Oliver Cromwell was a loved and historical leader but also one of the most hated leaders. He was a very strict, brave and tactical leader. But was it because of his tactics he became a brilliant battle leader. In this essay I will be explaining why he was a great leader or not. Using the three sources including a drawing.
Cromwell is the man that fought in many major battles and won them. He helped parliament over throw the King of England. He did this by creating the new model army with its strict, disciplined, brave men. He built this army with Fairfax and with Cromwell’s tactics destroyed the opposition. But Cromwell didn’t just use his army to defeat other armys he used it to scare them. After the civil war the Irish rebelled. Cromwell took his army to Drogheda to destroy them. Drogheda surrendere but Cromwell carried on and killed every person in the village. This was against the rules if war. But historians say he did this to scare of any other rebels from attacking.
This source was written by a historian who wrote the biography so it won’t be biased. It shows that as a military commander he was very good. In 1643 he fought several battles and won all of them. Crowell won these battles because he disciplined his army a lot. He took in religious people so they wouldn’t loot and plunder. Also he had great tactics, he used a wheel where he ran around the side and attacked them from behind. These tactics allowed him to win all his matches. On the battle field he would control his army superbly, he would not late them chase after the opposition for loot and plunder. Cromwell in training kicked out anyone out of place who was misbehaving. This shows that he was a good leader. Parliament also had better resources and money this helped get better equipment and armour.
Source 2 was written by Clarendon in 1688 and was in France with Charles I son. This source is biased as he wasn’t and Drogheda. Also he was friends with the King so he would have supported them. This source tells us that the Irish threw down their weapons as an offer of peace. But Cromwell told his men to put everyone to sword which meant to kill everyone. This source is not very truthful as it is biased.
Source 3 is a drawing by a dutch artist in 1649. It shows Cromwell wearing the Kings crown, Orb, Sword, Armour and Royal robes. He standing in front of Charles I’s execution. To the left of Cromwell there are devils lifting a dog. Thes represents the Pope. It also shows that Cromwell and the supports of him hated the pope. I find ironic how Cromwell fought so hard to get rid of the king and now he has become one.
In conclusion I think Cromwell was good leader but a bad person. The way he controlled his army was amazing and the way he wasn’t scared of anything shows he was a great leader. But he was a bad person, when he attacked the Irish rebels he killed everyone after they surrounded. Also how he became king after all he had done to get rid of the King this shows how he was a bad person. However he was a great leader.
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