Similarities Between Cromwell And Napoleon Bonaparte

Cromwell: The Napoleon of his Age: Daniel Markovits Oliver Cromwell was an exceptional man. He killed a king, played a pivotal role in the English revolution and ruled England for a decade. As a result, many view him as being unique in the modern age. In fact, when searching for a comparison historians range as far afield as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Mickelthwait, 300, 2009) and Julius Caesar (Sharpe, 21, 2010). However, a parallel to Cromwell can be found right across the English Channel: Napoleon Bonaparte. On the surface Napoleon has little in common with Cromwell. He was secular where Cromwell was religious and he conquered most of Europe while Cromwell remained ensconced in the British Isles. Nonetheless, deeper investigation will discover that from biographical information to historical significance the two …show more content…
Both the English revolution of 1642 and the French revolution of 1789 were based upon modern ideals of separation of powers and political freedom. In each case the revolution succeeded, the act of regicide was completed and a provisional government was established. However, the revolutionary forces in both England and France were too disparate to maintain a unified government. As a result both witnessed a period of political turmoil in which only the most able could survive. This period of violence acted as a hyper-meritocracy that produced very capable rulers for both England and France. However, the way in which they ruled, while effective, was despotic and totalitarian. Furthermore the governments of Cromwell and Napoleon produced no enduring institutions. When the man died, so did the government. Violent revolutions inevitably succumb to political in-fighting and open the way for an extraordinary man without moral scruples: a Cromwell or Napoleon, to seize absolute