Oliver Cromwell Biography

At the outbreak of the English Civil War in summer 1642, Cromwell was an officer in the 'Roundheads' or Parliamentary army. He was successful and rapidly promoted, playing a major part in Parliament’s victory. By 1648 he commanded a large part of the New Model Army which was able to move anywhere around the country to crush rebellion.

In June, 1647 Cromwell tried to reconcile the king, Charles I, Parliament and the army, but when this failed Cromwell put his full support behind the army.

By the late 1640s he was one of the power-brokers in Parliament and he played a decisive role in the winter of 1648-9, which saw the trial and execution of the King, as wellas the abolition of monarchy and the House of Lords. Cromwell’s signature was third on the king’s death warrant.

After the execution of the King, a republic was declared, known as the Commonwealth of England. The 'Rump Parliament' exercised both executive and legislative powers, with a smaller Council of State also having some executive functions. Cromwell remained a member of the Rump and was appointed a member of the Council.

In the early months after the execution of Charles I, Cromwell tried but failed to unite the original group of 'Royal Independents' centred around St John and Saye and Sele, which had fractured during 1648. Cromwell had been connected to this group since before the outbreak of war in 1642 and had been closely associated with them during the 1640s. However only St John was persuaded to retain his seat in Parliament. The Royalists, meanwhile, had regrouped in Ireland, having signed a treaty with the Irish Confederate Catholics.

In March, Cromwell was chosen by the Rump to command a campaign against them, which resulted in the occupation of the country. All Catholic-owned land was confiscated in the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 and given to Scottish and English settlers.

In December 1653, Cromwell became head of state as Lord Protector, though shared political power with Parliament and Council of State. He headed a tolerant, inclusive and largely civilian regime, which sought to restore order and stability, refusing the English crown when offered it, in 1657.

Cromwell's life and actions had a radical edge, springing from his strong religious faith. He sought to reform the most inhumane elements of the legal, judicial and social systems, and clamped down on drunkenness, immorality and other sinful activities.

On the 3rd September 1658, Cromwell died. A state funeral was held in November. Horrifically, on 30th January 1661, Cromwell’s body was dug up by the new monarchist regime, symbolically executed and then buried at Tyburn.