Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell, who was born on April 25, 1599 in Huntingdon, left a deep dent in history. He had a Cambridge education and became a Member of Parliament. Cromwell set up the New Model Army and became the Lord Protector of England. He married Elizabeth Bourchier on August 22, 1620. Together they had nine children. Through his military and political career Cromwell remained affectionate with his wife by writing her love letters. For example, in one of his letters he wrote, "Thou art dearer to me than any creature; let that suffice." In England, Oliver Cromwell took a powerful, resilient, and passionate stand against King Charles I, which was heavily influenced and facilitated by his religious beliefs, his role in parliament, his military leadership and his political power.

Oliver Cromwell converted to a strong puritan faith, which caused him to collide with the High Church policies of Charles I. Religious differences added to the aggression between Charles I and Parliament. Charles tried to enforce rituals on the Church of England. To the Puritans this was a return to Catholic traditions. Charles tried to force the Puritans to accept his religious policies. Cromwell believed that salvation was a gracious gift from God by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Cromwell also believed that the government should be for the peoples' good and he strongly opposed the Roman Catholic Church. Cromwell felt an association between Catholicism and persecutions because of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, which were massacres by the Irish Catholics of English and Scottish Protestant settlers. Cromwell believed in providentrialism, which is the belief that God is actively directing the affairs of the world through the actions of chosen people. Cromwell interpreted victories as signs of God's approval of his actions, and defeats as signs that God was leading him in another direction. Cromwell was orthodox Calvinist in his belief that God's divine intervention showed his people the way forward.

Oliver Cromwell was a Member of Parliament and was very outspoken on the need for the reform of the Church's foundation. Cromwell opposed voting for new taxes until the king agreed to govern within the consent of Parliament on civil and religious issues. Cromwell was the first man to demand the abolition of bishops and was important in the campaign to force the king into calling annual sessions of Parliament. Also, Cromwell demanded that officers appointed by Parliament should have control over home defense instead of the king. Then the Catholics rose up and massacred the Protestants. Therefore, Charles I needed troops to restore order, but Parliament did not trust him. Pym and Hampden drew up the Grand Remonstrance. Then spies identified Cromwell, Pym, Hampden, and two others as insiders that would revolt against King Charles I. Therefore, soldiers came to arrest them, but they were not present at Parliament. Cromwell initiated the civil war with the intention of forcing Charles to reign with the consent of Parliament and with a more consensual Protestant religious policy. Parliament abolished the monarchy, the House of Commons, and the Church of England in 1644. Cromwell purged Parliament of any members who did not support his forces and so he was left with the Rump Parliament, which was one third of the Long Parliament. The Rump Parliament declared England a Commonwealth or a republic.

Oliver Cromwell had an instinctive gift for command. He recruited officers based on merit rather than because of noble birth. For example, Cromwell said, "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 nothing else." Complaints grew until England broke into civil war in 1642. This was between the supporters of the king (Cavaliers/Royalists) and the parliamentary forces (Roundheads). Parliament was victorious due to the New Model Army of Oliver Cromwell, which was made up of extreme Puritans called Independents. The Independents believed in doing battle for God. For example, Cromwell wrote in a military report, "Sir, this is none other but the hand of God; and to Him alone belongs glory." The New Model Army was the first national army and it became a center for political radicals and radical religious sects. The New Model Army defeated Charles at the Battle of Naseby. Cromwell gained political power as he won many battles. Cromwell had no formal training in military tactics; however his soldiers were disciplined and trained in new military tactics developed in the Thirty Year's War. Cromwell trained his men to regroup rapidly. His troops respected his bravery and his concern for their well-being. Cromwell outmaneuvered Prince Rupert several times and he conquered Ireland and Scotland, which showed his mastery of organizing supplies. Cromwell was in favor of negotiating with the king, but his soldiers were against it. At the end of the first Civil War in 1646 King Charles I was a prisoner of parliament. Cromwell defeated the Royalists and the Scots in the second Civil War. Parliamentarians (including Cromwell) wanted to reach a compromise settlement with

Charles I, but he refused to accept a solution. After Charles I escaped from prison, Parliament recaptured him and put him on trial for treason. Cromwell was under pressure from radicals to execute the king. In January of 1649, the Rump Parliament voted at Whitehall on whether they should execute Charles I. Cromwell's troops broke into Parliament's chambers and only allowed the regicides to vote on the matter. 59 members of the Parliament signed the death warrant. On the 30th of January in 1649, Charles I was beheaded. Therefore, the Scots were outraged with the English for executing their king.

Cromwell shared his power with the magistrates and with Parliament. He returned from his conquests and found the Members of the Rump Parliament clinging to power. In April of 1653, Cromwell stormed into the House of Commons in disgust and dismissed the Rump Parliament when he said, "It is you that have forced me to do this, for I have sought the Lord night and day that He would slay me rather than put upon me the doing of the work."