Who influenced Britain more, Cromwell or Churchill? Those who know, fuck off if you don't

Oliver Cromwell was a 17th-century English political and military leader who served as Protectorate or Head of State of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland for five years until his death in 1658. Fighting relentlessly, he twice led successful efforts to remove the English monarch from power. Cromwell, a devout Puritan, has been called a dictator, including by future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and was particularly intolerant of Catholics and Quakers, though he has been praised by others for helping to lead Britain to constitutional government.

Cromwell's Early Life

Cromwell was born in Huntingdon, near Cambridge, England, in 1599. The Cromwells had been part of wealthy families for generations and were part of the landed gentry of the area. He was a descendant of Thomas Cromwell, a minister of King Henry VIII.

Like most children born in the country at the time, Cromwell was baptized in the Church of England. He married Elizabeth Bourchier, the daughter of a wealthy merchant family, when he was 21. His new wife's family was active in the Puritan church, and it is thought that this may have prompted Cromwell to join the denomination in the 1630s.

The Cromwells had nine children, although three died young, which was not unusual for the time. Their son Richard, born in 1626, succeeded his father as Lord Protector.

Health and financial woes

Cromwell was first elected to Parliament to represent Huntingdon, in 1628 Although this marked the start of his political career, his success in the halls of power was not matched in other aspects of his life.

For example, in 1631 Cromwell was forced to sell much of his land in Huntingdon after a dispute with local officials. In addition, he was reportedly being treated for melancholia or depression at this time.

His term in Parliament was also short-lived as a result of King Charles I and his decision to suspend the legislature in 1629. Cromwell would return to government in 1640, when Charles I was essentially forced to reconvene Parliament after rebelling against his rule. Scotland.

By then, Cromwell had become a devout Puritan, telling his family that he had been a "sinner" and had just been born again. Like most Puritans, he believed that Catholic influence had tainted the Church of England and that it must be purged.

Military career

Charles I may have reconvened Parliament, but his Commonwealth was still a fragile state, and in 1642 there was an armed conflict between forces loyal to Parliament - the New Model Army - and those allied with the monarchy.

This is known as the English Civil War, and it was during this time that Cromwell's career as a military leader was born. Cromwell and others who led Parliament also differed greatly from Charles I in their religious views, which fueled the conflict.

While Cromwell had no formal military training before the war began, he soon distinguished himself on the battlefield, winning important victories at the Battle of Edgware and in the East Anglia region in 1642, and recruiting and leading troops.

By 1644, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant general, and at the Battles of Naseby and Lamport in 1645, he helped loyalist Parliamentary forces achieve victories against Charles I. In October 1645, Cromwell led an attack on the Catholic fortress Basing House, and was later accused of killing 100 soldiers who surrendered.