One man has often been branded as a tyrant, a saint, a dictator and even a god. It is still a hot topic for debate to this very day; the subject of a man who created modern democracy, a subject of a man who scarred Britain's history, and a subject about a man who would kill for his religion. This one man, during his lifetime would carry out the jobs of the humble farmer, persuasive MP, ruthless commander, and the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. This man was 'King in all but name'. This man, was Oliver Cromwell.

Since his death as Lord Protector in 1658 his life, motives, quotes and actions have been the topic of intense investigation and debate. Whatever title is given to Cromwell; whether it be ''Brutal Bully'' or ''Chief of men'', his impact on a unstable period of British History is unquestionable.

Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon on 25th April 1599 and would lead a relatively quite existence for his early years, making the story of Oliver into a very interesting one. Oliver was brought up by his family as a Puritan, and for the rest of his life Oliver would hold the belief that Puritan rule would be the only way of life for he and his family, placing huge emphasis on the bible from which he referenced a great deal. The Puritans believed that they should lead their lives according to what was written in the Bible. The word ''Puritan'' means that followers had a pure soul and lived a good life. Cromwell believed that everybody else in England should follow his example. However, later in his life Oliver's actions would cause much debate by future historians as they argued whether Oliver's beliefs began as Puritan upbringing but spiralled into a dictatorship, with Oliver spinning the rules only to exert the full force of his power.

Throughout his life he would often entwine his religious and political beliefs, also committing himself to the Liberty of conscience, Cromwell believed that all ''true'' Christians had a right to worship as they pleased. However, from this ''true'' list of Christians Oliver was more than willing to exclude the Roman Catholics. This was down to the turmoil between protestant groups such as puritans and catholic groups such as the Roman Catholics. This turmoil was especially heightened now that Europe was in devastation, as Protestants and Catholics fought it out in the Thirty Years' war, however, England lay reasonably at peace since the Stuart dynasty had accepted the throne from Elizabeth I at the turn of the century, but when the son of James I: Henry, died, the throne passed to the next eldest son, Charles I: A quiet man who was extremely private. Nobody really objected to Charles' rule, except for the few people who were suspicious of Charles' marriage to a catholic wife.

For a few years the country was still at peace and proud of it. But soon, Charles' warlike nature was unleashed when he began to demand money from parliament for an expedition to Spain. The expedition was a failure, but if anything this urged Charles to pursue England's intentions to become involved in a war against their Catholic enemies. But parliament were becoming tired of Charles' demands for money to go to war when the country was almost bankrupt. Charles was rapidly becoming unpopular and after only a few years of rule was pushing the country to the limit; Charles had raised taxes and had created new, ridiculous taxes such as ship tax, to almost unpayable sums and had, by this time put small farmers such as Oliver Cromwell out of their homes and businesses. Soon, Charles was dictating the country with complete disregard to the people. This was because he believed in his divine right. An idea encouraged by his father, and an idea which stated that the King had been chosen by god, and therefore could do what he wanted to some extent. This was highly unpopular with the Scots (especially the Presbyterian religion), parliament and, the people. People like Oliver Cromwell.

By 1628 Cromwell had become disgruntled with the way the country was being run. He thought that the country was being ruled by a secret Catholic, he thought that the people deserved more rights. So, therefore he joined parliament as an MP for Huntingdon. However, contrary to Oliver's enthusiasm, his influence in parliament made little impression, and his first speech was poorly received. Then, after only one year of being an MP, Cromwell was forced out of parliament, along with the rest of the members when parliament was dissolved by Charles I. This sent Cromwell home, alone, angry and a distastefulness for the agitating monarch.

Contrary to many people's beliefs Charles ruled without the aid of parliament for another eleven years, even if his rule did consist of persistent instability. But, in 1640 Charles was forced to call for parliament when he became involved in a war with the Scottish Covanters and Presbyterians ( A form of purist Protestantism mostly originating from Scotland). So, therefore in order to gather funds Charles called back the MP's; including Oliver Cromwell. But now Cromwell was an MP for Cambridge. It is thought however, that Oliver owed his new position in parliament to the patronage of others.

So, Oliver had been given a second chance to bolster his power and ambition in order to dictate parliament towards his own preferences. Oliver was now older, more aggressive and was more than eager to abolish aristocracy, and to improve the puritan influence on the nation. But we can't just single out Cromwell for his sense of hostility towards the monarchy. The new parliament was more hostile than it's predecessor and it began by confronting Charles and discussing his grievances with him. Charles distinctly despised parliament. He found it boring, dull and most uninteresting. But if he wanted his money, he needed to attend, and to take part. We, now come back again to Charles' father, James I who etched into Charles a mentality that England, Scotland and Ireland should be united, and this was why Charles wanted his money. Because he was currently holding campaigns in Scotland against the Presbyterians and in Ireland. And, although Cromwell would protest to this now, he would later find himself almost mimicking the same campaigns as Charles. But for the time being Cromwell was happy with his place in parliament, but he was incredibly unhappy about Charles’s position.

At this time in History Britain was a protestant country, however although it's doctrine stood by Protestantism, it's appearance was very catholic. England, Scotland’s and Wales' churches were still very colourful and bright, much against the taste of puritans like Cromwell. Some Historians have argued that it was this that infuriated Cromwell and parliament's views toward the King, as the King was suited well to his church. However, many people were now beginning to suspect that Charles was harbouring catholic sympathies. After all, his marriage to a French Catholic strongly supported this suspicion. The feud between parliament and the monarchy was now stretched to within breaking point. The Long parliament by this time (1642) were furious with the stubbornness of the king, and slowly yet surely England, Scotland and Ireland were beginning to choose sides concerning the inevitable, impending civil war. Anarchy was riddling the British isles. Ireland was in chaos as Irish Catholics prepared for war over the puritans who would almost definitely support parliament. Finally though, the final strand of peace was broken by Charles when, after one of his earls had been imprisoned in the tower of London, Charles stormed parliament with 400 men to arrest five members of parliament on charge of treason. The five members however, were tipped off and escaped. When the King entered accompanied by armed men, this was a declaration of hostility. But, when the King asked the current speaker, where the five were, the speaker replied, ''May it please your majesty I have neither the eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the house is pleased to direct me whose servant I am here.'' So, basically by this statement Parliament had retaliated to Charles’s challenge of hostility by saying that his allegiance was to parliament than to the king. The Civil war had now begun.

In early January 1642, Charles fled London as the echoes of his attempted coup were still reverberating around the country. Negotiations throughout the summer were attempted by the King and the Long Parliament but they soon became stale and pointless. So, as the summer drew to a close towns, cities and hamlets declared their sympathies for either faction, however some were systematically decided because of their position concerning the current borders between the royalist section of the country and the Parliamentarian's. And as the conflict began to unfold in brief skirmishes much of the country tried their best to remain neutral, but the Navy and the big cities however were beginning to favour the parliamentarians, whereas the smaller, rural communities tended to support their King, because for some the King was all they knew, and had known for decades. But soon the simple farmers of these rural communities would be shocked by the introduction of a new force, the Roundheads.

The Roundheads was the name assigned to the parliamentarian forces during the English Civil war. They were such christened because of their bald, shaven heads. On the opposite side of the line which had recently been carved down Britain's centre was the Cavaliers. This was the name donned to the Royalists. The name Cavalier deriving from the French for 'knight'. Already, without consciously knowing it both sides had already drawn sides concerning their religious doctrines and Behaviour. For example, the Royalists, or Cavaliers were very catholic in appearance and actions. After all a lot of the gathering Royalist cause consisted of foreign mercenaries, and these mercenaries came from a country and time when Britain stood alone surrounded by catholic nations. So, the chances that many of these mercenaries were Catholic or from a Catholic country was extremely probable, if not certain, and this was to have an affect on the entire Royalist force. Also on this side the King and his supporters thought that they were fighting for an old and noble tradition of government in church and state. However, on the other side the parliamentarian cause was already wavering one year into the civil war. Many members felt unquestionable support for the king but parliament was driven forward by the people who wanted religious independence from a tyrannical king who had mangled the system of British religion for eleven years and more. It was high time that there were reforms and a return to radical Puritanism, and this was the view of the Parliament in Westminster. But soon the King had established his own parliament in Oxford. The Civil war was becoming more bitter by the minute, with defections, religious squabbles, uprisings and foreign influences. But most importantly, the Civil war was no longer a war over politics, it was now a war of Religion. The radical puritans on the side of Parliament, and the half protestant half Catholics on the side of the Royalist and the King. Parliament was in turmoil as it began losing frightened members who thought that betraying a king would be seen as evil. Parliament was also in disarray and many thought that already the war was lost and the King's forces would envelope them. What Parliament needed was a leader. But not necessarily Oliver Cromwell, although he would, play a pivotal role.

As the war progressed land swapped hands many times over but the south east remained extremely loyal to Parliament. But, on the far opposite of the southern coast, the north east and most of Wales there were overwhelming Royalist numbers. It seemed to some that Parliament would soon be engulfed by the King's forces and the conspirators would have to pay a traitors death, of hanging drawing and quartering; the same death that was carried out upon a religious traitor, Guy Fakes almost 20 years earlier. This did not sound very appealing to Cromwell and his counterparts so, therefore they had to fight on. But this Civil War was not proving to be the rout as predicted but - so far - had been a series of small skirmishes and the only tactics that had been used had been those of guerrilla warfare. What both sides needed to finally decide after almost two years of relatively little conflict who had the upper hand the two sides would need to meet on a battlefield. Then on June 9 the King drastically raised the standard of his army by almost two fold and after learning of this a group of parliamentarian forces under the Earl of Essex picked up more support in what he expected to be the pinnacle moment of the war drawing ever nearer, for the King was quite near and the two sides could finally have it out. However if Parliament wanted a deciding battle they would have to give up the road to London. Essex could not take this risk, so on the 14 September picked up reinforcements and positioned his army between the Royalists and London. The Parliamentarians now stood on one side of Worcestershire, while the Royalists stood on the other. It was now, surely inevitable that scouts from the two forces would meet and this soon happened. The chance crossing of the parliamentarian Calvary detachment became involved in a skirmish with the King's nephew, Prince Rupert's cavalry. The result was that The parliamentarian cavalry under Colonel John Brown were victorious. This subsequently resulted in Rupert and his forces retreating to Shrewsbury. As he and his royalists did this the roundhead forces moved to where they thought Rupert's position to be. Both sides were engaged in a virtual chess gamed with each other. Each faction was constantly trying to anticipate their enemies' move. Finally, after a council of war Rupert and his men decided to move on the now clear route to London in order to avoid battle. By the time the roundheads had discovered that the Royalists had slipped behind them they darted toward London in hot pursuit. But, as the forces' geographical positions became closer Essex was forced to intercept the Royalists who were tired from their initial sprint for the capital. The sides met at Edge hill on the 23 October 1642 and the first pitched battle between the puritan Parliamentarians and the Long haired, Cavaliers of the King commenced. The battle proved inconclusive yet both sides went home claiming victory.

Now both sides were even and the predicted Royalist landslide on parliament had not occurred. If anything, the Roundheads had gained a sturdy foothold in the war. Also, Oliver Cromwell, like any other man in parliament was now assigned as a man of war. But even after the lowest of military experience Cromwell was soon blockading supplies meant for the king in Cambridge. In the winter of 1642 Cromwell was then assigned his own regiment and before long succeeded in winning major victories for his cause. Cromwell was then to play a pivotal figure in the Battle of Marston Moor and the Battle for Newbury. Now a top military commander, Oliver received bitter abuse from his critics, most of them agreeing that Cromwell had led men of ''low birth'' into the Battle of Newbury. This was regarded as a mistake on Cromwell's part because at the time armies were still accustomed to assigning men of high stature to their frontlines, but Cromwell would break this tradition, for instead he would recruit the men he thought best to do the job, and this amongst other actions to come would change the face of warfare forever. Cromwell was once heard to say ''If you choose godly honest men to be captains of horse , honest men will follow them...I would rather have a plain russet-coated captain who knows what he fights for and loves what he knows than that which you call a gentleman and nothing else''. This was a view which was strongly rejected by the Royalist aristocrats, and one which would lose them a lot of support from the commoners and paupers who were willing to fight, for most saw the Royalists as Catholic due to their colourful, European appearance. Whereas the puritan styling of the Roundheads appealed to the common man and soon by 1644 Parliament had overwhelming support. Parliament was also beginning to single out its Royalist conspirators and sympathisers from within and when Parliament passed the self-denying-ordinance many MPs were removed from command. Including Cromwell's critics. The decree passed also stated that the Parliamentarian forces be re-moulded, replacing the old country associations. So, in June 1645 The New Model Army was formed with Sir Thomas Fairfax commanding from the front, with a rather sour Oliver Cromwell lurking just behind as second in command and as Lieutenant General of the Cavalry. Now Parliament had a disciplined, modern, organised military it could almost smell victory as they bore down on their frantic, disarrayed adversaries. In the ensuing battle of Naesby the Parliamentarians came away with a resounding win thanks to Cromwell’s military genius and the Royalist's lack of organisation. On the contrary however The New Model Army had won their first battle and could now sweep through the country mopping up small groups of resistance. By this time Charles had been arrested. This had marked the end of the First Civil War, but Cromwell's job was not done yet, far from it in fact. Oliver still had to desist the Parliament that their new favour of Presbyterian reform was wrong and that this reform would only lead from one hierarchy to another. Now, at this period in time, in 1647, with the Civil War seemingly won and finished with, Cromwell now found himself opposing the side for which he had fought bitterly for. It was at this time that Cromwell's drive for success and the recognition of his puritan, holy cause stepped up to a higher level. It was most probably stepped up even further when in June 1647 the King was liberated from Parliament imprisonment. Charles then proceeded to take refuge with his Scottish cousins in Nottingham. Charles then displayed a marvellous example of negotiation when he - yet again - hoodwinked the Scots to rebel against Parliament and restore Charles to the throne. In exchange for their services Charles would agree to reform the Scottish church for good; a promise which he had made and subsequently revoked almost a decade before.

As Oliver persistently drove forward his belief of a puritan church against the indecisive parliament Charles was escaping from Hampton Court. Then, after failing to come to a political agreement with the King concerning Parliament's influence on the country, which would be to have just as many rights as the king, the Scottish invaded in 1648. However, despite their devout loyalty to their rightful King, just outside Preston, the Scots were swiftly brushed aside by Cromwell and the New Model Army. This battle being the first Cromwell masterminded in command then bolstered his charisma and it would have surely been a distinct sign that things would go his way. From this time on Oliver's speeches and letters came under the heavy influence of biblical reference and as Parliament became enveloped with the King's negotiations, Cromwell must have felt that his loyalties were stretched. On the one hand, his new army for which he had grown to love and in which it had grown to love him. Surely without him it would be useless. And on the other hand, Parliament, the faction for which he had fought so gallantly for. But now Parliament had betrayed Cromwell's beliefs and Cromwell was sure that by reasoning with the King would only bring about more war and more tyranny under an unfair King. Cromwell could not let this happen, he had fought hard and would not see it go to waste. So, therefore Oliver would pledge his allegiance to his Army, for which he now believed was God's chosen instrument, and that the common men in that army were god's chosen people. So, was Cromwell really craving for a fairer Britain? Or was he simply a rebel to whoever challenged his superiority, after all he had already played a pivotal role in pushing for war with the king, and he was now challenging parliament. So was Cromwell merely a spoilt child? Fattened with power which he was now mistreating by sulking and storming off in his own little tantrum. Parliament would of course bow down to him, and I believe that it is at this exact moment that Oliver could smell the not so distant scent of Cromwell's Britain. A Britain where a Puritan cause was obeyed. A Britain where the common man would decide his country's affairs. Oliver had one foot in the door; there was just one obstacle remaining, the King.

Now, with the army firmly behind him Cromwell could really throttle parliament for a solution concerning the king. I do not believe that Cromwell wanted to kill a King, and an English King for that matter. But it could be argued, and argued perhaps without conclusion whether Cromwell used his diplomatic skills along with his military support to bully parliament into a decision as to what to do with the King, or, if we go back to before the King escaped his Hampton Court Prison, whether Cromwell and his counterpart, Fairfax's reasoning fell on deaf ears with the King. However, what we can be certain of is that after defeating the Scots Oliver had to deal with the King, and unfortunately the fact that Charles had escaped capture and raised rebellion displayed an at of treason. The Parliamentarians were quite happy to negotiate with the King at first but it was at the exact point after the rebellion that Parliament saw the King as dishonourable, and responsible for unjustifiable bloodshed when the war was over. This act of a Second civil war resulted in a severe punishment for the King, however Cromwell did not necessarily rush to kill the King. Nobody had ever killed a King before, and even Cromwell was wary of how the Lord would react to such a crime. So, therefore The King was sent to trial and put before a precise selection of the best lawyers, judges and administrators of law in the Kingdom. But, would England remain a Kingdom for much longer? Many of the administrators were selected specially by parliament. Just before the trial however a group of optimistic MPs still purged by their loyalties to their King were prevented from sitting with the King in order to continue negotiations. The remaining parliament, the Rump Parliament congregated to discuss the penalty deemed to the monarch. Meanwhile the prevented MPs were marched upon as they yet again tried to negotiate with he king. This action infuriated the army who, effectively were overseeing the proceedings in a strictly best manner. Plus, with the army much under Cromwell's command it has since been debated whether this was the first instance of Cromwell's looming dictatorship. Nevertheless the parliament had been radically reduced and now only contained 75 members and at the army's bidding. Acts such as this, e.g. Bullying politicians and rigging decisions can be more closely associated with dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini in recent years, also certain parties such as the Soviets can most cert6ainly be accused of bullying an entire nation for almost a century. But in 1648 it was a new idea, and in a time when the transition from barbaric lack of authority when civil war and uprisings were common to a time where fair democracy and diplomacy was to play the main part, and although Cromwell was to take advantage of this transition to drive forward his beliefs he would later help to quicken this process of transition.

Even though the King was only being brought to trial this was a relatively new idea. Of course, Kings and monarchs had been deposed but had never been brought to trial as rightful monarchs to their throne. The prosecution was mad up of 135 members and it was headed by the solicitor General John Cook. To ensure that the King's trial went the Parliamentarian's way all the administrators of the trial were firm supporters of Parliament's cause. Charles' charge was one of high treason and ''other crimes'' but the King refused to plea, claiming that no court could have jurisdiction over a monarch. Charles then aggravated parliament for a week by refusing to plea, being asked three times. It was then customary to take the refusal to enter a plea as an admission of guilt. The trial continued, much to the dissatisfaction of parliament, as the King dealt blow after blow to their reputation and mocked their every accusation. It is said that on more than one occasion some of the judges became overwhelmed by Charles' genius of speech and later admitted that they felt the guilt of putting such a brilliant man to death. However, the King was put to death for, in a same instance as his Grandmother, Mary Queen of Scots, Charles could not be trusted by his prosecutors. He had sparked the second civil war while in captivity and would most probably conspire with the French, Spanish, Scots and Irish if he were not dealt with thoroughly. So, therefore a death warrant was drawn up and subsequently signed by 59 of the commissioners, including Cromwell on 29 January 1649. As a result of the ruling Charles was led to and confined in the palace of Whitehall. There had already been a execution scaffold erected in front of the palace. Then, on 30 January the King stepped out onto the scaffold, wearing two pure white shirts so to keep himself from shivering which could be perceived as fear. Then, he lay is head on the block and gave the executioner the signal. There was a swing of the axe and a sullen murmur withered through the gathered crowd. Records state that it was all a rather sombre affair, most eyewitness accounts pointing out that the usual phrase after an execution, ''Behold the Head of Traitor!'' And although Charlie’s head was exhibited the words were not used. Some were even reported to have seen the King's bold eyes look up to the sky as they held his head up high. Oliver Cromwell then had the King's head sewn back on so his family could pay their respects. This act displayed that Cromwell had not cared about the King but he simply had no other choice. This sounds very harsh but in a time where the Geneva convention was far from being carried out, it can be seen as a last resort of a country which needed stability, not ten more years of bickering and war over the throne and Parliament. However, some people have argued, and it is a valid argument, that Cromwell new with the army behind him that he could influence the commissioners and thus began his purge to seize power. If he did want to do this though, he would first have to find a solution to the precarious situation concerning the possible rebellions which might occur in Ireland and Scotland. Cromwell had endured a tempestuous time and in almost twenty years of gliding up the military and political ladder from the humble landowner he deserved a rest, and in addition, Cromwell also wanted to oversee the course of the political climate to ensure things went his way. Essentially however, at this point of execution it brought about an end to a civil war which ultimately, had been not a civil war between factions but a civil war between men, and two great men for that matter. Of these two great men Cromwell had succeeded mad could now embark on his Civil war which again, would not be between factions but between religions. So, as commander of the army, and in order to prevent more war Oliver set off for Scotland and Ireland. The war of the three kingdoms had begun.

Without effectively realising it, while trying to prevent war Cromwell had in effect started another war. Although not as heated as the last nevertheless it was still a war where lives would be lost and not just military lives, but innocent lives as well. In addition, this war would not just be a war of political belief, it would be cloaked in religious feuds similar to the last.

Although the Royalists had been soundly defeated in the Civil war they were still hanging about a bit, so to speak and small groups were still content of putting Charles' son Charles on his rightful, the throne. Some of these groups were situated in the distant, solitary places in Scotland, but most were harbouring with the Confederation of Irish Catholics in Ireland. And it was here where the monotonous war which had ravaged the British Isles for nearly a decade would come to an end. Plus, it would be this conquest of Cromwell in Ireland which would scar his name and legacy indefinitely.

All the way throughout History Ireland has played host to many dramatic events. For example, in the 14th century Richard II was deposed while fighting in Ireland. Also, the Battle of the Boyne, the first conflict concerning the Jacobite cause took place in Ireland. But from 1649 to 1650 Ireland would play host yet again but this time to a specifically more horrendous, decisive event, and one which would be argued, debated and pondered by thousands of scholars in the centuries to come. After mopping up little resistance in Scotland Cromwell glanced upon Ireland with envious, unsympathetic eyes, caught under the same spell of a United Kingdom as James I. This is very ironic as Cromwell was now mimicking almost exactly the former intentions of the Stuart dynasty, but the difference was that, Cromwell would be extremely willing to carry out his intentions to unite all the British isles under his Puritan republic. For by this time Cromwell was, ultimately, in control of mainland Britain. He had the army, the parliament but not his enemies on his side.

Oliver's main enemy which had haunted not only him, but his religion and cause for years were the Irish Catholics. And ever since the Irish rebellion of 1641 where Irish Catholics turned a coup into a slaughter of Protestant settlers, especially puritans. More bloodshed was about to be etched into British history over yet another religious squabble.

Oliver Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of the English parliament in 1649. Cromwell's official aim while in Ireland was to crush the Irish Catholics who had allied with the English Royalists, but it is widely thought and we will soon see a prime example of this, that Cromwell's unofficial aim was to punish the Irish for their rebellion on 1641. Parliament had already tried to embark on the very mission Cromwell had embarked upon but had failed due to the Civil war, but now the New Model Army could be regularly reinforced and re supplied. And it would have to be, after all the Irish Confederation was now a major threat to the Commonwealth, they had been allowed years and years to prepare and were now pitched and ready for a fight to the death with their political, and religious enemies.

Cromwell's nine month campaign was to prove decisive and effective and overall a dazzling example of his military genius. For example, when Cromwell arrived the Parliamentarians only held outposts at Dublin and Derry, when Cromwell left however they held most of the island. When on one mission Cromwell found himself besieging the fortified towns of Drogheda and Wexford due to their geographical and logistical importance. Then at the siege of Drogheda in September 1649 Cromwell's troops massacred nearly 3,500 people after its capture - compromising around 2,700 Royalist soldiers and all the men in the town carrying arms, including civilians, prisoners and Catholic priests. Then, at the siege of Wexford in October later that year another massacre took place under confused circumstances. While Cromwell himself was busy negotiating surrender terms, the New Model Army Soldiers broke into the town and killed 2000 Irish troops ad up to 1,500 civilians. These actions still echo throughout Irish historical memory. These two atrocities, while horrific in their own way, were no exception In Ireland since 1641, but are well remembered even today because of a concerted propaganda stunt by the Royalists which portrayed Cromwell as a butcher. After this Cromwell succeeded and failed in many other battles and sieges, but despite his great success overall he left Ireland as a butcher and arrived in England, a Saint. However, the atrocities in Ireland would never be forgotten and would hang over Cromwell's in years to come.

The debate over Cromwell's actions in Ireland rages to this very day. But if we look in depth at why the extent of Cromwell's brutality was unleashed we will see that it is not so one sided an argument. For example, can Cromwell be blamed because of his hatred for Irish Catholics? Or was he simply fulfilling his mission? Was Oliver exerting the full extent of his power for not the first time I might add. Or were the atrocities simply mistakes? Or, finally, had Cromwell lost discipline in his ranks and decided not to control his troops who he surely could have called off immediately. He did not. Whatever the theses on the events the fact is that it happened, but most of the brutality infamous with Cromwell actually occurred once he left Ireland. This was carried out by the remaining commanders who sent hoards of Irish to the West Indies as slaves. Also years after Cromwell's conquest the parliamentarians began banning all Catholicism and executing priests. So can Cromwell be blamed? You decide. For this is yet another mystery which has cunningly been ravelled into the story of Oliver Cromwell.

On Cromwell's return to the newly founded Republic, he found the parliament engaging in infighting. And although Cromwell tried to galvanise the rump parliament he failed and the building blocks which Oliver had so neatly lain down for a future democracy were falling away one by one. So, with the power to do so, Cromwell dismissed the Rump Parliament in 1653. This act could be perceived as hypocrisy seeing as Cromwell had been open of the infuriated MPs when Charles had done the very same thing almost a decade earlier. After the dismissal The ineffective constitutional government was set up but dissolved before the year was out. So, therefore Cromwell was offered the title of Lord Protector for life to undertake ''the chief magistracy and the administration of government''. He had the power to call and dissolve parliaments but obliged to take in a vote. Cromwell now was ultimately given a title for what he already was. After all he already had this power due to the support of his army, but most British people needed a leader, and Cromwell was that man. He was sworn as Lord Protector on 15 December 1653. Cromwell then continued to live out his life as ''a king but all in name''. He made many revolutionary advances in politics and improved Britain towards future greatness. But, crucially now that Cromwell had risen from the depths of poverty to Leader of the Commonwealth he could exert his religious beliefs onto the people, he could help his common man, for after all, he could relate to the hardship he had found himself under the tyranny of the King. Unfortunately most people did not understand their role in the country, and couldn't get to grips with the fact that Oliver had effectively created a modern democracy. Plus, many did not accept Puritan rule, and as Cromwell sunk into old age perhaps his radical beliefs got the better of him as he introduced many laws we would see as extremely harsh today. But at first Cromwell did not ban Christmas or anything such as, he tried to tone it down from the commercialism and negligence to the Lord. But he found he couldn't control this so therefore banned it. Other such acts followed as a result, and the people began to grow ill of Cromwell's reign. But while this was happening on the British were gaining a vital foothold in world affairs and the economy boomed.

But unfortunately Cromwell enjoyed very little of his reign. He did not enjoy a very long reign at all. And to make matters worse when he died and passed his legacy onto his son Richard, his son then proceeded to abdicate after only a few months of rule and the constitutional government called for Chares II to be reinstated as King of England. This was a huge blow to Cromwell's cause. Oliver was centuries ahead of his time. I believe that Cromwell did what he did for his people, and his beliefs, and I admit that Cromwell may have slaughtered thousands in name of his religion but surely a man who is willing to go from farmer to Leader of the Commonwealth for their religion and belief can be credited as ''great''. So, despite his wrong -doings I feel that Cromwell's dedication to his religion is unquestionable. Plus, Cromwell succeeded in challenging a country on many an occasion and paved the way for the modern democracy in which we live today. He also modernised the army to a state unmatched by any in Europe, and Cromwell also left the country in a stable state after almost twenty years of civil war. Despite this when Charles II was reinstated in the reformation Cromwell's remain were exhumed and hung and beheaded. This was truly a barbaric act, and one which displayed Cromwell as a traitor. And that was how he stayed for many years in the eyes of the public but, almost century afterward, with the increasing rise of political parties people began to acknowledge Cromwell’s actions. After all, he was truly ahead of his time in terms of politics.

I admire Oliver Cromwell a great deal, however I find it impossible to describe why I admire him so much. Hopefully this essay has given you some useful information and an insight into my views on Cromwell. However, I feel that I can summarise my affection for Cromwell with the help of another person whom I admire a great deal, William Shakespeare.