Courses starts Thursday 27 May 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 2-4pm.
Week 1: Cromwell the Politician and Soldier, 1628-1649
Our first session will explore the start of Cromwell’s career, beginning with his election to Parliament in 1628. Did he show early signs of political greatness, or was his later rise through the ranks the result of hard work?
We will explore the evolution of his military career from the rank of Captain in August 1642 to being appointed a commander of the New Model Army in 1645 and one of the most important military figures this country has ever produced. The session will conclude with the decision to place King Charles I on trial in January 1649.
Week 2: Cromwell and the Execution of Charles I
The second session will focus on Cromwell’s role during the trial and execution of Charles I. He was one of the commissioners at the trial, and was the third person to sign and seal the King’s death warrant. How involved was he in the preparations for the trial, and did he have any influence over the actions of the other commissioners?
Week 3: Cromwell, the Council of State, and the Rump Parliament, 1649-1653
The third session will focus on the early years of the Commonwealth of England, during which Parliament ruled the country and the monarchy was abolished. Cromwell’s military actions during this period have become infamous, particularly his conduct in Ireland.
We will explore how his military actions affected his reputation in Parliament, and why he became a viable candidate to be the figurehead leading the country.
Week 4: Cromwell as Lord Protector, 1653-1658
The fourth session will explore the years when Cromwell was the Lord Protector of England, a King in all but name. We will explore the legal and social changes which took place during those five years, and examine some of the myths surrounding Cromwell’s suppression of fun. We will ask whether he was a successful leader, and what legacies he has left behind.
Week 5: Cromwell the Second: The Death of Oliver and the Downfall of Richard, 1658-1660
The final session will explore what happened after Cromwell’s death in 1658, and why his son Richard was named as his successor to the post of Lord President. Without the military or political experience of his father, Richard’s tenure was significantly shorter and he was deposed in 1659, paving the way for the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660.
We will conclude by considering how Oliver Cromwell is remembered – or ignored – in modern society.
