Oliver Cromwell - The Protectorate | Puritanism in England | Closing Down of the Theatres

Oliver Cromwell - The Protectorate | Puritanism in England | Closing Down of the Theatres

Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) was one of the most significant figures in British history, rising from relative obscurity to become the leader of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. A skilled military commander, a passionate Puritan, and a shrewd politician, Cromwell played a crucial role in the English Civil War, the trial and execution of Charles I, and the establishment of the Protectorate. His rise to power was marked by his leadership in Parliament, his success on the battlefield, and his eventual rule as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658.


Early Life and Entry into Politics
Born on April 25, 1599, in Huntingdon, England, Cromwell was educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He entered politics in 1628, becoming a Member of Parliament for Huntingdon. Initially, Cromwell's political career was unremarkable, but he gained prominence during the Short Parliament of 1640, where he advocated for the rights of Parliament against the monarch.

The English Civil War and the Rise to Prominence
Cromwell's leadership during the English Civil War (1642-1651) propelled him to national prominence. He played a crucial role in the formation of the New Model Army, which became the backbone of the Parliamentarian forces. Cromwell's military prowess, particularly at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644 and the Battle of Naseby in 1645, earned him recognition and respect. His commitment to the Parliamentarian cause and his advocacy for the rights of the common soldier further solidified his position within the army and among the people. 
As the war progressed, Cromwell's political influence also grew. He became a vocal advocate for the more radical elements within the Parliamentarian movement, pushing for the execution of Charles I and the establishment of a republic.
 His role in the formation of the New Model Army, a professional force based on merit rather than social standing, was crucial to the Parliamentarians' ultimate triumph. The execution of Charles I in 1649 marked a pivotal moment, and Cromwell emerged as a central figure in the newly established Commonwealth.

The Parliaments: From the Long Parliament to the Barebone's Parliament
Cromwell's rise was also facilitated by his involvement with various Parliaments:
The Long Parliament (1640-1660): Cromwell was a key figure in this Parliament, which challenged the authority of King Charles I and eventually led to the English Civil War.
Cromwell became a leading advocate for the trial and execution of Charles I. He supported the Pride’s Purge (December 1648), in which Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed MPs who opposed putting the king on trial. This led to the establishment of the Rump Parliament, which found Charles guilty of treason. On January 30, 1649, Charles I was executed, and the monarchy was abolished.
The Rump Parliament (1648-1653): After the execution of Charles I, Cromwell supported the Rump Parliament, which consisted of the remaining members of the Long Parliament. However, he soon became disillusioned with its inefficiencies and corruption.
The Barebone's Parliament (1653): Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament and established the Barebone's Parliament, named after one of its members, Praise-God Barebone. This Parliament was composed of 140 nominated members, but it proved ineffective and was eventually dissolved.

The Protectorate


In 1653, through the Instrument of Government - the first and only written constitution of England - Cromwell established the Protectorate, with himself as the Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland. This marked the beginning of a new form of government, in which Cromwell held executive power but was also accountable to a Parliament. During his tenure as Lord Protector, Cromwell implemented various reforms, including the reorganization of the judiciary, the promotion of religious toleration, and the reformation of the electoral system.
Cromwell sought to create a stable and godly government, but faced challenges from both Royalists and radical republicans. He attempted to work with Parliament, but his attempts to establish a stable and effective government were thwarted by the conflicting interests of the different political factions.
Though a Puritan, Cromwell promoted limited religious tolerance, allowing Jews to return to England (1656) and permitting Protestant sects to worship freely. However, Catholics faced persecution.
Through his foreign policies, he strengthened England’s global position, engaging in successful wars against Spain and securing victories in the Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652–1654).

Puritanism and the Closing Down of Theatres

During Oliver Cromwell’s rule, Puritanism played a dominant role in shaping English society. As a devout Puritan, Cromwell sought to reform England according to strict Protestant moral values. Puritans emphasized simplicity, hard work, and piety, rejecting many traditional entertainments and practices they viewed as corrupt or sinful. They opposed Catholic influences in the Church of England and promoted a stricter, more personal form of worship. Under the Puritan Commonwealth and Protectorate (1649–1660), laws were enacted to enforce moral behavior, such as bans on gambling, swearing, drunkenness, and even Christmas celebrations, which were seen as too indulgent and linked to Catholic traditions.

One of the most famous consequences of Puritan influence was the closing of theatres. In 1642, at the start of the Civil War, Parliament ordered all theatres to be shut down, viewing them as places of immorality and idleness. The Puritans believed that plays promoted vice, frivolity, and ungodly behavior. In 1647, further laws were passed to dismantle theatre buildings and punish actors. This effectively ended England’s thriving theatrical culture, which had flourished under Elizabeth I and James I with playwrights like Shakespeare and Ben Jonson. It was not until the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, under Charles II, that theatres reopened, marking a return to a more liberal cultural atmosphere.

While Cromwell’s Puritan regime enforced strict religious and moral discipline, it also sparked resistance. Many people resented these restrictions, longing for a return to traditional pastimes. The Puritan experiment ultimately ended with Cromwell’s death in 1658, and the restoration of Charles II in 1660 brought back not only the monarchy but also a revival of England’s cultural life, including its theatres and more relaxed social customs.

Cromwell’s Later Years and Death (1658)

Despite his successes, Cromwell faced growing discontent. Parliament resented his control, Royalists sought to restore the monarchy, and his military rule was unpopular. Offers were even made for him to take the title of King, but he refused.

Cromwell died on September 3, 1658, likely from malaria and kidney disease. His son, Richard Cromwell, briefly succeeded him but lacked his father’s authority. Within two years, the monarchy was restored under Charles II (1660).



Prepared by
Jacob Eapen Kunnath
Dept. of English, CMS College Kottayam (Autonomous)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I See Kashmir From New Delhi at Midnight

Image
  I See Kashmir From New Delhi at Midnight Agha Shahid Ali The Poet Agha Shahid Ali was born in 1949: just one year or more after Independence, and also after partition. His birth was in Delhi, but he was raised up in Kashmir. Life in Kashmir was difficult in those days. The problems of partition, with India and Pakistan holding claim to the territories there, made the place a constant field of fights and tensions. The poet moved over to the USA in 1976. This poem forms part of a collection “The Country without a Post Office”. which came out in 1997. Agha Shahid Ali is a representative of diaspora. He has childhood memories of Kashmir. He spent his youthhood partly in Delhi, where he had his college education. Then he moved over to the United States of America, where he became a teacher and emerged as a noted poet. In most of his poems, Kashmir and its problems form the theme. The Poem “I See Kashmir From New Delhi at Midnight”, by Agha Shahid Ali, is a diasporic poem, where the po...
Read more

THE BOY WHO PAINTED CHRIST BLACK

Image
  John Henrik Clarke: John Henrik Clarke was an African-American historian, professor, and a pioneer in the creation of Pan-African and Africana studies. Being a member of a sharecropper’s family, he was expected to become a farmer by his mother. But he followed his dreams and went to Harlem. There he pursued scholarship and became part of the Black Power Movement, which aimed at instilling confidence of the Black people and at their upliftment. He was one of the pioneers who founded the Black Academy of Arts and Letters. Major Works: Novel - Confessions of a Nat Turner Short stories –             The Boy Who Painted Christ Black: A Short Story             On the Other Side: A Story of the Color Line             Leader of the Mob: A Story of the Color Line        ...
Read more

Do Something, Brother

Do Something, Brother M Gopalakrishna Adiga (1918-1992): Kannada poet. Translated Ibsen and Whitman into Kannada. Edited Sakshi, a literary magazine I. Do something, brother: keep doing something, anything; you mustn’t be idle. pull out this plant, nip this little leaf, crush that flower. There’s grass, run your brand through it, burn it like Lanka. Tiny butterflies, parrots, sparrows— chase them, catch them, pluck their wings, pull out their fur and feather. There, in the garden, jasmine and the banana’s gold grow for the wild elephant’s feet. I I. All over the walls virility’s master-switches itch for your fingers; close your eyes and pull down twenty of them. Earth, water, the skies, they’re all your geese with golden eggs: gouge them out, slash them. ‘Do, or die’, they say. Disasters are the test for your genius’s galloping dance: something must crash every minute. Brother, act, act at once, do something. Thought’s weights and measures are all for the past, for the...
Read more