Oliver Cromwell: Hero or Villain?

Oliver Cromwell was a truly historical figure, although it is difficult to decipher whether what he did was good or bad. There are many events that suggest he was a good man, although many believe he was hero.



In the year of 1645, Cromwell established a new model army, which he led to destroy the Kings forces at the Battle of Naseby.   Afterwards, Cromwell went on with his army of 20,000 to destroy Drogheda, a town north of Dublin, Ireland.

In the attack in this attack Cromwell’s army massacred almost everyone in the area.   This might seem bad, but it’s OK, because he justified his attack.   Cromwell said the massacre was “a ritcheous judgememt of God, upon the barbarious wretches”.

, to make things even better, Cromwell went and did the same thing to the town of wexford.   This time he said it was a military necessity to population control pain.



Cromwell was also held responsible for the execution of King Charles I.   This could be seen as a good thing, it really depends on whether you think the king was guilty or not.   Cromwell worked with his army to start a High Court of Justice, all of which would try King Charles I for treason.   Charles was found guilty and beheaded, but some believe that the trial was unfair because in the end, only 59 of the original 150 jury sign the death warrant.  



Even though on the surface it seems like Cromwell was bad, he must have done something right, despite his lack of military experience, the army made him the Lord Protector of England, in 1653.



When Cromwell died of malaria in 1668 he was very celebrated.   His funeral was awesome, and cost 60,000 pounds, at a time where the average daily wage was only one shilling.   In 1661, people started hating Cromwell, but throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, things got better, because he was admired and seen as a great leader.