Oliver Cromwell Flashcards
Cromwel & Drogheda 1649
After Cromwell had stabilised England, he turned his attention to Ireland and in 1649 landed near Dublin with an army of 12,000 men. His first objective (aim) was to capture the town of Drogheda. After a brief siege the town was stormed by Cromwell’s troops in September 1649 and most of the defending soldiers and many of the town’s inhabitants were killed in this attack. Cromwell’s actions have been subject to much discussion - there are many who called Cromwell’s actions in Drogheda a massacre and there were those who argued that he was acting within the rules of 17* century warfare. Use the following sources and questions to help your group come to a conclusion as to whether Cromwell’s actions in Drogheda were justifiable (having a good reason or not.
Cromwell in Ireland
The Cromwellian Settlement
As well as taking revenge against the Irish Catholics for the rebellion they began in 1641, Cromwell had economic reasons for wanting to conquer Ireland. The government needed to repay loans from during the English Civil War and many officers in the army were owed large amounts of back pay.
Since the government did not have very much money, Cromwell decided to pay these men with grants of land which were seized from the rebels.
Cromwell & Christmas
In the first half of the 17th century Christmas was an important religious festival and a time when the English population would indulge in a variety of traditional pastimes. The 25th December was a public holiday, during which all places of work closed and people attended special church services. The next eleven days included additional masses, with businesses open shorter hours than usual.
During the twelve days of Christmas, buildings were dressed with rosemary, holly and ivy and families attended Christmas Day mass. As well as marking the day’s religious elements, there was also non-stop dancing, singing, drinking, exchanging of presents and stage plays. The population indulged in feasts of roast beef, plum porridge, minced pies and special ale. Twelfth Night, the final day of celebration, often saw a fresh bout of feasting and carnivals. It’s no surprise that the daily celebrations often led to drunkenness and gambling.
In the mid-17th century, a wave of religious ideas changed the way in which Christmas was celebrated in England. Oliver Cromwell (supported by his Puritan forces) believed it was his mission to cleanse the country of decay. Sixteenth and seventeenth century Puritans frowned on what they saw as a frenzy of disorder and disturbance which Christmas celebrations often merged into.
In 1644 he enforced an Act of Parliament banning Christmas celebrations. Christmas was regarded by the Puritans as a wasteful festival that threatened core Christian beliefs. All activities relating to Christmas, including attending mass, were forbidden. Decorations were viewed as unnecessary excess, business was forced to open as usual and food being prepared for Christmas was seized.
In Scotland the Puritan War on Christmas lasted until 1660! Under the Commonwealth (Cromwell’s Republic), mince pies, holly and other popular customs fell victim to the spirited Puritan attempt to get rid of every last part of merrymaking during the Christmas period.
Not surprisingly, the ban was hugely unpopular and many people continued to celebrate Christmas secretly.
Brief timeline of cromwell
1599
born in Huntingdon.
1616
enters Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
1628
MP for Huntingdon.
1642
raises troops for Parliament.
1644
Battle of Marston Moor, battle of Newbury.
1645
Lieutenant-General of the New Model Army, - Battle of Naseby
1648
Battle of Preston.
1649
supports trial and execution of the King, then commands army sent to crush Ireland.
1650
commands army sent to crush
Scotland.
1653
dissolves Parliament and becomes Lord Protector.
1657
rejects Parliament’s offer of the crown and remains Lord
Protector.
1658
dies at Whitehall.
1661
exhumed and posthumously
‘executed’.
