Changes

[[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]]. He is often referred to as "God's Englishman".

'''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==

==The Civil War==

==The Civil War==

Cromwell was a fierce critic of King Charles and on the outbreak of the [[English Civil War|Civil War]] in 1642 he joined the [[Roundhead|Parliamentary]] army, serving under Edward Montagu, the Duke of Manchester. Although Cromwell had no military training, his experience as a large landowner had given him a good knowledge of [[horse]]s. Cromwell became convinced that if he could produce a well-disciplined army he could defeat the Royalist forces under the king's nephew Prince Rupert, the Duke of Cumberland, and his [[Cavalier]]s. He also knew, as a result of his limited experience with the local county militia that pikemen, armed with sixteen-foot-long pikes, who stood their ground during a cavalry attack, could do a tremendous amount of damage.

Cromwell was a fierce critic of King Charles and on the outbreak of the [[English Civil War|Civil War]] in 1642 he joined the [[Roundhead|Parliamentary]] army, serving under Edward Montagu, the Duke of Manchester. Although Cromwell had no military training, his experience as a large landowner had given him a good knowledge of horses. Cromwell became convinced that if he could produce a well-disciplined army he could defeat the Royalist forces under the king's nephew Prince Rupert, the Duke of Cumberland, and his [[Cavalier]]s. He also knew, as a result of his limited experience with the local county militia that pikemen, armed with sixteen-foot-long pikes, who stood their ground during a cavalry attack, could do a tremendous amount of damage.

Cromwell had also realised that the Prince's cavalry were poorly disciplined, and that after they charged the enemy they then went in pursuit of individual targets. At the first major battle of the civil war at [[Edgehill]], the majority of the Prince's cavalry did not return to the battlefield until over an hour after the initial charge. By this time the horses were so tired they were unable to mount another attack.

Cromwell had also realised that the Prince's cavalry were poorly disciplined, and that after they charged the enemy they then went in pursuit of individual targets. At the first major battle of the civil war at [[Edgehill]], the majority of the Prince's cavalry did not return to the battlefield until over an hour after the initial charge. By this time the horses were so tired they were unable to mount another attack.