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Oliver Cromwell

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Military Personnel

The Resume

    (April 25, 1599-June 3, 1658)
    Represented his hometown of Huntingdon in Parliament until it was disbanded by King Charles I (1628-1629)
    Created a powerful cavalry army at the start of the English Civil War against the Royalists (1642)
    Created reforms in military tradition called the 'New Model Army'
    His regiment grew and earned the title 'Ironsides' (1643)
    Had complete control of the rebel army (1649)
    Conquered the rebellion forces in Ireland (1650)
    Crushed a rebellion of Scots loyal to the King twice the size of his army (1651)
    Created the position of 'Lord Protector,' which granted him absolute power (1653)

Why he might be annoying:

    He belonged to the Puritan faith and forced his beliefs on his soldiers.
    Amongst his troops, he outlawed looting, swearing and any other behavior which could have been considered 'ungodly.'
    He didn't participate in the military until he was 43.
    He was offered a crown to become King, but he denied it and instead created a position that basically had all the same powers of a King called the 'Lord Protector.'
    His reign only lasted five years.
    After he died, his son Richard failed to be able to retain power as his father did, which allowed for Charles II (son of the king Cromwell had helped execute) to regain power.
    Charles II then proceeded to hang his corpse from the gallows as a traitor.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Despite being a dedicated Puritan, he was religiously tolerant, something unique for his time period.
    As Lord Protector, he did some good things for England, like allowing Jews back into the country after they had been banned for nearly three hundred years.
    He allowed Protestants to freely practice their religion.
    His 'New Model Army' reforms transformed the British military from an ailing influence in world politics back into one of the greatest military powers and was used long after his death.
    His democratic revolution inspired similar revolutions in the American colonies and France.
    He brought together the British Isles, including all of Ireland and Scotland.
    He ranked #10 in BBC's Top 100 Great Britons (2002).

Credit: Captain Howdy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 78.95% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 466 Votes: 50.21% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 85 Votes: 51.76% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 29 Votes: 55.17% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 59 Votes: 49.15% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 32 Votes: 53.12% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 24 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 92.86% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 33 Votes: 51.52% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 41 Votes: 46.34% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 42 Votes: 59.52% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 70 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 141 Votes: 57.45% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 223 Votes: 69.06% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 272 Votes: 59.19% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 295 Votes: 59.32% Annoying