Brits, Scots and Oliver Cromwell

[MEKer]

Just a curiosity for me. When I was in Scotland and England in the early 90's I got the impression in a couple of discussions that the Lord Protector was STILL a matter that could bring on a somewhat heated love/hate debate. Is that still so? I can see why the ghost of Charles I might be upset :-) but what about currently?

PS: I have always thought "Marston Moor" would be a cool band name. But would it result in beer bottles being flung? Hah!

[bassybill]

Unfortunately, sectarianism is a still an issue that fans the flames of hatred in some parts of the British Isles, and even events from hundreds of years ago will be dragged up (by a small but vocal minority) in an attempt to legitimise this in a few places. It's pathetically sad, really.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by bassybill

Unfortunately, sectarianism is a still an issue that fans the flames of hatred in some parts of the British Isles, and even events from hundreds of years ago will be dragged up (by a small but vocal minority) in an attempt to legitimise this in a few places. It's pathetically sad, really.

^ This.

There's a small minority that just ruin the reputation of all the countries involved. Heck, Scotland does a good enough job shooting itself in the foot with internal sectarianism (thanks to certain groups of Celtic and Rangers supporters . . . but that's a story for another day)

[Tegzsa]

Old Noll, Oliver Cromwell, was a dyed-in-the-wool puritan, but he had not left the country when Charles I had prevented the puritans from persecuting other people for their ungodly ways (that was, after all, the perogative of the crown).

Cromwell's New Model Army has been called the first example of the modern military, but like other great wartime strategists, he was a bit of a disappointment as a leader afterwards. He had fought a civil-war and beheaded the king to establish the rule of parliament and the abolition of hereditory authority, and then had any dissenting parliamentarians exiled or executed and named his son as heir to the "Lord Protector" title.

Cromwell's activities in Ireland, though, are second-to-none in terms of brutality.

When Charles II eventually regained the throne he had Cromwell's remains dug up and his head put on a spike (just to teach him a lesson). He also did his best to erase the memory of puritanism by leading a life of extreme debauchery.

There is a statue of Cromwell outside the British parliament, which is a bit odd, considering what he did to its members, but then there is also a statue of Richard I (the Lionheart) who spoke only French and who visited England (I think) a grand total of three times.