pit. His severed head was displayed on a pole outside Westminster Abbey until 1685 . Since then it changed hands several times before eventually being buried in the grounds of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge , in 1960 . Commemoration Despite his treatment upon the Restoration, and an awful reputation in Ireland that lingers to this day, in some sections of society he has gained esteem over the years. As one of British history's most notable parliamentarians, his statue outside the Palace of Westminster is understandable, despite the fact that many of his actions are officially regarded as treasonous. He also has a particular following among Protestant groups, and has retained popularity in Cambridgeshire, where he was known as "Lord of The Fens".

Unusually, in Cambridge , he is commemorated in a painted glass window in Emmanuel United Reformed Church , and St Ives has a statue of him in the town centre. His broader popularity today is evidenced by his ranking as 10th in the BBC poll of " Great Britons ." Quotes Oliver Cromwell "Let us restore the king to his throne, and let the king in future agree to govern with the consent of Parliament. Let us restore the old church, with its bishops, since that is what most of the people want; but since the Puritans and Separatists and Baptists have served us well in the war, let us not persecute them anymore but let them worship as they like, outside of the established church. And so let us have peace and liberty." Oliver Cromwell was the first to coin the phrase " warts and all." Though he did not actually say "warts and all", the phrase comes from a famous conversation that he made to the artist ( Lely ) that was painting his portrait after he became Lord Protector. Cromwell was surprised to see that his rough and undesirable features were glossed over making him look more attractive than he actually was.

The quote is as follows: "Mr Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint your picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughness, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me. Otherwise, I will never pay a farthing for it." Miscellaneous In 1989, Monty Python wrote a song called "Oliver Cromwell" , which told the entire career of Cromwell to the tune of Frederic Chopin 's Polonaise Op.53 in A flat major. It is available on their compilation album Monty Python Sings . Footnotes England and Wales Lord Protector (1653-1658 : O.

Cromwell) [WorldCat Identities] Letters of state by John Milton( Book ) 7 editions published between 1694 and 1978 in English and held by 222 WorldCat member libraries worldwide Literæ pseudo-senatus anglicani, Cromwellii, reliquorumque perduellium nomine ac jussu conscriptæ by England and Wales( Book ) 22 editions published between 1676 and 1974 in Latin and held by 200 WorldCat member libraries worldwide A declaration of His Highnes the Lord Protector and the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland for a day of solemn fasting and humiliation in the three nations by England and Wales( Book ) 13 editions published in 1656 in English and held by 154 WorldCat member libraries worldwide The humble petition and advice presented unto His Highnes the Lord Protector by the knights, citizens and burgesses assembled at the Parliament begun and held at Westminster the 17th day of September, 1656 and there continued until the 26th day of June following and then adjourned unto the 20th day of January 1

657 : as also their humble additionall and explanatory petition and advice presented unto His Highness in the same Parliament : together with His Highness consent unto the said petitions when they were respectively presented by England and Wales( Book ) 14 editions published in 1657 in English and held by 140 WorldCat member libraries worldwide [4], 30 p.

With an initial blank leaf. The first petition is dated 25 May 1657. "To His Highness the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dominions and territories thereunto belonging: the humble additional and explanatory petition and advice, of the knights, citizens, and burgesses now assembled in the Parliament of this Common-VVealth", dated 26 June 1657, has separate dated title page; pagination and register are continuous. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. (DLPS) A82810.0001.001. (vid) 169276.

By the protector, a declaration of His Highness the Lord Protector for a day of solemn fasting and humiliation by England and Wales( Book ) 6 editions published between 1658 and 1985 in English and held by 124 WorldCat member libraries worldwide A declaration of His Highnes by the advice of his council shewing the reasons of their proceedings for securing the peace of the Commonwealth upon occasion of the late insurrection and rebellion by England and Wales( Book ) 9 editions published between 1655 and 1983 in English and held by 117 WorldCat member libraries worldwide Oliver Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dominions and territories thereto belonging : to all persons, ministers, lecturers, vicars, and curates ...

: whereas the minister and inhabitants of the parish of South-Okenden in our county of Essex by England and Wales( Book ) 6 editions published between 1658 and 1985 in English and held by 113 WorldCat member libraries worldwide An ordinance for better amending and keeping in repair the common high-waies within this nation by England and Wales( Book ) 10 editions published in 1654 in English and held by 110 WorldCat member libraries worldwide A declaration of the Lord Protector and both houses of Parliament for a day of solemn fasting and humiliation to be observed in all places within the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, upon the eighteenth day of May, 1659 by England and Wales( Book ) 4 editions published between 1659 and 1983 in English and held by 106 WorldCat member libraries worldwide By the Protector.

A proclamation commanding all persons who have been in arms or assisted in the wars against the state to depart out of the cities of London and Westminster and late lines of communication on or before the twelfth day of September instant by England and Wales( Book ) 17 editions published between 1655 and 1656 in English and held by 97 WorldCat member libraries worldwide Order to print dated: Thursday the 25. of October, 1655. Signed: Henry Scobell Clerk of the Council. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. (DLPS) A80956.0001.001. (vid) 163434. (Aleph) 5366618. (stc) Wing (2nd ed., 1994) C7121. (stc) Thomason 669.f.20[17]. (stc) Steele I, 3061. (bibno) (UnM)99870376e.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions. Royalists -- England. England and Wales. Council of State. Exile (Punishment) -- England. London (England) -- History. Great Britain -- Politics and government Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector Of Great Britain And Ireland From 1653-1658, (1932) Pictures | Getty Images Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector Of Great Britain And Ireland From 1653-1658, (1932) January 01, 1932 License Oliver Cromwell , Lord Protector of Great Britain and Ireland from 1653-1658,...

Oliver Cromwell , Lord Protector of Great Britain and Ireland from 1653-1658, (1932). Cromwell (1599-1658) commanded the forces of Parliament during the English Civil War. After the war England, Scotland and Ireland became a commonwealth. Cromwell was head of state as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth from 1653 until his death. With a scene depicting a Puritan family saying Grace before dinner. From Kings and Queens by Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon, illustrated by Rosalind Thornycroft [Victor Gollancz Ltd, London, 1932] Artist: Rosalind Thornycroft. LessMore 1653-1658 Lord Protector: Cromwell - Socials Timeline - Dorsa and Courtney 1653-1658 Lord Protector: Cromwell Oliver Cromwell lost patience with the Rump parliament. The Rump parliament was unable to govern effectively. The army wanted more influence and the Rump members refused to hold an election so Cromwell marched in with a troop of soldiers and drove the members out.

He then locked the doors of the parliament and the senior army officers named Cromwell the lord protector / military dictator of England. He divded the country into districts and ruled through major generals. Cromwells military dictatorship was very unpopular. He opposed the dictator like powers of the king and ended up becoming a dictator himself at the end of it all. The "blue laws" outlawed important things such as "pagan" which were cerermonies such as Christmas. There is a connection between this event and the Rump parliament (1642-1653) because when Oliver cromwell got inpatient with the Rump parliament due to them not being able to govern effectively, he locked them out of the parliament and then became the lord protector/military director. Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament in 1653. Create a free website Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) Biography – Life of a Lord Protector Religious Affiliation Puritan Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) was the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Ireland and Scotland. He was a well known military and political leader of the 1600s.

Cromwell was born in Huntingdon to Robert Cromwell and Elizabeth Steward. His family was of mid gentry class and was, at one time, one of the most wealthy in the area. However, since Robert was the youngest out of the siblings, his wealth was limited to a house and a bit of land. This gave him income that would make him considered one of the lower earning gentries. Early Life Cromwell studied at Huntingdon Grammar School and later attended Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge. He left without a degree after his father’s death in 1617. It has been said that he studied law in London. However, no records of him have been found in Lincoln’s Inn, the institution he most likely attended. Cromwell left school to support an expanding family—his widowed mother with his seven sisters and later his wife and their children. Cromwell made a living by farming and collecting rent from tenants using their little land. He lived an obscure early life at the bottom of the gentry class. Despite his considerably low standing, Cromwell was still able to rub shoulders with very influential people. His grandfather, who was a knight during his time, lived just outside Huntingdon.

Cromwell would frequently visit his grandfather’s estate and entertain powerful members of the court. His wife’s father was also an influential figure and was able to introduce Cromwell to leading Puritan figures. During 1637, Cromwell’s uncle passed away without heirs. This gave him a modest inheritance and some land to help support his family. Religious Crisis Between 1620 and 1630 Cromwell suffered what we would call today a mental breakdown. He was battling a personal crisis that had a lot to do with his religion. He sought treatment for depression and was observed to have been exchanging letters with an Arminian minister. During this time, he underwent a powerful religious conversion, turning to Puritanism, afterwards believing that God wanted to use him for a mission. Parliament During 1628, Cromwell was sponsored by the Montagu family and elected into the house of commons for Huntingdon. During this time, he made only one speech which was not received well. He made very little impact during the short stay. He was also probably the poorest member of parliament during the time. He owed this position to aristocratic connections rather than any good merit on his part.

He seemed to have been overwhelmed by his status, and made very little contribution. When parliament dissolved because of Charles I, he went back to farming. Charles I ruled without parliament for eleven years until the Bishop Wars. This was a Scottish rebellion where Charles I faced a shortage of funds which lead to a re-opening of Parliament in 1640. During this time, Cromwell was elected into Parliament, now representing Cambridge. He was a very outspoken member and he did not hesitate in criticizing royal policies as well as the rules of the established Anglican Church. He also had many advocacies regarding the power of the Parliament. Cromwell wanted annual Parliamentary meetings and for the Parliament to have power in naming army generals instead of the king. Military Leader Cromwell was more known as a military leader than a politician. Though he had no training or exposure during his life, he grew up around horses. His experience as a landowner gave him knowledge about these animals. He was convinced that if he could produce a very disciplined army, he would be able to defeat the Cavaliers of Prince Rupert. When the fighting broke out, he was appointed as captain of horse in 1642.

His leadership qualities were recognized and within a year he moved up in rank, being named Lieutenant General of Horse for the Army of the Eastern Association. The three largest parliamentary armies were combined and leaders could not agree upon a number of things. During the year 1645, the Parliament could not decide who they wanted to lead their armies, so they appointed Cromwell as a temporary commander. This was only supposed to last for forty days, yet it was renewed many times. In the year 1647, Cromwell permanently became commander of the cavalry. Cromwell trained his army to stay together after charge and not to aim at individual targets. This helped the men stay together and charge at the Cavaliers repeatedly. Cromwell had a natural instinct to lead and train his men. This led them to a lot of victories. He relied on pressing forward, giving his army an impact, rather than counting solely on firepower. The First English Civil War In late 1642 an armed conflict between the Parliament and Charles I was sparked by the failure to resolve any of the issues from before the Long Parliament. Cromwell relied on soldiers that were recruited by landowners who believed in their cause.

It was not until three years later that Cromwell took over the cavalier and the Parliament appointed a new army of 22,000 professional soldiers under their commander-in-chief General Thomas Fairfax. This was known as the New Model Army. The cause behind the conflict was seen as political and religious. During the first civil war, Cromwell was able to create innovative military techniques that helped him in his success. Close-order cavalry formations were introduced during this time, which meant that the troops rode knee-to-knee. Cromwell claimed that his military success was in favor of God’s will. He was an effective leader and was able to lead his men into victory, using various tactics. This was something impressive for someone who had no formal military training. It was said that he had skill to back up his courage he also trained his men with discipline on and off the battlefield. The Battle of Marston Moor The troop rode on to take part in the Battle of Edgehill, but they arrived too late. They were then recruited to be a full regimen for the winter of 1642-1643. They fought under the Earl of Manchester as part of the Eastern Association.

The Battle of Marston Moor took place in July 1644 where Cromwell’s had risen in rank, still under Manchester. This battle was a significant part in Parliamentary victory, most notably, when the cavalry of Cromwell attacked the infantry of the Royalists from the rear at Marston Moor. Cromwell was slightly injured during the battle and had to step aside for a while in order to tend to his neck wounds. His nephew had died in Marston Moor and this was the time he wrote the famous letter to his brother-in-law. He praised God throughout his moving letter which told of how his brother-in-law’s eldest son died. Though Cromwell’s troops were able to secure a large portion of North England during this time, they still failed to end the resistance of the Royalists. During this time, the war showed no signs of ending. The New Model Army The men who were members of The New Model Army received formal military training under the command of Cromwell. They were very disciplined, unlike the cavalry of Prince Rupert. It was said that after charging Prince Rupert’s troops would head off in different directions, trying to attack enemies one at a time. This gave them no force and no chance to charge again.

Many of his horsemen could not return to the battlefield and the horses could not mount men any longer. The New Model Army was taught discipline, skill and courage under the leadership of Cromwell. The process of promotion in the New Model Army was not similar to that of the past. Unlike traditional armies, you could not receive a higher position or rank just because you came from a wealthy or powerful family. Men were promoted based on performance and skill. This gave the men more discipline and greater motivation. For the first time, working class men were allowed to become officers in the army. Cromwell wanted to make sure that the men who fought with him shared his values, believing that God was on their side. They would often sing Psalms and songs of praise before they went into battle. The Battle of Naseby The turning point of the war was marked by the Battle of Naseby. During the 1645 battle, The New Model army tore down the King’s troops. Cromwell led his army to great success, rerouting the Royalists once again. After this battle Charles I was not able to put forth an army that was powerful enough to face the Parliamentary army. Charles I saw defeat in all battles after this one.

It was the Battle of Naseby and Langsley that drained the King of any hope. When he realized that there was nothing left to do, he fled to Scotland in January of 1648 where he was captured and handed over to the Parliamentary army. He was imprisoned in Hampton court, yet he managed to escape during November that same year. He convinced the Scots to fight on his side, and he was able to raise another army. Soon enough, Cromwell’s army defeated the Scots and Charles I was taken prisoner. Leadership and Puritanism Cromwell leaned towards tolerance, yet debates and the King’s escape from Hampton hardened his heart. He became very vocal about supporting regicide. Many of his speeches and letters were heavily influenced by scripture. He was known to cite verses and include gospel meanings in his speeches. Cromwell used Puritanism to lead his men and discipline his army. He believed that God was actively directing him and his army. He believed that his army was God’s instrument and that the king was an unlawful authority in the eyes of the Lord. In a letter to Oliver St John, he urges St John to read the book of Isaiah, particularly the eighth chapter.

In the verse it was said that only the godly will remain standing while the kingdom falls. The Commonwealth of England Oliver Cromwell established the Commonwealth of England shortly after the execution of Charles I. During this time, Cromwell tried to reunite a group known as the “Royal Independents.” He was closely associated with this group, but this broke out just before the war in 1642. He was, however, able to persuade St John into taking a seat in parliament. Meanwhile, the Royalists had regrouped to Ireland after they had signed a treaty with the Irish. Cromwell faced mutinies and rebellions during this time. He later left Bristol and stayed in Ireland for a while. The Lord Protector England saw the Rump Parliament dissolve and the establishment of the Barebones Parliament, which was set up by a preacher. John Lambert put together a new constitution which was known as Instrument of Government. During this time, Cromwell was named Lord Protector in a ceremony where he wore black, instead of monarchical regalia. He signed his name as “Oliver P,” the P standing for Protector. This was much like how monarchs used R for Regina.

He was soon referred to as “Your Highness” and remained Lord Protector until his death in 1658. Death In 1658, Oliver Cromwell announced that he wanted his son, Richard, to take his place as lord protector of the Commonwealth of England. He died later that year. His son did take his place, but not until the following year, 1659. However, government officials forced him to resign from his position. The restoration of the monarchy lead to necessary constitutional adjustments. Charles II was released from exile and was invited back to be king of the new monarchy. Cromwell’s remains were removed from Westminster Abbey then chained and hanged at Tyburn. His head was said to be put on display at the top of a pole of Westminster Hall. It remained there for twenty five years.

Leave a Reply Bonhams : Christian Richter (Swedish, 1678-1732) Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), Lord Protector of England (1653-1658), wearing suit of armour and white collar, his natural hair worn to his shoulders Lot Details Christian Richter (Swedish, 1678-1732) Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), Lord Protector of England (1653-1658), wearing suit of armour and white collar, his natural hair worn to his shoulders. Watercolour on vellum, laid on card with gesso back, signed on the reverse and dated C Richter/ 1708, the C and R in monogram, gilt-wood frame with carved scroll plaque inscribed OLIVER CROMWELL. Oval, 102mm (4in) high Exhibited: Royal Portrait Miniatures: A Special Loan Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, 11-23 Oct 2011, no.6.

Footnotes The present lot is one of five known copies that are all signed by Richter and dated 1708, after Samuel Cooper's portrait of Oliver Cromwell. Three of the other versions exist in the Royal Collection (R. Walker, Miniatures in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen, 1992, p.10-11, no.15), Chatsworth House and the Wallace Collection (G. Reynolds, Wallace Collection Catalogue of Miniatures, 1980, p.78, no.42) and a further was sold at Sotheby's on 26 April 1971 (lot 182). The reverse of the Wallace Collection example is signed and inscribed Sum possessor/ CRichter 1708 which would imply that Richter owned one of the original portraits by Cooper, of which it would seem that only two have survived: the 1657 Harcourt portrait sold at Sotheby's on 6 June 2007 (lot 151) and the slightly earlier 1656 portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, London (Acqn. No.3065).

A further copy by Richter in enamel was sold by Sotheby's in the Clore Collection sale (Part II) on 10 November 1986 (lot 159). It is not known for certain whether Richter painted the five copies in 1708 to capitalise on the 50th anniversary of Cromwell's death or whether they were commissioned by Cromwell's descendents for distribution amongst the family in commemoration that year. Cromwell's eldest surviving son, Richard Cromwell (1626-1712) who succeeded his father briefly as Lord Protector, owned Cooper's unfinished preparatory sketch c.1653 (now in the collection of the Duke of Buccleuch) which he had purchased from Cooper's widow. It was always believed that Richard Wallace had purchased his copy by Richter in Vienna from a descendant of Oliver Cromwell. This provenance had been thought unlikely by 20th century historians but it is not impossible. Oliver Cromwell remains one of the most controversial figures in British history.

Hailed by some as the defender of English liberties and reviled by others as a regicidal tyrant, Cromwell was born into the ranks of the provincial gentry in 1599 and passed his early years in relative obscurity. In 1620 he married Elizabeth Bourchier, a union which would see the births of eight children, one of whom, Richard (1626-1712), would succeed him as Lord Protector for a brief time. Elected Member of Parliament for Cambridge in 1640, Cromwell's hard-line political views, allied to his puritanical religious convictions placed him in direct opposition to the royalist cause. When the Civil War erupted in 1642, Cromwell was named a captain of horse but soon proved himself a consummate military strategist and had assumed command of the entire Parliamentarian army in just a few years. As Lieutenant General of the New Model Army, Cromwell headed the series of battles that culminated in the final defeat of the King's forces at the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

After Charles I's surrender to the Scots, Cromwell, having briefly favoured the argument for the King's abdication, soon became one of the most pre-eminent supporters of regicide once he had recognised Charles' refusal to comply with his captors. After Charles' execution in 1649, Cromwell participated in the debates of the 'Rump Parliament', which sat until 1653. Finally tiring of its warring factions and lack of real desire for reform, he dissolved the Rump and took up the reigns as Lord Protector, head of a 'nominated assembly' endorsed by the Army. Several efforts towards monarchical status were made on his behalf, but these Cromwell resisted firmly. Cromwell's rule as Lord Protector, known as the Interregnum, is commonly recognised for its socio-religious rigidity along radical Protestant lines and marks the only time in its history that England has been a republic. On September 3, 1658, Cromwell died of natural causes. After abortive attempts by his son to govern under a second Protectorate, the Prince of Wales was called back from exile in Holland to restore the English monarchy.

In 1661 Cromwell's body was exhumed from its grave and hung at Tyburn gallows. His head was subsequently decapitated and put on permanent display outside Westminster Hall for almost twenty years. Activities View Conditions of Sale Auction information This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services. Buyers' Obligations ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS. If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.

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Question: Who was Lord Protector of England, 1653-1658?
Answer: Oliver Cromwell