A comparison of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell

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  • Created by: tikabuzz
  • Created on: 16-04-13 19:58

A comparison of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell

Similarities

  • Both seen to be slightly absolutist in their approach to ruling the country.
  • Both dissolved Parliament when they didn't get their own way.
  • Charles was King, Cromwell was King in all but name.
  • Both had their powers curtailed ; Charles by the dismantling of the personal rule machinery and Cromwell by The Humble Petition and Advice.
  • Both struggled to get enough money to fund their governments and costly overseas affairs.
  • Both had their own "Personal Rules" Charles from 1629 to 1640 and Cromwell from 16th December 1653 to 3rd September 1654 when they ruled without Parliament.
  • Both had their own council of advisors; Charles had a privy council and Cromwell had a Council of State.

Differences

  • From very different backgrounds. Charles was from a line of Scottish Kings. Cromwell was from a gentry family in the East Midlands.
  • They had very different power bases; Charles' came from the landed classes and aristocracy, Cromwell's came from the Army and some of Parliament.
  • Cromwell thought more of Parliament than Charles did and tried to work with them. Charles did not want to share power and was more interested in getting money from them.
  • Cromwell was a lot more frugal in his spending and lived a lifestyle that was nothing like that of Charles I.
  • Cromwell believed in religious toleration ; Charles preferred strict adherence to the Church of England.
  • Cromwell actively tried to give away power to the Nominated Assembly , Charles didn't like sharing it even with Parliament.

Overall comparison

Cromwell and Charles were a lot more similar than Cromwell would have liked ; both faced serious challenges to their leadership and it seemed to be the same problems coming up over and over again. Both had their strengths and weaknesses both in power and character but if you measure success by dying in your own bed then Charles was definitely the loser.

Comments

Aishah Zaman

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it was helpful but I would need a longer paragraph

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