Oliver Cromwell

Born: 25th April 1599, Huntingdon, England Died: 3rd September 1658, Whitehall, London Allegiance: Parliamentarian Position: General of Horse, New Model Army

Cromwell married Elizabeth Bourchier, a merchant's daughter, in August 1620.

Cromwell was elected MP for Huntingdon in 1628, and then MP for Cambridge in 1640.

Cromwell had become a staunch Puritan after a self-discovery that lasted most of his adolescence. He believed that he had been a sinner, but was now one of God's "chosen" on the Earth.

It was his beliefs that first brought him into conflict with Charles I, he attacked the bishops in parliament and distrusted ceremony and the idea of a hierarchical clergy. He wanted the people to choose their own ministers, who would preach and encourage prayer as an individual route to God.

At the outbreak of the first civil war, Cromwell rode to Cambridge to prevent the colleges sending their valuables to aid Charles. He then continued to Huntingdon, where he recruited his own troop of cavalry. This troop fought at Edgehill.

Cromwell was promoted to Colonel in February 1643. This gave him the authority to recruit and train his own regiment. He insisted on strict discipline, which then allowed his troops to reform after a charge on the battlefield, something that the royalists could never manage.

Cromwell and his regiment fought and distinguished themselves at Winceby and at the siege of Newark.

In 1644, Cromwell was promoted to Lieutenant-General, second-in-command in Manchester's northern army. In this role he fought at Marston Moor and the 2nd battle of Newbury. After these battles, he criticised Manchester for his lethargy and lack of action at crucial moments.

When the New Model Army formed in 1645, Cromwell was unable to serve on it due to the self-denying ordinance, which prevented MP's from holding military posts. However, he continued to fight, and eventually was endorsed as General of Horse.

Cromwell fought with the New Model Army at Naseby and at Langport, both victories for parliament.

After the war, Cromwell was disatisfied with the treatment of the army. In 1647 he decided that he would leave London and join up with the now rebellious army.

Cromwell fought in the 2nd civil war, quelling an uprising in Wales and defeating Charles' Scottish allies. He then supported the army in their arranging of a trial for Charles, sitting as a commissioner himself. He was one of those that signed Charles I's death warrant.

Cromwell later went on to become Lord Protector of England.