After many battles, Charles I was defeated in 1645 and imprisoned on the Isle of Wight

Charles I was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. He was born into the House of Stuart as the second son of King James VI of Scotland, but after his father inherited the English throne in 1603, he moved to England, where he spent much of the rest of his life. 

Cromwell became the leader of England in 1649 by leading the New Model Army. This included opponents that held different opinions about the type and degree of changes they wanted but they all agreed that Charles needed to change policies or go.

After the Civil War

At the end of the first Civil War in 1646, Cromwell and the Army tried to negotiate peace with Charles I. In 1648 Charles I betrayed them starting the Second Civil War and they resolved to 'bring him to account'. Cromwell was one of those who tried Charles in 1649 and sentenced him to death.

Parliament asked Cromwell to crush the remaining royalist supporters of the king, who continued to rebel, against the authority of Parliament. He did this brutally, especially in Ireland and in particular at the siege of Drogheda in 1649.

The Protectorate

When Cromwell returned to Parliament, he found the 'Rump', the last few remaining MPs, of the Long Parliament that was still sitting. He found that he could not agree with them about how to rule the Commonwealth as to do so without a king was an entirely new and untested concept. To solve this problem, the army as the most powerful group took control and declared Cromwell Lord Protector. The title was to suggest he was not a king but in reality he ruled as such.

As Protector, Cromwell could not agree with his Parliaments and he dismissed them both. Instead, he ruled the country through his major-generals, which meant that England virtually became a military dictatorship.

He allowed greater religious freedom for Protestants, but introduced a string of 'moral' laws to 'improve' people's behaviour which banned the theatre and bear-baiting, and forbade people to drink or celebrate Christmas, among other things.

Cromwell increased the navy, which defeated the Dutch and captured Jamaica from the Spanish.

When Cromwell died, he was succeeded by his son Richard, but the Protectorate collapsed and Charles II was restored as king shortly after.

Born: November 19, 1600

The creation of the 'New Model Army' – a well-trained, well-equipped, well-disciplined, well-organised army, with officers chosen for ability rather than social standing. It was politically open to new ideas and most soldiers were Puritans and so they supported Cromwell.

After the New Model Army defeated Charles I, there were three powers in the country trying to negotiate the peace – the king, the Parliament and the army. Cromwell and his son-in-law Henry Ireton suggested a settlement called the 'Heads of the Proposals'.

When Charles I started the Second Civil War, Cromwell resolved to bring that man of blood to justice. He was one of the people who signed the legal authority for Charles I's execution.

Interesting Oliver Cromwell Facts:

Oliver Cromwell married Elizabeth Bourchier in 1620. Her father was wealthy and owned a lot of land in Essex.

Oliver and Elizabeth had nine children together.

In 1628 Oliver Cromwell became a Member of Parliament. In 1630 he was called before Privy Council in 1630 after being caught up in a dispute in Huntingdon's gentry.

In 1631 Oliver Cromwell sold the majority of his property in Huntingdon and moved to St Ives to a farmstead, which was considered a major step down in social circles. He kept sheep and chickens and sold the eggs and wool in order to earn a living.

In 1642 when the English Civil War broke out, Oliver Cromwell was appointed army commander. The plan was to overthrow King Charles I.

In 1643 Oliver Cromwell was appointed Lord Protector.

Oliver Cromwell became a Puritan at some point, with the belief that the Bible should determine all actions in one's daily life.

Oliver Cromwell became the New Model Army's second in command in 1645. Victories included gaining control over Ireland and Scotland.

Under Oliver Cromwell, Jews were allowed to settle in England. This was the first time in close to 400 years.

Oliver Cromwell banned religious holidays in 1647 (including Christmas) because he believed them to be pagan festivals.

In 1649 King Charles I was executed under the orders of the court, despite many officers not wanting to go along with it. Oliver signed the order for the execution, followed by the second officer. The king was executed on January 30th, 1649.

Following the execution the 'Commonwealth of England' was declared. Rebellions soon followed and Oliver had to fight these.

Oliver Cromwell was known for attacking towns and villages as he tried to overthrow Ireland.

Oliver Cromwell is either loved or hated depending on historical accounts of his actions.

In 1657 Parliament offered Oliver Cromwell the crown of England after ratifying a new constitutional settlement but he turned it down as it would have made him a hypocrite.

Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 from a kidney infection. His son Richard succeeded him as Lord Protector but he was not very popular.

In 1659 Richard resigned and King Charles II came out of exile to restore the monarchy.

Oliver Cromwell's body was exhumed from Westminster Abbey in 1661. He was hanged.