Oliver Cromwell: Reformist? Hypocrite? And What’s With His 

Head?

 

    Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon to Robert Cromwell and his second wife, Elizabeth Steward, on 25 April 1599. Oliver was the fifth child born to Robert and Elizabeth and the only son to survive to adulthood.

Oliver Cromwell, Samuel Cooper, 1656, NPG, London

     Oliver’s great-great-grandmother was Katherine Cromwell, sister of the infamous chief minister of King Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell. The Anglican Cromwell sur name was taken by Oliver’s family, as the family were Welsh born. The Welsh methods of surnames were misunderstood by the English. For example, Oliver’s great-great grandfather was named Morgan ap William, which translates to Morgan, son of William. His son’s name was Richard ap Morgan, which translates to Richard, son of Morgan, and this would continue down the line. (Here’s looking at you Owen ap Tudor!) When Oliver’s great-grandfather, Richard, met King Henry VIII, arranged by his uncle, Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII urged Richard to take an English surname. Henry VIII suggested that Richard should take the surname of his well-respected uncle. And so it was that Cromwell’s last name was adopted by his nephew and passed down to future generations.

 

Thomas Cromwell, Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1532-1533, The Frick Collection

     Oliver was baptized on 29 April 1599, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, at All Saints Church in Huntingdon. Oliver married Elizabeth Bouchier on 22 August 1620 at St. Giles-without-Cripplegate in London. The two had nine children, six of which would survive.

     In 1628, Cromwell was elected to Parliament. In 1631, the Cromwell family moved to St. Ives. This was a step backwards for the Cromwell family, which seems to have lead to some sort of emotional breakdown for Cromwell. It was probably around this time that Cromwell developed religious leanings towards Puritanism.

     By this time, King Charles I was the reigning monarch of England. Charles I had only called Parliament three times at this point: once in 1628, a second time in 1640 (which became known as the Short Parliament) and a third time, also in 1640, which became known as the Long Parliament. The Long Parliament failed to resolve outstanding issues and thus began the Civil War: Parliament versus King Charles I.

 King Charles I, after van Dyck, 1636

     Before the Civil War, Cromwell’s only military experience lay in the county militia. He would have on the job training and rose through the ranks, showcasing his military prowess. Eventually, King Charles I would surrender on 5 May 1646. Parliament imprisoned Charles I while negotiations commenced. Cromwell was willing to compromise with Charles I and return him to power with conditions: checks of power, regularly elected parliaments, and an Episcopal religion that would not be forced on English subjects.

    By 1648, negotiations seemed futile. King Charles I was able to escape his captivity at Hampton Court Palace, by sneaking out via a set of back stairs where the Thames would carry him to freedom. Charles I raised an army and the civil war resumed. The only way to end the civil war, from Cromwell’s point of view, was the trial and execution of Charles I. The factual basis for the trial and execution of the king was based on the Book of Numbers from the bible that read “The land cannot be cleaned of blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it” (Chapter 35, Verse 33). Cromwell and fifty-eight others signed Charles I’s death warrant. He was executed on 30 January 1649.

     After King Charles I’s death, the Commonwealth of England emerged. Cromwell turned his sights on Ireland. The Irish Confederate Catholics and the English Royalists proved a threat,  therefore, Cromwell orchestrated a Parliamentary Invasion in 1649. His efforts were effective. Cromwell was forced to leave Ireland upon hearing that Charles I’s son, also Charles (later King Charles II and henceforth referred to as Charles II), arrived in Scotland after leaving exile in France. The Scots had declared for King Charles II. Charles II posed a major threat just north of the border; Cromwell was forced to return to England.

 

King Charles II, John Michael Wright, c. 1660-1665, NPG, London

     Cromwell and his troops invaded Scotland in 1650. Taking advantage of Cromwell’s distraction, Charles II invaded England. Cromwell was victorious and Charles II barely evaded capture. Cromwell was a busy man who was often away on campaign; without his presence in England, factions in Parliament began to form. Cromwell had better find a permanent constitutional and religious settlement, and quick!

     In response, Cromwell was named Lord Protector of the Commonwealth on 16 December 1653. He began to sign letters “Oliver P” (protector) and was referred to as “Your Highness”. Cromwell was essentially an alter-rex, or other king; a nickname that was previously attributed to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey during the reign of Henry VIII. Cromwell could call and dissolve parliaments, was popular with his army and took in a staggering salary of 100,000 pounds per annum. Cromwell then set out on healing the nation and reforming its spirituality and morals.

     In 1657, Parliament offered Cromwell the crown and he struggled over his response. In the end, he decided that it would have been hypocritical to take what he helped destroy. Cromwell was re-sworn in as Lord Protector during a ceremony on 26 June 1657. King Edward’s Chair was brought to Westminster Hall from Westminster Abbey for the occasion.

     Oliver Cromwell died on 3 September 1658. His funeral was held at Westminster Abbey and Cromwell was laid to rest in the eastern end of the Lady Chapel (now known at the RAF Chapel) in Westminster Abbey, near his daughter, Elizabeth Claypole. Elizabeth had just died in August 1658, which many thought contributed to his death. The Protectorate was not hereditary (a complaint against the monarchy) but interestingly, Cromwell nominated his son, Richard, to succeeded him as Lord Protector.

     Richard Cromwell was forced to resign the Protectorate in May 1659. The monarchy was restored and King Charles II returned from exile. Driven by vengeance for his father’s execution, Charles II ordered Oliver Cromwell’s body removed from Westminster Abbey and suffered a posthumous execution on 30 January 1661, twelve years to the day of Charles I’s death. Cromwell’s body was hanged at Tyburn, decapitated and his head was put on display in front of Westminster Hall until 1685. After many years of being privately owned and displayed, Cromwell’s head was buried at Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge in 1960.