Oliver Cromwell and the Puritan Interregnum In 1642, Charles I declared war on the English Parliament, and Civil War began, ending only with the execution of Charles I in 1649. Oliver Cromwell was the most successful general during this war, his New Model Army led to the de-feat of Charles I, but he was also a most cruel tyrant to the Irish Catholics. He made England a Republic, but he himself became a despot. A short summary of the main events leading to the reestablishment of the Stuart Kings. A) Text B) Vocabulary (engl.- deutsch)