Early 19th century painting by Abraham Cooper. Home Cromwell Significance. Why is Cromwell Important? He rose to become the first commoner to become Head of State in British history. Cromwell divides opinions: partly this is down to those after the Restoration who wanted blacken his name, partly because some of his actions, such as his Irish campaign, were controversial even during his lifetime and continue to cause discussion and debate even today. Some love him; others loathe him — either way he is impossible to ignore.
Cromwell appointed his son, Richard as his successor. However, Richard was not as successful at leadership as his father, not having as good a relationship with the army. There was also conflict between parliament and the army. This ended the protectorate. The formal funeral procession for Cromwell was a grand affair, through the streets of London, and modelled on similar funeral processions for kings, particularly James I. It was an elaborate procession, with people lining the streets to watch the carriage pass the distance between Somerset House and Westminster Abbey, where he was buried.
Despite refusing the crown during his life, his wooden funeral effigy which lay in state at Somerset House before his funeral was dressed in robes with a crown, orb and sceptre. They were hanged in chains at Tyburn before being beheaded. Oliver Cromwell might well be the most controversial person in British history.
The lowly landowner who became a quasi-king, helping slaying an actual king in the process, he's regarded as a champion of liberty by some, and a kind of 17th Century fascist by others. So should we celebrate or revile Cromwell today? Consider the opposing points of view and make your own thoughts felt below. Sounds over the top? Not really.
Oliver Cromwell was a brutal military leader who believed in not just beating his enemies but decimating them. No wonder the English Civil War helped make his name, propelling him to the top of the Roundhead food chain in the battle against Royalist forces. But war is necessarily bloody and brutal, you might say. Fair enough, but what of Cromwell's vicious, almost genocidal conquest of Ireland? In the wake of Charles I's execution, Cromwell led his army to take on the Catholics and Royalists in Ireland, whom he regarded as a threat to the new republic.
This was no mere political issue, though. Cromwell's bigotry was also behind it: his contempt for Catholicism meant he would show no mercy during this notoriously violent campaign. In September , Cromwell's men entered the town of Drogheda and slaughtered almost everyone they found. This included opponents that held different opinions about the type and degree of changes they wanted but they all agreed that Charles needed to change policies or go.
In Charles I betrayed them starting the Second Civil War and they resolved to 'bring him to account'. Cromwell was one of those who tried Charles in and sentenced him to death. Parliament asked Cromwell to crush the remaining royalist supporters of the king, who continued to rebel, against the authority of Parliament.
0コメント