A question for the Irish folk? and British as well, i suppose

[Serioli]

This (Don't know how to embed,sorry)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ1yPz14LrU

 

[GreatVladmir]

The Puritans closed down pubs. That's reason enough to hate them.

This. No-one closes a pub in Britian and gets loved.

 

[thylasos]

He was a total cock. People mention democratic reforms, but the man was essentially a tyrant. Good ideas about military training, for the time, but that's about it.

 

[iwishiwased]

His good points.
1)got rid of an oppresive monarchry. (but the monarchy was actually asked to return as cromwell was such an oppresive ruler)
bad points
1)basic genocide of a large number of irish citizens.
2)forced plantation and removal of people already living there i.e "to hell or to connacht"
3)intolerant religous type who forced his own religion on his people and own anyone else he claimed dominion over.

he is one of the most infamous men in irish history and not many are hated as much as him.

 

[HerrBobo]

His invasion saw the deaths of up-to 600,000 Irish civillans, that was from a population of c.1.1 Million.

That is the very top end of the range that I've seen, most historians argue that the population was reduced by 15-25%, which is pretty typical for a seventeenth century conflict (the siege of La Rochelle saw over 80% of the population die). It seems a little harsh to pillory Cromwell when everyone did it back then.

Indeed, you are quite right. There are a whole host of figures for the invasion. I have studied the war in college and am aware that most historians go for 15-25%, though I remember the Prof. telling us it could have been as high as 600,000.

It is of course wrong to judge a man who was born in 1599 by the standards of today. It is not something I would ever do if I was writing in an academic capacity. Indeed, I am always keen to point out the ideas of judgement when doing work for college. The Escapist is not an academic enviroment, so, I was having a bit of fun and going for shock value.

That said I do and will always spit on Cromwell's grave and smile. Even by the standards of his day his campaign in Ireland was "harsh". Like I said in my first post, I am from Drogheda, the first town he sacked; even now this wound is still raw there.