Oliver Cromwell Biography and Timeline — Page 3

Commander of New Model Army

The Commons approves Cromwell's appointment as 2nd in Command of the New Model Army

Lieutenant

The Commons approves Cromwell's appointment as Lieutenant General of the Horse

Mobilization

Cromwell moves toward Fairfax before the Naseby campaign as Parliament concentrates forces against Charles I.

Role range: 1642-1651

Mobilization

Cromwell joins forces with Fairfax & Parliament has an Army of more than 13,000 men

Role range: 1642-1649

Battle of Naseby

Parliamentary victory, Charles has 7,500 men & Parliamentary forces number 13,500. Contributes to Charles downfall & the ascendancy of Cromwell & the independents

Role range: 1642-1649

Cavalry Command at Naseby

Cromwell commands the New Model Army's horse at Naseby and turns his victorious cavalry against the Royalist infantry.

Role range: 1642-1649

Royalist Infantry Flanked at Naseby

After defeating the Royalist cavalry, Cromwell redirects his horsemen against the Royalist foot and helps decide the battle.

Role range: 1642-1649

Battle of Naseby

Commands Parliamentarian cavalry on the right and helps Fairfax defeat the king's main field army.

Role range: 1642-1651

Siege of Oxford

Establishes quarters around Holton while preparing pressure on the Royalist capital at Oxford.

Role range: 1642-1651

Battle of Langport

Cromwell's cavalry contributes to Parliament's victory over Goring's forces at Langport.

Role range: 1642-1651

Battle of Hambledon Hill

Cromwell routs Dorsetshire clubmen at Hambledon Hill

Role range: 1642-1649

Battle of Bristol

Prince Rupert is forced to return to Oxford, his forces intact. Defeats Prince Rupert & captures Bristol

Role range: 1642-1649

Capture of Bristol

Defeats Prince Rupert & captures Bristol

Role range: 1642-1649

Siege of Bristol

Defeats Prince Rupert & captures Bristol

Role range: 1642-1649

Assault on Bristol

Cromwell helps command Parliamentarian assaults on Bristol's defences.

Role range: 1642-1649 – 1645-1645

Siege of Bristol

Commands part of the Parliamentarian assault around Prior's Hill fort during the storming of Bristol.

Role range: 1642-1651

Battle of Devizes

Cromwell captures Devizes

Role range: 1642-1649

Battle of Winchester

Cromwell captures Winchester

Role range: 1642-1649

Siege of Bristol

Present at Stapleton near Fairfax's headquarters during Parliament's siege of Bristol.

Role range: 1642-1651

Siege of Bristol

Present near Keynsham during Parliament's siege operations against Bristol.

Role range: 1642-1651

Battle of Basingstoke

Secures the last major obstacle between London & the West Country. Defeats the Marquise of Winchester

Role range: 1642-1649

Storming of Basing House

Cromwell takes part in the storming of Basing House, removing a major Royalist stronghold controlling routes west of London.

Role range: 1642-1649

Storming of Basing House

Cromwell storms Basing House and ends one of the strongest Royalist garrisons in southern England.

Role range: 1642-1651

Independents

Leads the Independents, a sect demanding religious toleration & prosecution of the war

Role range: 1642-1649 – 1645-1650

New Model Army

The New Model Army is created by Oliver Cromwell & Thomas Fairfax. The Committee of Both Kingdoms recommends a new army of 22,000 run by Parliament. Persuades Parliament to adopt a new militia, maintained by impressment & taxation. Modeled after Cromwell's Ironsides

Role range: 1642-1649 – 1645-1650

Siege of Oxford

Helps blockade Oxford to prevent Charles I joining forces with Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice.

Role range: 1642-1651

Siege of Oxford

Oxford agrees surrender terms with Fairfax, ending the Royalist capital's resistance.

Role range: 1642-1651

Army Council

Cromwell is associated with the Army leadership as officers and Agitators commit the Army not to disband until soldiers' pay, indemnity and political security are addressed

Role range: 1642-1649

Grandees

Cromwell acts among the Army Grandees as the New Model Army refuses disbandment on Parliament's terms and insists that the soldiers' political and military grievances must be settled

Role range: 1642-1649

Heads of the Proposals

Cromwell supports the Heads of the Proposals as a moderate Army settlement that would preserve limited monarchy while securing parliamentary and religious safeguards

Role range: 1642-1649

Siege of London

Enters London with an Army & forces Parliament to take him & the other MPs back

Role range: 1642-1649

Putney Debates

Cromwell attends Army Council debates over political settlement, representation and the army's demands.

Role range: 1642-1651

Grandees

Cromwell chairs the Army Council at Putney for the Grandees, attempting to preserve Army unity while allowing Agitators and Leveller advisers to present their constitutional demands

Role range: 1642-1649

Putney Debates

Cromwell argues that the meeting should receive the radicals' proposals in orderly fashion so that the Army can judge their intentions and preserve unity

Role range: 1642-1649

Putney Debates

Cromwell chairs the opening session because Fairfax is absent and invites officers, soldiers and civilian advisers to speak on the public settlement after the First Civil War

Role range: 1642-1649

Agreement of the People

Cromwell seeks to manage the dispute over the Agreement of the People, allowing the radicals to speak while trying to preserve Army unity and prevent a break with constitutional order

Role range: 1642-1649

Grandees

Cromwell urges caution over breaking with monarchy, reflecting the Grandees' preference for a controlled settlement with Charles I rather than immediate adoption of the Leveller programme

Role range: 1642-1649

Putney Debates

Cromwell discusses the King's negative voice and treats kingship as contractual, while resisting proposals that would immediately overthrow the monarchy

Role range: 1642-1649

Putney Debates

Cromwell joins the effort to have proposals refined by committee, aiming to turn the dispute over the Agreement into a controlled constitutional programme

Role range: 1642-1649

Agitators

Cromwell supports ending the open Army Council debates after the Agitators' demands threaten discipline and expose deep division between radical soldiers and senior officers

Role range: 1642-1649