Why did Oliver Cromwell first purge parliament?

The Long Parliament were attempting to cut a deal with Charles I. The 'Grandees', the leaders of the New Model Army, had been trying to negotiate a settlement with the King since the end of the First Civil War. read more

The Long Parliament were attempting to cut a deal with Charles I. The ‘Grandees’, the leaders of the New Model Army, had been trying to negotiate a settlement with the King since the end of the First Civil War. read more

In the meantime, with the king gone (and with him their common cause), the various factions in Parliament began to engage in infighting. On his return, Cromwell tried to galvanise the Rump into setting dates for new elections, uniting the three kingdoms under one polity, and to put in place a broad-brush, tolerant national church. read more