Why is Oliver Cromwell regarding as a hero in England?

[Amandistan]

I get that he was responsible for Parliament and considered a war hero but he still committed genocide. 
He hated catholics and had an evil puritan agenda. He walks into a primarily catholic country and murders them.
He is responsible for the death of thousands of innocent people . 
He banned Catholicism in a catholic country.  He killed clergy men, burned catholics alive,Started and ethical cleansing campaign and banned the practice of their faith. His motives were
 pure hatred.

Why on earth does he have a memorial statue erected in London?  He is no hero, he was purely evil.
The Germans don't see Hitler as a hero so why do the english see Cromwell as a hero? Is the genocide not taught in English history classes?

[Spudthemariner]

Well as ever Amanda, a small amount of research would have easily answered your question but no matter.

Q.1. Hero? I would say he isn't (and most historians agree). One of the most influential men in British history absolutely, but actually hes an incredibly dispersive figure. Hell, even Churchill considered him to be a Dictator.

Q.2. He hated Catholics? Well he certainly hated the Catholic Church which at the time was (and had been for hundreds of years) the most powerful/rich and authoritarian organization in the western world. Which in itself had caused multiple wars and the death of hundreds of thousands of people (not forgetting the persecution of women by the inquisition). Puritanisn was a reaction against this and at the time was seen almost as a working class revolution. Of course, they ended up as bad in some cases as the regime they sought to overthrow but thats what happens when you pitch one strand of religion against one another. Lets not forget, its all Christianity...

The Irish situation at the time was also in itself incredibly complex. Far from being a happy country they were at the time constantly at war with each other. The reason Cromwell was 'sent' there (this is an important thing to remember) was that an alliance had been formed that threatened to invade England. An alliance that had already massacred protestant settlers. Does this make it right? no of course not but again you need to look at the whole situation and not just one point of view. He did appear to hate the Irish its true. But this was purely down to their perceived support of the Holy Church of Rome who again were the richest and most powerful authoritarian regime of the time.
Did he effectively start an ethnic cleansing campaign? Yes. Is this taught in schools? Guess what...Yes! (Or at least it was when I studied history).
Cromwell was in some ways a very great man. The establishment of Parliament having primacy over a Regent is not to be underestimated, but he was also at times a vicious dictator. In essence, he was very much a man of his times and arguably was no better or worse than most other rulers of the time.

That said, to compare him to Hitler is utterly astonishing, and I would suggest rather insulting to all the people who were murdered in the name of National Socialism.

All of this info is easily available on line, in fact the wiki page on him is (in this case) pretty good. I'm assuming your thoughts on him are colored by your stay in Ireland? Well if so, I'd suggest that approaching history from only one point of view is extremely dangerous. A good (and more recent case) would be the Palestine/Israel question!

Oh and by the way, just in case you think I'm anti Irish or Catholic (I'm not), my family are Irish and Scottish Catholics, in fact my Mum is still practicing. I myself am not its true, but that's another story...

Here's the link to the wiki page. Have a read... https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Oliver_Cromwell

   

[Amandistan]

By some people in Ireland he is compared to Hitler. Comparing someone to Cromwell is and insult. 

I know the catholic church murdered millions but it doesn't give him a reason to hate a group of people for believing something. It's like  a westerner claiming to hate all muslims because of a few extremists.   

I am no longer catholic but my entire family is. Some effected by Cromwell's campaign in Ireland.

[wychbury]

Out of interest, how have your family been affected by Cromwell's campaign in Ireland?

[Amandistan]

Some of my ancestors were in Ireland at the time. I don't know the details. I know that i am 1/4 Irish and my ancestors were still in Europe at the time.

[Spudthemariner]

By some people in Ireland he is compared to Hitler. Comparing someone to Cromwell is and insult. 

I know the catholic church murdered millions but it doesn't give him a reason to hate a group of people for believing something. It's like  a westerner claiming to hate all muslims because of a few extremists.   

I've no doubt that that is the case (although I stand by my statement that I find it highly offensive), and yes, why should anyone use religion as a reason for hatred. However, the fact is that that is how it was at the time. Catholics murdered protestants across europe, and Protestants murdered Catholics. Wars were fought all in the name of ideology.
Do I condone Cromwell's actions in Ireland? Of course not!
However as I said earlier, Cromwell was 'sent' to Ireland to do a job. Which he did, with brutal efficiency!
Make no mistake though, had the alliance invaded England (which again, was planned), and had they been successful they would have subjugated the English in exactly way the same ...such is the fervor of a cause fueled by religious dogma (particularly at that time).
History is complicated, and to only take the view of one side is a dangerous route to take. Indeed, it has been the continued cause of further wars and atrocity's across the century's, as one group seeks to avenge the wrongs of the past. 
     

[Shush]

In answer to the title question, I do not agree he is regarded generally as a hero. The history of the English Civil war(or English Revolution as it is often called today) is long and very complex. Like all wars its origins run deep over many years before its start. The war itself was in three stages, and  its effects long lasting. No real point in going over its details, as said previously they is much info to be found on the net. 
     The wars of that time not widely taught or understood today, and in my opinion, far less on the conscience of the British population than say the U.S. civil war is with the American population which still keeps alive the idea of the North and the South, opposing flags, etc.
      Cromwell certainly obtained his objectives of the Parliamentarian cause, but was soon out of favour after the wars. After the establishment of the Commonwealth, he ruled England as a totalitarian dictator and staunch Protestant making England a grim place even banning the celebration of Christmas.  So much so that after his death in 1558 to reverse the state of England, the Monarchy was re-established in 1660.
  Our "hero" Cromwell charged with regicide , hung and be-headed - two years after he died !!
       If anything in my opinion Cromwell is remembered well for the legacy of the wars. That legacy being democracy and a Monarchy with limited power. From then onwards Britain became a successful country on the world stage. I remember one historian making a  comparison with the English revolution and the French revolution. Even if you are pro-Monarchy, you can be grateful for the English revolution. If a revolution was bound to happen in England through discontent of the power of the monarchy, if it had happened a century and a half later such as the French revolution, we may  not have a monarchy at all today like the French. Because of the English revolution we still have the monarchy we have today.

[Amandistan]

Ok my mistake. I loved with an irish man for a month who seemed to tell me a lot about Irish history but was one sided but very emotional.from Cromwell up to the IRA and i heard the entire history but from a very republican prespective.
he seemed to have a grudge with the English.

I have heard the opposite from English people.  It's difficult to know what is the truth with so many view points.

[Pol]

Firstly I was wasn't going to post in this thread as I know very little about it at all.
Very little of the the English civil war was taught in the Scottish school I went to so I learnt quiet a bit from the posts already made. I certainly don't regard Cromwell as a hero. Putting everything to one side we side he definitely left us a excellent legacy with the house of commons and giving us true democracy. Things have also worked out well with the monarchy having little or no power.

[Shush]

  It's difficult to know what is the truth with so many view points.

History is a set of facts diluted heavily by opinion. Often re-written and re-interpreted to suit as a justification for a cause. (back to your what causes conflicts topic). History should be black and white, a relay of facts, but it rarely is. I am not saying the Irish perspective is wrong or that the English is right, just that they are perspectives - opinions backed up with selected known events. Parts exaggerated with time, reasons for events ignored when it suits. If you are looking for "truth" - good luck 

[jackroadkill]

Cromwell wasn't well loved, even by the Protestant working classes.  The interregnum didn't last that long before Chuck II was asked to come back.

Hero?  Not to me, and I'm no monarchist.

[Amandistan]

So he was thrown out my his own people? That's very interesting. 

[wychbury]

So he was thrown out my his own people? That's very interesting.

And where exactly does Jackroadkill say that...A classic example making an incorrect assumption... Cromwell wasn't thrown out by his own people. He died of natural causes in 1658. His son succeeded him but did not have the support of Parliament and resigned. There was a power struggle and no clear leader emerged, as a result the monarchy was restored in 1662.

Suggest rather than getting everyone elses opinion's that you actually read the facts for yourself - https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Oliver_Cromwell is a good start - and make your own opinions.

[Amandistan]

I did read the Wiki.  He still wasn't so kind to the Irish even on the wiki. 
He said that the old king was asked to come back.  I don't think Cromwell would approve of that.  I just watched a doc about it called Cromwell God's executioner.   It was based on fact and terrible.

I also just read that Cromwell was tried for treason by the king.  He started out well liked, then became a tyrant and his own people lost respect. 

His legacy is murder and he brought on the Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland.

[BlackCountryMaggiD]

Oh I was wondering how long it would be until you managed to link this to recent history in Northern Ireland.