To What Extent Was Cromwell a Great Military Leader

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To what extent was Cromwell a great military leader? Throughout the years the statement that Cromwell was a great military leader has been debated by many historians, To decide if Cromwell was a great military leader, first we must establish what qualities are needed for such a title such as; Knowledge of the job, Physical energy, Courage, Strong beliefs and Modest character; these qualities can be found in many of the famous leaders throughout history such as Napoleon and Churchill. In the seventeenth century a commander often had to raise, train and at times even equip his army before he could use it, this was common in all Parliaments armies between 1642 and 1645. In 1643 Cromwell raised his army , who are now known in history as the Ironsides , a “close-knit body of horseman “ due to the discipline he enforced , the intense training and selecting men who shared his religious views and beliefs , it changed the way the military was constructed forever. Without a doubt, knowledge of the job is one of the most important qualities a commander should have. This involves gathering and remembering basic facts and being able to use them during battle while under an extremely stressful situation. “Although a commander’s plans are important, the real test lies in implementing them.” Cromwell who was 43 years old at the start of the Civil War had no real understanding of how the military truly worked from experience or study, he had to learn while on the job from professionals such as Crawford and Thomas Fairfax whom he served under during the Battles of Marston Moor and Naseby, which are two of his most successful battles during his military career. Within a year Cromwell already rose from captain to colonel to lieutenant general of one of the largest regional armies in England, where he won every major battle he participated in England, Scotland and
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