Oliver Cromwell England's First Gentleman Dictator And King Charles 1st

Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 – 3 September 1658)

The consensus of reliable sources state that he was born in Huntingdon.

There is a local belief in St.Ives, that he was born at his uncles home, Cromwell House.

There is a plaque stating this, on the property to this day.

The house stands on the site of the House of Austin Friars, founded circa 1285.

The house was formerly church property and 'granted' to the Cromwell family at the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536 and 1541)

Today it is a Grade II listed building and used as a care home for the elderly.

Oliver's Background

Oliver came from a moderately wealthy background.

His Grandfather and Uncle had made the families finances secure, by being on the right side, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

King Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) attempted to destroy the catholic church in the UK by seizing all of the church's assets, because the Pope wouldn't let him divorce.

Oliver Cromwell's family, sided with King Henry VIII and joined the new protestant religion.

In the process, managed to get their hands on huge tracts of land, buildings and a wide variety of chicken farming, business assets.

Eventually this wealth pasted to Oliver's Uncle, Thomas Cromwell.

When Thomas Cromwell passed away the fortune came to Oliver.

Oliver Cromwell' real name was Oliver Williams.

He changed his name, when he inherited his Uncle's wealth, in recognition of the bequest.

The Good Life

Prior to his inheritance Oliver led a relatively quiet but moderately prosperous life, in the chicken and sheep farming business.

He never really got involved in anything political or the wider economy until he was in his 40's.

Oliver had been leading a quiet life, until King Charles I decided; that he wanted to raise taxes, to finance a war he was planning, against France and Spain.

King Charles 1 had already introduced a very unpopular ship tax, on freight entering and leaving the UK.

King Charles 1, thought it might be a wizard wheeze, to impose a land tax on the wealthy land owners; of this fair isle. Well you know that is never going to work.

These new taxes, had the potential to make things very costly for anyone with land.

Oliver's uncle I would assume, was not best pleased; with the prospect of having to throw money, in the Kings direction.

Whilst all these shenanigans were unfolding, Oliver fell on slightly hard times and moved to a modest home in St.Ives, Cambridgeshire.

It was during this period that Oliver had a religious transformation and revelation.

Oliver had been raised in a puritan protestant household and during his time of hardship, developed a strong Puritanical conviction.

God wanted him, to free England from the tyranny of the Monarchy.

To say that King Charles 1 was unpopular would be the understatement of all time.

In a few short years he managed to annoy just about everyone in the realm.

He started by marrying a Catholic woman Henrietta Maria. They were married on 13 June 1625,

In fact, the North American Province of Maryland was named in her honour

King Charles 1 followed the well worn path of divine kings, and demanded money from parliament. But they were having none of it.So Charles closed down parliament and sent them all packing.

Parliament in those days was not what it is today, for a start they only met once in a blue moon or every 5 years, whichever came first.

Parliament was made up of landed gentry and the monied classes. ( exactly like today).

When Charles wanted to finance a war or build a new palace.

Parliament was supposed to just pay for it, he believed he was entitled, he was the King, ordained by God, to spend the countries money as he saw fit ?

Well these arguments continued for many years, with Charles throwing more of his toys out of the pram.

Parliament getting bolder and tougher, as things got steadily more out of control.

Some would say, that King Charles1 had it coming. He was deluded and believed that he was ordained by God to rule.

He was up against an increasingly affluent, land owning class; who were not keen on the king telling them what to do.

It can be argued that Oliver Cromwell was also deluded. As a puritan, he believed that the more successful he became, showed him, that God was smiling on his endeavors.

The constant meddling by Charles1 in the affairs of Parliament resulted in The English Civil War (1642–1651)

After years of war, the Parliamentarians beat the Royalists and King Charles 1 was eventually beheaded.

Oliver Cromwell presided over the gradual collapse of Parliament and was named Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of the United kingdom.

"An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth"

Adopted by the Rump Parliament, on 19 May 1649 Source: wikipedia.org

Oliver Knows Best

Eventually believing he was being guided by God he dispensed with Parliament, as they did not seem able to agree on anything.

Cromwell retained enough people to run the government, with the Establishment of Barebone's Parliament: 1653.

During his time in power, he began to be referred to as your highness, and even signed his name Oliver P for Protector, much as a King would sign their name, Charles R for Regina.

Oliver Cromwell died on the 3rd Sept 1658 after several months of ill health and was buried in Westminster Abbey. A place usually reserved for Poets, Kings and Queens.

The restoration of the Monarchy under King Charles II, led to Oliver Cromwell's body being exhumed, hung, and chopped up.

His head stuck on a pike outside of Westminster Hall (Houses of Parliament) where it stayed for over 26 years.

Eventually the pike broke during a storm.

Oliver Cromwells head, went through many, object de macabre, dealers hands in the following centuries.

It was finally buried at his Alma Mater Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1960.

Church And State

The historical importance of Oliver Cromwell should not be underestimated.

The actions of both Charles 1, who believed he was owed a living because of his birthright, and Oliver Cromwell's 'divine' intervention with the Parliamentarians, led eventually to the separation of church and state in Britain.

Oliver Cromwell was 'driven', by a desire to do, what he thought was the 'right thing'.

Charles 1 was driven by a belief, that he was entitled to privilege, ordained by God. This could only end badly.

Today in Britain, we have another Prince Charles in line to the throne.

He has married a 'divorced catholic'.

Many people in Britain believe, that Prince Charles will never be King.

And that the succession will pass to his son Prince William.

The power of the state is such these days, that it is unlikely that we could have another civil war in England.

At least not based on Royalist versus Parliamentary issues.

However there is always a danger that, when 'the people's' needs are ignored by the privileged few!

No one is safe. Not even a King.

Oliver Cromwell was England's First Gentleman Dictator.

In true dictator style, he handed power to his son. Not being half the man, his father was.

He son was deposed within a year.

What happened to the puritans you ask?

They left Britain, bound for the USA.

And the rest, as they say is history!