Comparison of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell rule
Similarities Differences
Power Power
- both seen as absolutist rule (Charles Personal - Cromwell had aimed to work with parliament and
Rule 1629-40 and Cromwell Rule of Major kept trying by calling new parliament’s. Charles
Generals 1655-56) had no intention of working with parliament
- both dissolved parliament when did not get their which is seen in his agreement with the Scots in
way (Charles due to money/advisors and 1647
Cromwell due to his godly reformation) - Cromwell had control over the army but Charles
- people challenge their power (Charles’s Personal did not (led to military failures: Cadiz 1625,
Rule 1629-40 collapse and Cromwell was given Rochelle 1626, First Bishops War 1639)
the Humble Petition and Advice 1657)
- Had their own council of advisors (Charles had
Privy Council and Cromwell had Council of State)
Money Money
- costly foreign affairs (Charles was war with - Cromwell did not take grants that were not
France and Spain and Cromwell was Anglo- approved by parliament
Dutch War 1652) - monthly assessment - spent more than Charles’
- Took tax from the people- Ship Money 1634-36 entire annual revenue
compared to Church Tithes
- Monthly assessment of £90,000 1652-54 due to
Anglo-Dutch War
Religion Religion
- Both had ideas of religion that they tried to - Cromwell wanted religious toleration (toleration
enforce on the majority, despite only a minority act and James Nayler Case). Charles wanted
wanting it - Laudian reforms, Godly reformation strict adherence to Laudian reforms (Three
- Differences over religion led to clashes with Puritan Writers 1637 and George Abbot 1627)
parliament - Puritans vs Conservatives - Cromwell persecuted against Catholics but
- Both threatened the Church of England Charles welcomed them into his privy council
(Arminianism threatened the reformation and (Henrietta Maria 1625, Laud 1628) and court
Puritanism threatened conformity and hierarchy) (ambassador of the pope 1635)
, To what extent was republican rule (1649–60) different from the personal rule of Charles I (1629–
40)?
Paragraph Difference Similarity
Political Cromwell cooperated with parliament Cromwell and Charles both came under
unlike Charles who refused to reach a political scrutiny due to military exhibitions
political settlement: - Charles I this was La Rochelle and the
- Cromwell tried to appease both the Attack on Cadiz
radical saints and the conservative MPs - Cromwell this was the suppression of
in the Nominated Assembly 1653. rebellion in Ireland.
- Charles refused a political settlement
sparking a 2nd Civil War in 1648. Both dissolved parliament regularly = instability
Charles ruled alone for 11 years known as Both has absolutist power
Personal Rule but Cromwell did not. - Cromwell is Lord Protector (King in all but
name)
Greater role of the army - Cromwell - Rule of the Major Generals 1655-56
prioritised the army whereas Charles did considered similar to Personal Rule -
not. enforcing policies with military or force.
- Cromwell was Head of the NMA and the
politicisation of the army made them Had a council of advisors that influenced their
important for politics decisions
- Taxes for the upkeep of the army = - Charles had a Privy Council (advisors were
source of discontent source of dispute)
- Cromwell had a Council of State - Colonal
Advisors were source of tension between Lambert advised him.
Charles and parliament
- assassination of Buckingham and role of Challenges to their power
advisors like Laud which caused - Cromwell was given the Humble Petition
disputes. and Advice in 1657 which advised him to
restore the monarchy
- Charles was given the Petition of Right, the
Grand Remonstrance
Economic Cromwell did not take grants that were not Costly foreign affairs
approved by parliament first whereas - Charles had war with France and Spain
Charles did enforce taxes such as Ship - Cromwell had Anglo-Dutch War (monthly
Money. assessment of £90,000 1652-54 due to the
Anglo-Dutch War).
Money was more significant source of
political instability for Charles I Used taxes to gain funds for the wars
- it was cause for recalling of parliament in - Charles = Ship Money 1634-36
1640 - Cromwell = Church tithes, tax on crown
- Root cause for disputes = refused to lands, tax for army payment.
grant Tonnage and Poundage
Similarities Differences
Power Power
- both seen as absolutist rule (Charles Personal - Cromwell had aimed to work with parliament and
Rule 1629-40 and Cromwell Rule of Major kept trying by calling new parliament’s. Charles
Generals 1655-56) had no intention of working with parliament
- both dissolved parliament when did not get their which is seen in his agreement with the Scots in
way (Charles due to money/advisors and 1647
Cromwell due to his godly reformation) - Cromwell had control over the army but Charles
- people challenge their power (Charles’s Personal did not (led to military failures: Cadiz 1625,
Rule 1629-40 collapse and Cromwell was given Rochelle 1626, First Bishops War 1639)
the Humble Petition and Advice 1657)
- Had their own council of advisors (Charles had
Privy Council and Cromwell had Council of State)
Money Money
- costly foreign affairs (Charles was war with - Cromwell did not take grants that were not
France and Spain and Cromwell was Anglo- approved by parliament
Dutch War 1652) - monthly assessment - spent more than Charles’
- Took tax from the people- Ship Money 1634-36 entire annual revenue
compared to Church Tithes
- Monthly assessment of £90,000 1652-54 due to
Anglo-Dutch War
Religion Religion
- Both had ideas of religion that they tried to - Cromwell wanted religious toleration (toleration
enforce on the majority, despite only a minority act and James Nayler Case). Charles wanted
wanting it - Laudian reforms, Godly reformation strict adherence to Laudian reforms (Three
- Differences over religion led to clashes with Puritan Writers 1637 and George Abbot 1627)
parliament - Puritans vs Conservatives - Cromwell persecuted against Catholics but
- Both threatened the Church of England Charles welcomed them into his privy council
(Arminianism threatened the reformation and (Henrietta Maria 1625, Laud 1628) and court
Puritanism threatened conformity and hierarchy) (ambassador of the pope 1635)
, To what extent was republican rule (1649–60) different from the personal rule of Charles I (1629–
40)?
Paragraph Difference Similarity
Political Cromwell cooperated with parliament Cromwell and Charles both came under
unlike Charles who refused to reach a political scrutiny due to military exhibitions
political settlement: - Charles I this was La Rochelle and the
- Cromwell tried to appease both the Attack on Cadiz
radical saints and the conservative MPs - Cromwell this was the suppression of
in the Nominated Assembly 1653. rebellion in Ireland.
- Charles refused a political settlement
sparking a 2nd Civil War in 1648. Both dissolved parliament regularly = instability
Charles ruled alone for 11 years known as Both has absolutist power
Personal Rule but Cromwell did not. - Cromwell is Lord Protector (King in all but
name)
Greater role of the army - Cromwell - Rule of the Major Generals 1655-56
prioritised the army whereas Charles did considered similar to Personal Rule -
not. enforcing policies with military or force.
- Cromwell was Head of the NMA and the
politicisation of the army made them Had a council of advisors that influenced their
important for politics decisions
- Taxes for the upkeep of the army = - Charles had a Privy Council (advisors were
source of discontent source of dispute)
- Cromwell had a Council of State - Colonal
Advisors were source of tension between Lambert advised him.
Charles and parliament
- assassination of Buckingham and role of Challenges to their power
advisors like Laud which caused - Cromwell was given the Humble Petition
disputes. and Advice in 1657 which advised him to
restore the monarchy
- Charles was given the Petition of Right, the
Grand Remonstrance
Economic Cromwell did not take grants that were not Costly foreign affairs
approved by parliament first whereas - Charles had war with France and Spain
Charles did enforce taxes such as Ship - Cromwell had Anglo-Dutch War (monthly
Money. assessment of £90,000 1652-54 due to the
Anglo-Dutch War).
Money was more significant source of
political instability for Charles I Used taxes to gain funds for the wars
- it was cause for recalling of parliament in - Charles = Ship Money 1634-36
1640 - Cromwell = Church tithes, tax on crown
- Root cause for disputes = refused to lands, tax for army payment.
grant Tonnage and Poundage
