Oliver Cromwell Research Paper

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell is arguably one of the most controversial figures in the history of England and Great Britain. While an influential figure in Britain with being the commander-in-chief of the army and the Lord Protector, conversely Cromwell is seen as one of the most infamous people in Ireland, due to his numerous massacres. Cromwell started to become a prominent figure in Britain during the Civil War over the manner of England’s government. His keen war abilities allowed him to be seen as a hero during his life time in Britain. However, after his death, people began looking into what he did and the views on him varied drastically. Cromwell was born on the 25 April 1599 into one of the greatest families of Huntingdonshire

One of the first and most known places he attacked as a military officer in Ireland was Drogheda in 1649. Drogheda was one of the best-fortified towns in Ireland (Plant 2008). Sir Arthur Aston boasted that “anyone who could take Drogheda could capture Hell itself” as the town was protected by a circuit of walls four to six feet wide and twenty feet high that were punctuated with by a number of guard towers. Cromwell and his army used siege guns to blast breaches in the walls in preparation for storming the town. By late evening of the same day, around 6,000 Parliamentarians were in the town overwhelming all resistance and slaughtering officers and soldiers. Catholic priests and friars were killed on sight and many civilians died in the carnage. A group of defenders who had barricaded themselves in the steeple of St. Peter’s Church were burned alive when Cromwell gave orders to set fire to the church. Around 2,000 people were murdered in the storming and massacre of Drogheda. Because of this event and many more like it that were carried out by Cromwell, he is still one of the most hated men in Irish history. Despite the excessive murdering that Cromwell and his army did, he was still elected Lord Protector (a British head of state in respect to the established church) after this. He forgave himself for the massacre, saying that it was karma and a righteous judgment of God for all of the Catholics who slaughtered the Protestant settlers in 1641. Time and again, Cromwell justified his actions by saying he was obeying God’s will (Gaunt 16). His purging and ejecting of parliaments, trial and execution of the king, his own promotion and acquisition of power – all of these actions were required and commanded of Cromwell by