The Life of Oliver Cromwell - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages... Cromwell became Cambridge’s Member of Parliament, in 1628. However, he did not make any significant development, during his tenure as a member of parliament. This is because his tenure did not last long when Charles I dissolved parliament and ruled alone for 11 years before the Bishops of the Scott forced him to recall parliament due to lack of money (Carlyle & Sanderson 67). Cromwell returned to parliament and served only for three weeks as a member of parliament for Cambridge. This was called “the short parliament” because it existed for only three weeks. A long-term parliament was elected that same year and Cromwell returned as a member for Cambridge. He was forced to table ridiculous petitions before the house such as that of the release of John Liburne, who was arrested for importing religious tracts from Holland, because he owed his position to the elite, in parliament. Cromwell also linked himself to a religious group, which contained members from both the House of Lords and House of Commons. On behalf of this religious group, he also tabled a motion for the abolition of episcopacy, which was called the “Root and Branch Bill” (Carlyle & Sanderson 76).The only experience Cromwell had in relation to military matters was the band training. However, he recruited his own cavalry troop and blocked a valuable silver shipment that was meant for the king. This was after his troop gained a lot of recognition and was formally incorporated into the formal army. to form part of the Eastern Association during the winter (Gardiner 8). Cromwell continued to gain a lot of experience by winning a few battles such as the battle of Gainsborough, which made him appointed as the governor of Ely and colonel of the Eastern Association. He entered the English civil war on the side of the parliamentarians who were nicknamed the “Old Ironsides” or “Roundheads” to become one of the principle commanders, in the New Model Army (Britannica Concise Encyclopedia). Here, he played a significant role in the defeat of the royalist forces at the battle of Marston Moor. Cromwell’s military strategies though he had not undergone through any form of training were exemplary. His ability to train and lead his men and the invention of the close order military formation with his troops riding knee to knee made it more difficult for opponents to penetrate them (Carlyle & Sanderson 46). ...Download file to see next pagesRead More