Was Oliver Cromwell a military dictator? Discuss.

Oliver Cromwell has long been the subject of historical debate, particularly concerning his political actions and leadership style. Unquestionably, his main source of power was his military support base, which he used to overthrow the government the 1650s. At face-value, his regime could easily qualify as a ‘military dictatorship’, but there are facets of his rule that don’t conform to this image.Cromwell was the architect of successful military campaigns during the 1640s, creating his ‘New Model Army’ in a response to parliamentarian failings during the Civil Wars. In 1653, accompanied by his men Cromwell stormed the House of Commons, forcibly dissolving parliament by threat of violence. He appointed himself as ‘Lord Protector’, installing himself as the quasi-monarchical head of his new regime known as the Cromwellian Protectorate. During the Protectorate, he used his New Model army to incite fear and provide a visible deterrent to opposition. Such an arbitrary seizure of power coupled with the use of a standing militia confirm that Cromwell could be classified as a military dictator.Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland stands as a testament to his capacity for cruelty and violence. His actions in Ireland lead to over 200,000 casualties, with those not killed in conflict wiped out by subsequent famine and plague. His attempts to impose an anglicised Church were fuelled by his Anti-Catholicism and slowly eroded Ireland’s national identity. The fallout from the Irish settlement awakened a fevered nationalism in the people that further consolidated this image of Cromwell as a bloodthirsty tyrant. Despite this, Cromwell did introduce a programme of religious toleration that aimed to appease all Protestant sects and denominations. This ethos of ‘toleration’ did not extend to Catholics, but was remarkably progressive within this historical context, signifying how in this area Cromwell appealed to populist principles. By consistently using military force to assert his political authority, Cromwell has certain qualities of a ‘military dictator’, but his tolerant attitude towards religious practice promoted progressive ideas that were at odds with the fundamentals of dictatorial rule.