Oliver Cromwell was a key figure in transforming England from a monarchy to a republic during the English Civil War. He ruled as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658, and made seemingly contradictory decisions. Cromwell was born into a landowning family in Huntington and became a strict Puritan. He led Parliamentarian troops to victory against the forces of Charles I and established the republican Commonwealth. After his death, his son Richard took over as Lord Protector, but the royalists eventually restored the monarchy. Cromwell’s body was dug up, hung in chains and beheaded by Royalist forces in 1660.
Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) is perhaps best remembered for being the man who helped transform England from a monarchy to a republic during the English Civil War. He also ruled England as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658, with his son following him as Lord Protector. Cromwell is an interesting figure in British history because during his lifetime he made a large number of seemingly contradictory decisions, such as upholding parliamentary power and then dissolving parliaments, or defending religious freedom while executing heretics. In Britain he is a well-known historical figure, thanks to his brief role as Lord Protector of England.
Information about Oliver Cromwell’s early years is far less abundant than about his rise to power and afterward. He was born into a landowning family in Huntington, and was sent to Cambridge for an education. At some point in his relatively young life, Cromwell took up the Puritan cause, becoming a strict Puritan and incorporating his religious beliefs into his political and personal beliefs. He was also sent to Parliament to represent his family, and was present at all of Charles I’s ill-fated parliaments, advocating greater parliamentary power.
When the English Civil War broke out in 1642, Oliver Cromwell developed into a talented military leader, despite having minimal experience. He led Parliamentarian troops, known as Roundheads, to victory numerous times against the forces of Charles I, also called Knights or Royalists. Cromwell also took his military experience abroad, brutally conquering Ireland, for example, and also helping to subdue Scottish rebellions.
In 1649, Oliver Cromwell was a major agitator for the trial and subsequent execution of Charles I. He helped establish the republican Commonwealth which ruled England for nearly 12 years, running government directly during the Protectorate period. When he died in 1658, his son Richard took over as Lord Protector, though he did not hold the position for long; the royalists eventually gained the upper hand and restored the king’s son Charles II to the throne. However, Charles II presided over a parliamentary rather than an absolute monarchy, perhaps acknowledging his father’s fate.
An interesting note about Oliver Cromwell is that he did not rest in peace after his death in 1658. In 1660, his body was dug up by Royalist forces, hung in chains and beheaded. This posthumous “execution” was also used on the bodies of several other regicides who had worked together to execute Charles I. The fate of Cromwell’s bones is uncertain, but his head apparently drifted from owner to owner a few times before being finally buried 300 years later at Sidney Sussex College.
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