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[[Image:Oliver_Cromwell.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Oliver Cromwell by Sir Peter Lely c.1653]]

[[Image:Oliver_Cromwell.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Oliver Cromwell by Sir Peter Lely c.1653]]

'''Oliver Cromwell''' (April 25, 1599 - September 3, 1658) was an [[England|English]] statesman and soldier born in [[Huntingdon]], [[Cambridgeshire]]. He was educated at Huntingdon Grammar School and Sydney Sussex College, [[Cambridge University|Cambridge]], and went on to study [[law]] in [[London]].  

'''Oliver Cromwell''' (April 25, 1599 - September 3, 1658) was an [[England|English]] statesman and soldier born in [[Huntingdon]], [[Cambridgeshire]]. He was educated at Huntingdon Grammar School and Sydney Sussex College, [[Cambridge University|Cambridge]], and went on to study [[law]] in [[London]]. He is often referred to as "God's Englishman".

==Parliamentarian==

==Parliamentarian==

Members of the New Model Army received proper military training and by the time they went into battle they were very well-disciplined. Previously, people only became [[officer]]s because they came from powerful and wealthy families. In the New Model Army men were promoted when they showed themselves to be good soldiers. For the first time it became possible for working-class men to become army officers. Cromwell thought it was very important that soldiers in the New Model Army believed strongly in what they were fighting for. Where possible he recruited men who, like him, held strong Puritan views and the New Model Army always went into battle singing [[psalm]]s, convinced that God was on their side.

Members of the New Model Army received proper military training and by the time they went into battle they were very well-disciplined. Previously, people only became [[officer]]s because they came from powerful and wealthy families. In the New Model Army men were promoted when they showed themselves to be good soldiers. For the first time it became possible for working-class men to become army officers. Cromwell thought it was very important that soldiers in the New Model Army believed strongly in what they were fighting for. Where possible he recruited men who, like him, held strong Puritan views and the New Model Army always went into battle singing [[psalm]]s, convinced that God was on their side.

==The Battle of Naseby==

==The Battle of Naseby==

The Independents now passed a series of new laws. The monarchy, the House of Lords and the [[Anglican]] church were abolished. Lands owned by the royal family and the church were sold and the money was used to pay the parliamentary soldiers. The Independents also kept their promise regarding religious toleration. People were no longer fined for not attending their local church. However, everyone was still expected to attend some form of religious worship on Sundays.

The Independents now passed a series of new laws. The monarchy, the House of Lords and the [[Anglican]] church were abolished. Lands owned by the royal family and the church were sold and the money was used to pay the parliamentary soldiers. The Independents also kept their promise regarding religious toleration. People were no longer fined for not attending their local church. However, everyone was still expected to attend some form of religious worship on Sundays.

This article is currently being updated.  

In August 1649, Cromwell and 12,000 soldiers arrived in Ireland to eradicate the military threat of the alliance between the Irish Confederate Catholics and English royalists, and also to punish the Irish for their rebellion in 1641. After initially landing at [[Dublin]] on August 15, 1649 Cromwell captured the fortified port towns of [[Drogheda]] and [[Wexford]]. When Drogheda fell to the siege in September 1649, Cromwell's troops massacred nearly 3,500 people. Although this figure comprising around 2,700 royalist soldiers and all the men in the town bearing arms, a concerted propaganda campaign followed which ensured Cromwell was seen as a bloodthirsty tyrant in the national consciousness of Ireland. As recently as the 20th century Irish novelist [[James Joyce]] wrote in his novel ''[[Ulysses]]'': "What about sanctimonious Cromwell and his ironsides that put the women and children of Drogheda to the sword with the bible text "God is love" pasted round the mouth of his cannon?".

 

 

 

By 1653 Cromwell and his Army effectively controlled all Britain, and in December 1653 the Army decided that Cromwell should become England's new ruler. Some officers wanted him to become king but he refused and instead took the title Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. Cromwell now imposed martial law in England and the country was divided into eleven districts, each district being overseen by a Major-General. The responsibilities of these Major-Generals included maintaining order, collecting taxes, granting poor relief and imposing Puritan morality. In some districts bear-baiting, cock-fighting, horse-racing and wrestling were banned. Betting and gambling were also forbidden. Large numbers of [[Public house|pubs]] were closed and fines were imposed on people heard swearing. In some districts, the Major-Generals also closed the theatres.

 

 

In 1658 Cromwell announced that he wanted his son, Richard Cromwell, to replace him as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. The English army was unhappy with this decision. While they respected Oliver as a skillful military commander, Richard was just a country farmer.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cromwell, Oliver}}

[[Category:Military Commanders]]

[[Category:Military Commanders]]