The Historical Association: Oliver Cromwell: Commander in Chief

This Durston Lecture explores Oliver Cromwell’s path to supreme power during the upheavals of the mid-seventeenth century. It examines the divisions among Parliamentarians after the first civil war, the political stalemate that followed, and Cromwell’s emergence as a central figure in the struggle over England’s future.

The lecture follows Cromwell’s career through the execution of Charles I, the establishment of the Commonwealth, and the campaigns in Ireland and Scotland. It presents a more complex picture of his leadership, showing both his political skill and military experience, as well as the ruthlessness that marked his rise to power.