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Cromwell's career as a politician was not to be as easy or
glorious as his military career. Opinion is divided about his role
as a statesman, with posterity generally viewing him unfavourably
as a dictator who failed to establish a lasting settlement.
Cromwell was elected MP for Huntingdon in 1629 and as such was following
a family tradition, nine of his cousins also sat in the House of
Commons with him. At first Cromwell does not appear to have made
much of an impression. He belonged to a party known for its belief
in reform and the use of Parliament to express the will of the people,
although this was a long way short of democracy as we know it. The
common trait of this group was their hatred of Catholics.
Cromwell rise to political prominence came in the main as a result
of his military victories but he was also able to deal politically
if needed. In 1644 his speech against prolonging the war led to
the Self-denying Ordinance, Cromwell believed that many M.P.'s who
were also parliamentarian commanders had an interest in prolonging
the war for political gain. The Self-denying Ordinance led to the
formation of the New Model Army and the removal of politicians from
army command. The only person to now hold a seat in parliament and
an army command position was Cromwell.
From 1644 onwards Cromwell re-enforced his political position using
the strength of the army to back him. With the capture of Charles
I and the ending of the first Civil War it was now Cromwell who
assumed the dominant political position.
Whilst a dominant character in the political arena Cromwell still
had to work with Parliament. However the formerly united Parliament
now disagreed about the nature of any political settlement. From
1648 England was to be governed by the Rump Parliament in which
Cromwell was an M.P., guided by a Council of State of which he was
Chairman. The Rump however proved to be impossible to
govern and the Council wished to see it dissolved. When the Rump
refused to dissolve itself in April 1653, Cromwell took a troop
of musketeers and forcibly dissolved the Parliament.
The Rump was replaced by the Barebones Parliament, an interim government
of Puritan representatives who were nominated not elected. It was
the Barebones Parliament which first offered Cromwell the crown.
When he refused they resigned en masse, leaving Cromwell no option
but to rule as a dictator under the title of Lord Protector. At
first Cromwell appeared an unwilling dictator and a new parliament
was created. However when Cromwell found himself unable to work
with this new body he dissolved it, embracing his new role.
In 1655 Cromwell established the rule of the MajorGenerals. Establishing
control via the army he divided England into eleven military districts
each headed by a Major-General in who all local power was vested.
Some of these men were tolerant but more were either corrupt or
harsh in their implementation of laws. The system was to remain
in place until 1657 and was long remembered as a harsh and repressive
form of government, seriously damaging Cromwell's personal reputation.
The political problems Cromwell faced were made worse when, in addition
to a war with Holland, England found herself at war with Spain.
Cromwell was forced to recall parliament in 1658 to vote taxes for
these wars. This parliament also voted on a new constitution which
again offered Cromwell the crown. The new constitution also allowed
him to nominate his own successor and have an upper house in Parliament.
With this constitution Cromwell found himself established as "King
in all but name".
Cromwell's last Parliament was short lived and he himself was to
die shortly after its close. Under the new constitution Cromwell
had nominated his weak eldest son Richard as his successor, rather
than his militarily prominent son Henry. He may have been suggesting
by this the need for less army influence in government. However
Richard Cromwell, or Tumble-down Dick as he was known, proved a
disastrous leader and resigned after just seven months. Less than
two years after Cromwell's death Charles II returned to restore
the monarchy in England.
Cromwell had failed to establish a lasting settlement as he had
failed to satisfy either Parliament, who wanted the army disbanded
or the army, who were becoming increasingly powerful and radical.
Cromwell as head of both these bodies had placed himself in an impossible
political situation.
"For truly I have often thought that I could not tell what
my business was, nor what I was in the place I stood in, save comparing
me to a good constable set to keep the peace of the parish."
Cromwell 1655.
"As to a preference for Monarchy, Aristocracy or
Democracy, any of them might be good in themselves, or for us. But
providence alone should guide us in this as in all matters."
Cromwell on the Political settlement
1648.
The Execution of the King
Cromwell has long been held as the person responsible for the execution
of King Charles and there is certainly some truth in this. After the
Kings' capture by Parliament it was Cromwell who pursued negotiations
with Charles. When the King rejected his terms for settlement in 1648
Cromwell generously offered new terms. Charles appeared to be acting
honourably instead he was involved in secret negotiations with the
Scots leading to the start of the second Civil War.
Charles I failure to act reasonably and the re-starting of the war
left Cromwell angry. Not only had he been made a fool of by the King
he also felt that by ignoring the inevitability of his own defeat
Charles was denying the will of God. It was therefore Cromwell, backed
by his son-in-law Ireton commanding army support, who now played a
leading part in forcing through the legislation necessary to try the
King for treason.
On the 4th of January 1649 Parliament assumed full legislative powers
and on the 20th the trial of the King started. Cromwell as a member
of the court was present throughout the proceedings. Charles now argued
that the court was not legal and nor was it legal to try the King.
When the death sentence was passed Cromwell's name appeared third
on the list of signatories. Charles was executed on the 30th of January
1649.
The execution of the King was to make a martyr of Charles despite
all his faults. It was to make a villain of Cromwell, who believed
he acted as God would have wished and in the only way possible to
prevent the further war and bloodshed.
"We'll cut off his head with the crown upon it."
Cromwell in a letter to Colonel Algernon.
"I had thought that men of our own judgement, who had fought
in the wars, would work with me in harmony but it was not to be."
Cromwell. |
The Soldier