Cromwell's major-generals : godly government during the English Revolution / Christopher Durston.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Durston, Christopher, 1951-2005.

Series:

Politics, culture, and society in early modern Britain

Politics, culture and society in early modern Britain

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain--Politics and government--1642-1660.

Great Britain.

Politics and government.

Great Britain--History--Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660.

History.

Physical Description:

x, 260 pages : map ; 24 cm.

Other Title:

Cromwell's major generals

Place of Publication:

Manchester, UK ; New York, NY : Manchester University Press ; New York, NY : Distributed exclusively in the USA by Palgrave, 2001.

Summary:

Christopher Durston's full-scale study ambitiously documents the history behind what remains today, a powerful symbol of military rule. He explores the motivations behind the decisions to appoint the major-generals, looking at their careers and personalities. Durston pays particular attention to the collection of the decimation tax, the attempt to improve the security of the regime, and the struggle to build a godly nation. He concludes with an investigation of the 1656 election and the major-generals' subsequent fall from power.

Contents:

1 Introduction: background and historiography 1

2 The system: origins and construction 15

3 The men: backgrounds, careers and beliefs 38

4 The helpers: the commissioners for securing the peace of the commonwealth 59

5 New local government and old local government 73

6 The decimation tax 97

7 Securing the peace of the commonwealth 127

8 The struggle for the godly nation 154

9 The major-generals and the 1656 election 187

10 Defeat at Westminster and fall from power 206

Postscript: The major-generals' later careers 234.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 240-250) and index.

ISBN:

0719051878

0719060656

OCLC:

46433381