Cromwell, Oliver

Oliver Cromwell continues to be a controversial figure. Defamed as a dictator by some, he is praised as a hero and protector of liberty by others. Although a leader in the English Civil War who elevated the powers of Parliament against the monarchy, he is criticized for taking a position as lord protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland that amounted to having the powers of a king. Although in some ways he worked toward religious toleration, including reversing the banishment of Jews from England, he is cited with the use of violence against those with whom he disagreed, particularly the Catholics. Although he is known for having encouraged a high level of morality among the soldiers under his command, he is also held responsible for brutal acts of warfare, particularly in his campaigns in Ireland. The result is that today he is cursed by the Irish, and is remembered for having deepened the divide between the Irish and the English.

As in considering any controversial figure, all of these elements must be taken into account in order to give a full picture of the person. Rather than presenting Cromwell as either a saint or a sinner, or as a person with extreme personal incongruities, it best to understand him within the context of his religious enthusiasm.

Cromwell lived from 1599 to 1658. He was born into a middle-class gentry family. There is some indication that he struggled with depression in his earlier life, but at some point in the 1630s he underwent a religious conversion. This conversion is known from the letters he wrote, in which he described himself as the chief of sinners, who was now repentant and converted. He rose from leading one cavalry unit to being a chief commander in the New Model Army, and then a part of the Rump Parliament that signed and executed the death warrant for Charles I in 1649. Cromwell's role in the execution of the king is most relevant for considering his beliefs about lying and deception.