Oliver+Cromwell

[|WorldCivPro1.mp3]media type="file" key="WorldCivPro1.mp3"“Cromwell’s greatness will always be questioned. As a general, he was gifted yet lucky; as a statesman, he had some success but was unable to bring his plans to complete fruition. Although his religious conviction often appears to be a hypocritical cloak for personal ambition, his positive qualities are unmistakable. He believed passionately both in religious toleration and in representative government. He encouraged reform, and much of it was humane. He brought to the executive side of government a great degree of professionalism, particularly in the in the most remarkable qualities of Cromwell were his sobriety and his self-control. Few men have enjoyed such supreme power and abused it less.” -- Plumb, J.H. (1973). //The McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Biography//. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ** Oliver Cromwell ** (25 April 1599 Old Style – 3 September 1658 Old Style ) was an English military and political leader best known for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland. He was one of the commanders of the New Model Army which defeated the royalists in the English Civil War. After the execution of King Charles I in 1649, Cromwell dominated the short-lived Commonwealth of England, conquered Ireland and Scotland, and ruled as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658. Cromwell was born into the ranks of the middle gentry, and remained relatively obscure for the first 40 years of his life, at times his lifestyle resembling that of a yeoman farmer until his finances were boosted thanks to an inheritance from his uncle. After undergoing a religious conversion during the same decade, he made an Independent style of Puritanism a core tenet of his life. Cromwell was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Cambridge in the Short (1640) and Long (1640-49) Parliaments, and later entered the English Civil War on the side of the " Roundheads " or Parliamentarians. An effective soldier (nicknamed "Old Ironsides ") he rose from leading a single cavalry troop to command of the entire army. Cromwell was the third person to sign Charles I 's death warrant in 1649 and was an MP in the Rump Parliament (1649-1653), being chosen by the Rump to take command of the English campaign in Ireland during 1649-50. He then led a campaign against the Scottish army between 1650-51. On 20 April 1653 he dismissed the Rump Parliament by force, setting up a short-lived nominated assembly known as the Barebones Parliament before being made Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland on 16 December 1653 until his death. When the Royalists returned to power in 1660, his corpse was dug up, hung in chains, and beheaded. Cromwell has been a very controversial figure in the history of the British Isles – a regicidal dictator to some historians (such as David Hume and Christopher Hill ) and a hero of liberty to others (such as Thomas Carlyle and Samuel Rawson Gardiner ). In Britain he was elected as one of the Top 10 Britons of all time in a 2002 BBC poll. [1] His measures against Irish Catholics have been characterized by some historians as genocidal or near-genocidal, [2] and in Ireland itself he is widely hated. Relatively few sources survive which tell us about the first 40 years of Cromwell's life. He was born in Huntingdon on 25 April 1599, to Elizabeth and Robert Cromwell (c.1560-1617). He was descended from Catherine Cromwell (born circa 1482), an older sister of Tudor statesman Thomas Cromwell. Catherine was married to Morgan ap Williams, son of William ap Yevan of Wales and Joan Tudor (reportedly a granddaughter of Owen Tudor, which would make Cromwell a distant cousin of his Stuart foes). The family line continued through Richard Cromwell (c. 1500–1544), Henry Cromwell (c. 1524–6 January 1603), then to Oliver's father Robert Cromwell (c. 1560–1617), who married Elizabeth Steward or Stewart (1564–1654) on the day of Cromwell's birth. Thus, Thomas was Oliver's second great-granduncle. The social status of Cromwell's family at his birth was relatively low within the gentry class. His father was a younger son, and one of 10 siblings who survived into adulthood. As a result, Robert's inheritance was limited to a house in Huntingdon and a small amount of land. This land would have generated an income of up to £300 a year, near the bottom of the range of gentry incomes. Cromwell himself, much later in 1654, said "I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in considerable height, nor yet in obscurity". -- Wikipedia.RetrievedSeptember30,2008,fromwww.wikipedia.comWebsite:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Oliver_Cromwell “The failure of Cromwell and the Commonwealth was founded upon Cromwell being caught between opposing forces. His attempts to placate the army, the nobility, Puritans and Parliament resulted in the alienation of each group. Leaving the political machinery of the parishes and shires untouched under the new constitution was the height of inconsistency; Cromwell, the army and Parliament were unable to make a clear separation from the ancient constitution and traditional customs of loyalty and obedience to monarchy. Lacey Baldwin Smith cast an astute judgment concerning the aims of the Commonwealth: "When Commons was purged out of existence by a military force of its own creation, the country learned a profound, if bitter, Lesson: Parliament could no more exist without the crown than the crown without Parliament. The ancient constitution had never been King and Parliament but King in Parliament; when one element of that mystical nion was destroyed, the other ultimately perished."’ -- (2005). Britannia: Monarchs of Britain. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from www.britannia.com Web site: http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon48.html > Eastern Association Army ** > with Parliament ** || > - ****January ** > - ****September ** || > - ****October ** || > - ****September ** || > - ****30th January ** || -- (2001). OliverCromwell.org. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from www.olivercromwell.org Web site: http://www.olivercromwell.org/time_line.htm
 * **1599 **  || * **Born Huntingdon - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">25th April **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1616 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Enters Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1628 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">MP for Huntingdon **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1640 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">MP for Cambridge **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1642 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Raises troops for Parliament **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1643 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Colonel in the Eastern Association **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1644 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Lieutenant-General of the
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Battle of Marston Moor - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">2nd July **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Battle of Newbury - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">27th October **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1645 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Lieutenant-General of the New Model Army **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Battle of Naseby - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">14th June **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1647 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Supports Parliamentary army in clashes
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1648 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Crushes royalist rising in South Wales **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Battle of Preston - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">18th August **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1649 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Supports trial and execution of the King
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Commands army sent to crush Ireland - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">August **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1650 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Commands army sent to crush Scotland - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">July **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1650 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Battle of Dunbar - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">3rd September **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1651 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Battle of Worcester - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">3rd September **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1653 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Dissolves Parliament - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">20th April **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Becomes Lord Protector - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">16th December **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1654 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Meets first Protectorate Parliament
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1655 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">System of the Major- Generals established
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1656 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Meets second Protectorate Parliament
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1657 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Rejects Parliament's offer of the crown and remains Lord Protector, March - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">June **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1658 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Dies at Whitehall - ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">3rd September **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ||
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1661 **<span style="COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> || * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Exhumed and posthumously 'executed'

Oliver Cromwell, a man who had ruled over Great Britain with an iron fist. He was the Lord Protector of the Commonwelth of England,

Scotland, and Ireland. In England he is regarded as a great political figure, in Ireland he is regarded as a tyrant. He was elected one of the top ten Britons of

all time by the BBC and he is regarded as somewhat of a hero in England's history.

Cromwell was born on April 25, 1599 in Huntingdon, England to Elizabeth and Robert Cromwell. He was part of the middle gentry untill

he inherited a large amount of money from his recently decesed uncle. Not much is known about the early years of his life except for those few facts

previously mentioned. He attended Sidney Sussex College until his father died in June of 1617, he would soon return to his old home to care for his mother

and seven sisters. Three years later, he married Elizabeth Bourchier. The next year he would have his first of nine children, Robert Cromwell.

He became a member of parlament in 1628 and remained there untill King Charles I disolved it in 1629. He rejoined Parlament in 1640 when it

was called again when Charles faced a growing rebellion in Scotland.

In 1642 he became a very important military commander. He started out with a small group of calvary and it quickly grew into a full regiment

by late 1642 or early 1643. He continued to fight and gain prestiege and, in 1644, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant General. In that same year he

paticipated in the Battle of Marston Moor, a fairly large battle between his troops and the Royalist army. During this battle his nephew Valentine Walton

was killed and Cromwell injured his head severly. He recovered and, in 1645, he became the Lieutenant General of Calvary of the New Model Army. He

served there untill the end of the First English Civil War.

From 1647 - 1649 he began his political career. During this time, the Parlament was trying to decide what to do with Charles I. In December of

1648 it was decided that he was to be tried for Treason. At this time Oliver was still in Northern England, but Once he returned he openly supported those

who wanted Charles dead. Not long after, a death warrent was signed and he was excecuted on January 30, 1649. After this, the Commonwelth of England

was established.

During the begining of the Commonwelth, Cromwell was put in charge of a fairly large regiment and he was asked to invade Ireland. His Irish campaign

lasted from 1649 - 1650, this campaign was extremely brutal on the Irish. Cromwell had said that he had only acted harshley against those who were

bearing arms, but the Irish say otherwise, they said that he acted out against all catholics with or without weapons. Now with Ireland under his control, he

moved onto his next campaign, against Scotland. During his time in Scotland, he was much less harsh. Most of the Scot's were protestants, some of

these people were also his alies during the First English Civil War. He won the war and even though he isn't widely liked, he isn't as hated as he is in

Ireland.

When he returned to England, he dissolved the Rump Parlement and established the Barebones Parlement. The Barebones Parlement was dissolved on

December 12, 1653 because they feared radicals that might take control. Once the old Parlement was dissolved The Protectorate was founded.

The Protectorate was first thought of by John Lambert. Once formed Cromwell was placed in the position of Lord Protector, a very inportant position that

paid a salary of 100,000 english pounds a year. During this time Cromwell issued several changes in Britian's laws. He strengthened the economy and

strengthened it's army.

During his origional campaign in Ireland, he most likely contracted malaria. This would stay with him up til his death on September 3, 1658. He died from a

very high fever at the age of 59 while staying in London. During his time as a leader he strengthed and expanded the English empire. Some considered him

a hero, others said he was a genocidal tyrant either way he did make a large impact on history.