I don't think Cromwell was a villain. He was a man of strong principle who believed in his idea of religion and government. Many of his countrymen agreed with him, but when his government wasn't successful in resolving all the issues facing England at that time, the monarchy was restored. And, as always, the victors write the history.
Cromwell lived during a time in history when religion was the basis for much violence and cruelty. Today, we can look back at his government and its policies and condemn many of them, especially his policies toward Ireland. That doesn't make him a villain, simply the product of his times and beliefs.
2007-06-17 09:23:19
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answer #1
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answered by Still reading 6
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I can come up some with some reasons why Cromwell was a villian, but it, am sorry will not be l2.
He had King Charles I executed; he could have just been imprisoned.
The Irish were so harshly repressed it caused some to have a permament hatred of the British.
He enforced a censorship that ceased artistic expression and much recreation.
Although, he said Parliament should have power, when he established the Lord Protectorate, he dismissed Parliament
He did not establish an enduring government, hence a Restoration occurred with Charles II
He was too militaristic
That looks like six, maybe someone else will give six more. To me this shows Cromwell, unlike a really poor leader, was not a villain. The British monarchy was relatively weak for a number of reasons, the early Hanovers, were hurt by not being able to well speak or understand English (German was their language), and being a small island, and therefore needed no large standing army, which could intimidate the internal population, as well as foreign countries.
2007-06-17 10:11:19
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answer #2
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answered by Rev. Dr. Glen 3
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This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Why was Oliver Cromwell a Villain?
i need a few reasons 12 at the least in why Cromwell was villain!!!!!
2015-08-12 01:08:04
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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I wrote my Master's thesis on Andrew Marvell's defense of Oliver Cromwell in 1979, so I'm not unfamiliar with both Cromwell's saving graces and his infamy. I also found Antonia Fraser's biography of Oliver Cromwell an excellent resource. Now for those 12 reasons:
1) Beheaded Charles I in 1649 after Parliament was purged of its more conciliatory conservative members
2) Turned upside down the social order and "the divine right of kings"
3) Ruled England through force of personality as a military dictator from 1655 to 1659, never finding a satisfactory constitutional basis for his personal rule
4) Established martial law, dividing England into 12 military districts, each governed by a Major General
5) Invaded Ireland and subjugated the Irish, most probably laying the ground work for all the subsequent "troubles" between Ulster Protestants and Roman Catholics
6) Confiscated 2/3 of the Irish land South of Ulster, giving it to English Protestants
7) Put to the sword the defenders of Drogheda for refusing to surrender
8) Waged a similarly violent campaign against the Scottish Covenanters, eventually defeating Royalist forces and sending Charles I's son, Charles II, into exile
9) Intolerant of Roman Catholics and Anglicans (although religious bigotry was hardly unique to Cromwell during the 17th century)
Admittedly, Cromwell's policies did save Britain from the extremes of sectarianism, however.
10) Attempted to legislate morality, banning Christmas and theatrical productions as well as enacting "blue laws"
Perhaps in reaction to Cromwell's Puritanical rule, Charles II's reign was known for its "party-hardy" excesses.
11) Took the expedient route--the execution of the King, the invasions of Ireland and Scotland, and a naval war against the Dutch--primarily for economic and political reasons, and then used religion and morality to justify his actions
12) Didn't see shades of gray but only good and evil, almost always choosing a forceful position, equating right with might
On the other hand, Cromwell proved an excellent military tactician and brilliant administrator, joining England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland all under one government, not to mention balancing the budget. He also could delegate authority if need be--John Milton served as his Latin secretary (the 17th-century equivalent of a Secretary of State) while Marvell was Milton's assistant.
P. S. Cromwell overthrew and executed Charles I, a king who was a part of the Stuart dynasty--not the House of Hanover. The Hanovers, from the German principality by the same name, followed the Stuarts (who were Scots), beginning in 1714. George I never did learn English while George II spoke it imperfectly.
2007-06-17 10:55:55
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answer #4
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answered by Ellie Evans-Thyme 7
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I would like to state that Cromwell had nothing to do with Bonfire night. Nor did he try to bomb Parliament. I think the true villainy of Cromwell was that he didn't live according to his own stated beliefs. He did cause the destruction of many beautiful things especially churches but the Cathedral in his home Town escaped damage. He also banned Christmas. He claimed to be an ordinary man and against the aristocracy but he actually came from a wealthy family. When he was an MP he defended the farmers who worked in the fens when the King tried to get them drained. He even helped organise resistance. When he became 'Protector' (like president) he sent the army in and had the Fens drained and made money from it. Also though he claimed to be such a plain, ordinary man once he was Protector he lived in London in one of the palaces and never returned to his home. Hopefully this, plus what others have said will give you 12.
2007-06-17 10:34:41
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answer #5
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answered by happyjumpyfrog 5
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2016-04-11 09:09:40
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answer #6
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answered by ? 3
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1 he murdered his leige lord,
2 he 'murdered' Drogheda for which we Irish still curse him
3 he dispossessed the Irish catholics saying they might go to hell or connaught he cared not which.
4 He banned dancing.
5 he disolved the parliament that he supposedly killed the king to support and ruled thereafter as a tyrant.
6 he murdered the scots. and established an effective English supremacy effectively ending an independant Scotland
7 he persecuted the levellers, independents, catholics, and anyone else whose view of religion didn't accord with his own opinion of 'good protestantism'
8 He despoiled and billeted troops upon those people who hadn' t actively supported parliament who hadn't fled abroad driving many into penury
9 He was the first to use red coats for English soldiers inventing the butchers apron that would become a symbol of tryanny throughout the empire upon which the sun never set.
10 He failed to secure the succession of an effective Lord Protector after him and his nepotism in letting his son follow him allowed the republic to fall and monarchy to return.
11 he allowed if not instigated the desecration of many medieval churches for having 'papist decorations and statues destroying and damaging many historical treasures
12 He's an ugly old cuss
2007-06-18 01:08:24
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answer #7
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answered by Aine G 3
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For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/axBYJ
to me as a catholic with irish roots he was a villian,what his men did at drogheda and wexford, the massacres, disturbs me.he may be a hero to the english,he helped make england a republic, but i think his reputation is forever stained by the atrocrious behaviour of his troops at drogheda and wexford.the curse of cromwell still haunts.
2016-04-06 05:49:31
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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1. He took the House of Lords hostage as part of his overthrow of the monarchy.
2. He had King Charles I beheaded.
3. He set himself up as Lord Protectorate of the Commonwealth, which basically made him king, even though he told the people of England that they shouldn't have a king.
4. He closed all the theatres and had them razed to the ground. (That right there is enough to make him a villain in my book!)
2007-06-17 09:23:23
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answer #9
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answered by theprof 2
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one word: Ireland!
"In the seventeenth century, Oliver Cromwell (who took over England) encouraged the mass slaughter and enslavement of Irish men, women, and children for various reasons, one being that the Protestant English regarded the Catholic Irish as inhuman and unchristian. "
"Over 50,000 people were sent to Barbados to work on the sugar plantations. ...... Beatings, whippings, torture, rape, and humiliation were just some of the terrible indecencies that these people suffered because they were Catholic and Irish."
12 reasons? there's over 50,000 for you!
2007-06-17 10:55:05
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answer #10
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answered by celvin 7
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