Empire

233. Blood and Betrayal: Oliver Cromwell's Irish Invasion (Ep 1)

Feb 27, 2025

In this gripping discussion, Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, an expert on early modern Irish history and author of 'Making Empire,' delves into Oliver Cromwell's brutal invasion of Ireland. She unpacks his complex legacy, revealing how he’s hailed in Britain yet vilified in Ireland for his ruthless tactics. The conversation highlights the horrific massacres at Drogheda and Wexford, explores the widespread suffering of ordinary Irish people, and draws parallels between historical dispossession and contemporary struggles in Gaza.

42:27

Episode guests

Jane Ohlmeyer

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Oliver Cromwell's military campaigns, particularly the sieges of Drogheda and Wexford, were marked by extreme violence and mass killings justified by his religious fervor.

The aftermath of Cromwell's conquest led to a dramatic reduction in Catholic land ownership in Ireland, reshaping its socio-political landscape and leaving lasting scars.

Deep dives

The Complex Legacy of Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell is a multifaceted historical figure, celebrated as a parliamentary hero in England, yet reviled in Ireland where he is seen as a brutal executioner. Prior to his emergence as a military leader, Cromwell was a country gentleman whose life transformed at the age of 40 when he began his political career, fueled by fervent religious beliefs. His self-professed divine mission led him to commit some of the most horrific atrocities in Irish history, particularly during the sieges of Drogheda and Wexford, where he justified mass killings under the guise of God's wrath. This duality in perception highlights a profound discrepancy in how Cromwell's actions are viewed across different national narratives.

Intro

2min

Cromwell's Complex Legacy

8min

The Aftermath of Rebellion: Cromwell's Violent Campaign

12min

Massacres and Forced Exile: The Aftermath of Cromwell's Invasion

2min

The Impact of Cromwell's Invasion on Ireland

11min

Journeys of Dispossession: Parallels Between Ireland and Gaza

3min

His statue may stand proudly outside the Houses of Parliament in London, but in Ireland, Oliver Cromwell is remembered as “the Devil from over the Sea” for the bloodshed he unleashed there from 1649 to 1653.

Rising to prominence as a Parliamentarian during the English Civil Wars, Oliver Cromwell sought revenge against the Catholics who had killed Protestant colonists in Ireland during the rebellion of 1641.

Soon after overseeing the execution of King Charles I, Cromwell feared that Ireland would be used as a backdoor to England by Royalists, and he took violent measures to stop that from happening. The sieges at Drogheda and Wexford saw some of the worst massacres to occur in Irish history. What happened to ordinary people during the misery of the 1650s? And what legacy did the Cromwellian Conquest leave in Ireland?

Listen as Anita and William are joined once again by Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, author of Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism and the Early Modern World, to discuss how Irish Catholics were displaced and dispossessed as a result of the Cromwellian Conquest.

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Assistant Producer: Becki Hills

Producer: Anouska Lewis

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

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