Oliver Cromwell
Alex Franz
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Who was Oliver Cromwell?
• He was known as a
Puritan general who
led his New Model
army to defeat the
Cavaliers in the
English Civil War in
1645.
Childhood
• Born in 1599, he was baptised at St John’s
Church in Huntingdon, England.
• He grew up in a rich family. He attended
local school, and he developed intense
religious beliefs.
“Adult life”
• In 1616 Cromwell entered Sidney Sussex College,
Cambridge. He left the following year after the death
of his father.
•
For the next few years he lived in London. In 1620
he married Elizabeth Bourchier, the daughter of Sir
James Bourchier, a wealthy leather merchant.
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“Adult life” (cont.)
• Cromwell then returned to his small estate in
Huntingdon. There he farmed his land and played a
small part in local affairs, earning a reputation as a
champion of the poor.
•
During these years Cromwell experienced periods of
deep depression. After much spiritual torment he became
convinced that he was the instrument of God.
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How Cromwell proved his worth
• At the outbreak of war between the King and Parliament
in August 1642, He was assigned a small army of men,
and he demonstrated his leadership skills with the small
amount of men he had.
• In 1644, Cromwell’s reputation as Parliament’s most
forceful general was made at the battle of Marston Moor,
where he defeated the cavalry of Prince Rupert, the
royalist’s best general.
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Cromwell’s rule 1653-58
• For a while Cromwell and his Council ruled most
effectively, sweeping away ancient tribal rule in Scotland
and Ireland.
•
He then united those countries with England under one
Parliament, which was itself reformed.
•
When the Parliament met in 1654, however, it soon
quarreled with Cromwell over the constitution.
•
He once more took power into his own hands and
dissolved Parliament on June 22, 1655.
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Cromwell’s rule (cont.)
• From Cromwell's rule local government was brought
under major generals, soldiers whom he could trust.
•
This made many people angry. Under a new constitution
and a reestablished Parliament, Cromwell took the title
“Lord Protector.”
•
This move also reestablished the House of Lords,
another part of Parliament, and made Cromwell king in all
but name.
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Legacy of Cromwell
• As a general, he was gifted yet lucky. As a
statesman, Cromwell had some success but was
unable to meet many of his goals.
•
Perhaps the most remarkable of Cromwell's
qualities were his seriousness and his selfcontrol. Few men have enjoyed such supreme
power and abused it less.
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English Civil War
• In March 1642 Charles, believing that Parliament had
gone too far when it issued the Grand Remonstrance,
moved to arrest John Pym and four other leaders.
Charles himself entered Parliament with solders and a
warrant, but Pym and the others were gone, having been
tipped off in advance.
• They fled to London where they were hidden by Puritan
loyalists, who dominated the city government. The King
demanded the return of Pym, but the citizens refused.
London, at least, was in rebellion.
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English Civil War (cont.)
• That summer Parliament, fearing military action, tried to
seize control of the army by issuing orders for soldiers to
report to Parliamentary, rather than royal,
representatives.
•
The King countered by ordering the bill ignored and
raised his own army in August. Some turned out for the
King, some for Parliament, and the war was on.
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Battle of Edgehill, Oct. 1643
• This was the first real battle between the
King and Parliament.
• The battle was inconclusive, but it showed
that the Parliament was not strong enough
to defeat the King.
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The New Model Army
• Parliament decided that they want a
negotiated settlement, not the death of
their king.
• In 1644, Parliament passed Self-Denying
Ordinance to get soldiers out of Parliament,
because the Parliament army was getting
officered by MPs.
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The Final Victory
• Roundheads and the Cavaliers met again
at Naseby, June 14, 1645.
• Cromwell was victorious with his cavalry
charge, marking the real victory for
Parliament.
• The English King was then captured, and
Parliament is deciding what to do with him.
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Effects of the war
• Led to the trial and execution of King
Charles I
• Exile of Charles II
• Replacement of English monarchy with
first, the Commonwealth of England, and
then with a Protectorate under Cromwell’s
rule.
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Questions
• Where did Cromwell defeat Prince Rupert?
• In 1643, which inconclusive battle showed
that Parliament could not yet defeat the
King’s forces?
• T/F : When Cromwell was named King, he
gained the power of the king as well.
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Questions (cont.)
• What happened at Naseby on June 14,
1645?
• King Charles I was executed as a result of
________.
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