Talk:Oliver Cromwell

Controverial figure

First, great stuff here. But: "Cromwell is the most controversial figure in all of British history" - that's quite a claim. I realise he is immensely important - indeed, one might judge the most important - but this surely can't be supported? John Stephenson 06:05, 2 June 2008 (CDT)

the "most controversial" but comes from Morrill. Is there someone MORe controversial? It's supported by pointing to the enormous controversy he has generated over the centuries--nobody comes close. (examples are listed like King George V and VI and the allegations of fanatic, genocide, dictator). My impression is that many Irish still HATE him. Professor Barry Coward, President of the Historical Association calls him Britain's "most controversial Head of State." Blair Warden, another leading historian, says: " From his century to ours, Oliver Cromwell has been the most controversial figure of English history." Richard Jensen 06:53, 2 June 2008 (CDT)

OK, I can go along with your argument (and of course, Cromwell is well-known in Ireland), but my point is it's very subjective for an encyclopaedia to declare one figure 'most controversial' - one could construct an argument that e.g. Churchill is more controversial, or other figures who are more widely known because they appear in the history syllabuses (most people in the UK have never heard of Cromwell or know next to nothing about him, as little is taught about that time), e.g. Henry VIII. I'm not sure we should be making a claim like that. As for Coward, that is a good quote - about English history since Cromwell's time, but not for all of British history. Maybe, at the very least, we should say that historians consider him most controversial, though not people generally. John Stephenson 03:57, 3 June 2008 (CDT)

it's not subjective at all; we follow the best historians (as quoted). No one else seems to be close to him in being both loved and hated (nobody calls Churchill a horrible dictator). to be controversial in his case means extreme range of opinion (hero of liberty to genocide) over 350 years. Is Cromwell well enough known? He makes the top 10 (ahead of Queen Victoria) in several BBC polls; indeed he's the #2 political figure after Churchill. I think the deeper question is can CZ report judgments made by scholars. CZ's job is to tell readers what's what. Be Bold! is the motto. Richard Jensen 04:23, 3 June 2008 (CDT)

I suppose who is the 'best historian' can be a matter of interpretation. I see what you mean about Cromwell being well-known, although I do recall that the 'Greatest Britons' poll put Princess Diana ahead of Shakespeare and Darwin, which shows how reliable participants in a phone-in show can be. :) John Stephenson 06:37, 3 June 2008 (CDT)