In January 1649, King Charles I was executed, his death warrant signed by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell became the new ruler of England and in his reign he achieved some controversial accomplishments. In this essay I will assess whether these acts made him a hero or a villain, using contemporary views, quotes and other sources which give different interpretations.
One of Cromwell’s major assets was the New Model Army, which he established and used to defeat the King’s army. ...
However, in other ways during his time as a military leader Cromwell can be seen as a villain. ... Cromwell himself was in fact just a farmer before the civil war, thus causing people to doubt his ability as a general. But success against the King made Cromwell many enemies during the war, almost cancelling out the allies he made.
Therefore interpretations of Cromwell as a military leader differ because he did things that may be seen as good or bad, like the defeating of the King’s army. ... So there were both good and bad points relating to Cromwell and the New Model Army.
Cromwell also played a large part in the trial and execution of Charles I, and also signed his death warrant. ... Cromwell believed that he was killing a traitor who had previously betrayed parliament by abandoning democracy, and that he was delivering the country from the evil of Charles. ... Cromwell’s original aim of the civil war was to remove the king’s advisors, so the murder of the King is a little confusing. This may have just been part of a plan to get Cromwell power of the country.
Consequently, Cromwell maybe seen as a hero or a villain as the trial was fair and unfair in different senses. ... They were in the New Model Army, and helped Cromwell gain power. In 1649, Cromwell executed the Levellers outside a church. ... Some historians say this was the right thing for Cromwell to have done and it was completely vindicated. ... Cromwell’s views were slightly different – he believed that letting the levellers have their way would have undermined his authority and position. Cromwell also thought that equality for everyone would make criminals and wrong-doers demand too much from the country.
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