Oliver Cromwell as a Soldier

Oliver Cromwell on horseback

There was a Civil War in England nearly 400 years ago. A civil war is when different groups of people who live in the same country fight against each other, usually because they believe in different things.

There were arguments between the King, Charles the First, who had his Royalist friends or supporters and Parliament and their Parliamentarian supporters.

Can you find out what nicknames were given to both sides?

Over the years, King Charles had done things that made him unpopular with many people. He introduced a lot of new taxes for one thing (people had to give away more of the money they earned to fund the King's plans). King Charles also believed in ‘the Divine Right of Kings’, in other words he thought that God had given him the right to rule on his own and do as he pleased, so he did not meet with Parliament very often. He was also making changes to the Church of England that Puritans like Oliver Cromwell did not agree with.

Can you find out any more about the quarrels over the Church of England?

The first English Civil War started in 1642 and lasted 4 years. Oliver Cromwell joined the Parliamentary army and he rose through the ranks very quickly.

He had an ability to encourage his soldiers and was popular with them because he made sure that they were well paid and had enough to eat.

Some people say that Oliver Cromwell helped to create the successful British army as we know it today.

Two of the most famous battles Oliver Cromwell fought in were the Battle of Marston Moor and the Battle of Naseby. Not long after Naseby the King surrendered, he gave in to Parliament.

Where are Marston Moor and Naseby? Can you find them on a map?

Attempts at talking and trying to find a peaceful end to the quarrels between the King and Parliament did not work though and they soon started fighting again.

After the end of the second war in 1648 the Parliamentarian Army demanded that the King should be put on trial for bringing the country to war. It was Oliver Cromwell who set up the court to try him. At his trial the King was found guilty and sentenced to death. He had his head chopped off in front of the public!

How do you think Oliver Cromwell felt about this? Can you find any evidence?

It would be 11 years before England had a King again.