Oliver Cromwell Research Paper

The leadership of Oliver Cromwell was the most important factor that led to the Parliamentarian’s victory in the Civil wars

The English Civil war was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists, which were better known as Roundheads and Cavaliers. The war took place between the years 1642 to 1651. There were three wars, the first that was from the year 1642 to 1646; the second lasted from the year 1648 to 1649; and the third war, which was the last war, lasted from 1649 to 1651. Both the first and the second war were made up of the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, and the last war was between The supporters of King Charles II against the supporters
of the Rump Parliament. This war was mainly caused by the religious and political disagreements between Parliament and the Kings of England. In my opinion, I agree pretty much that Oliver Cromwell leadership was the most important factor that led the Parliamentarians to victory in the Civil wars.

The leadership of Oliver Cromwell importance is shown throughout many stages in the Civil war and even through the beginning. In the outbreak of the war Oliver Cromwell took up arms for the Parliament and formed the Parliamentarians.
Oliver Cromwell was a Roundhead and was the lieutenant general of horse for the allied forces, Sir Thomas Fairfax was a commander for the allied forces and Captain general and Commander-in-chief of the new model army on the struggle for Yorkshire and Prince Rupert was commander of the Royalist cavalry. Oliver Cromwell’s courage and leadership is first shown when he put together a small 200 man group of volunteers to protect the Cambridge colleges from King Charles men, and later he raise 60 horsemen and secured Cambridge shire for Parliament. Later in the war he noticed the Royalist cavalry was in superiority and he went out to recruit honest and godly men and lead them with firm discipline. Having helped secure most of the East Anglia he was appointed governor of Ely and later promoted to colonel in the new eastern association army. Cromwell became famous in the eastern association for his war acts; he and his leadership took a major role in parliament’s victory and the battle of Marston Moor. In the battle of Marston Moor Cromwell and his Ironsides, which was a name given to him by Rupert, were cavalry and sent a surprise attack on Byron were victorious after some minutes, in the other side of the battle allied forces had fled or had been defeated. Cromwell unaware of the defeat in
the right wing of the battle went in for a second charge and defeated the royalists from behind and with the help of the Earl of Manchester they ended the battle in two hours.
The new model army, which was a new model of the Parliamentary army, was taken from an idea of one of Oliver Cromwell speeches in Parliament and was based on many of Oliver Cromwell’s beliefs and thoughts. Primary source: In 1643 Oliver Cromwell wrote a letter to Suffolk County Committee and wrote” I would rather have a man that knows and loves what he fights for... than a man which you call a gentleman”. Oliver Cromwell held a major role in the battle of Naseby for his great decision-making, he attacked the royalist infantry, which were weakened through three directions, and this made the royalist surrender and continue to the last stand of the royalist forces in Dust hill, which was later defeated by
Sir Fairfax and with this victory the Parliamentarians had the kings mail and private papers which were plans to call the catholic Irish to fight the Parliamentarians. These papers were later published and revealed to the public, which lead to a Royalist political damage and made it hard for the Royalist to believe that they had a chance of victory. Oliver Cromwell made contribution to some of the wars tactics, he made a tactic to discipline his soldiers and not to leave the their ground so the horses weren’t tired and could make another charge against the enemy. In the second civil war in the battle of Preston, Oliver Cromwell led his cavalry and the allied forces to victory through a brilliant campaign that made the Scottish troops surrender after hours of battle Oliver Cromwell leadership and willing to sacrifice things for the greater good for the army and for his cavalry troops led him to win every battle he fought, become England’s military dictator and to smooth the relationship between Parliament and the army in some periods of time.
After much research and investigation of many events that support and contradict the theory of Oliver Cromwell’s leadership being the most important factor that led the Parliamentarians to win the English Civil wars. I conclude that Oliver Cromwell’s leadership the most important factor that led the Parliamentarians to victory by shown in his acts and roles in the many battles he was included in and all his contributions to the new model army and war tactics and strategies. Not only did his leadership led the Parliamentarians to victory but it also led him to win the Irish wars and become England’s Military dictator.

Bibliography: * http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/english_civil-war.htm * http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/oliver-cromwell.htm * http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1644-york-march-marston-moor.htm#marston * http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1645-leicester-naseby.htm#naseby * http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/STUcivilwarMT.htm * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Model_Army