Ironside was the name given to a trooper in the cavalry formed by English political leader Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century. The name came from "Old Ironsides", one of Cromwell's nicknames. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq... For the Monty Python song based on the historical figure, see Oliver Cromwell (song) Oliver Cromwell (April 25, 1599 – September 3, 1658) was an English military and political leader, considered by critics to be a dictator, best known for making England a republic and leading the Commonwealth of England. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ...
Cromwell trained and equipped the troop early in the English Civil War. By 1644, after two years of war, it had grown into a "double" regiment of no less than 14 troops. (A normal regiment had only 6 troops). Cromwell's regiment later formed two regiments which became the nucleus of the New Model Army's cavalry. The Ironsides' use of armour and their disciplined formation and obedience to their commanders, at a period when the majority of both armies consisted largely of ill-equipped rabble, made them virtually invincible. The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651. ... The New Model Army became the best known of the various Parliamentarian armies in the English Civil War. ...
The Ironsides were Puritans who often attributed their glory in battle to God, whom they believed they were fighting for. Their religious beliefs extended to the field where they adhered to strict ethical codes. The army did not drink or gamble. They did not partake in the traditional spoils of war and did not rape or pillage defeated opponents (although their religious zeal sometimes led them to be merciless to Catholic enemies). It was this discipline that made them more organized on the battlefield, and thus a more formidable enemy. The Puritans were members of a group of radical Protestants which developed in England after the Reformation. ...
References
Spielvogel Jackson J., 1939. Western Civilization : Comprehensive Volume (4th ed.)
Their cavalry centered on the gendarmerie using their old tactics, though with unarmoured horses, supplemented by German reiters (heavy cavalry with pistols using "caracole" tactics based on firepower), and similar French pistoliers and mounted arquebusiers, now referred to as "carabins".
The cavalry were dependent upon the "squirearchy" of the Protestant areas, who produced a brave and Ironside-like horse, distinguished by the long-sleeved white casaques they wore over their armour in old fashioned style (their opponents nicknamed them "Millers").
The square cavalry flags of the late 16th and 17th Centuries would also be fringed; apart from the devices mentioned, they could carry others common at the time, such as the "Fortuna" shown, arms holding swords and so forth, and bore a variety of mottoes and slogans.
Ironside was the name given to a trooper in the cavalry formed by English political leader Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century.
The Ironsides' use of armour and their disciplined formation and obedience to their commanders, at a period when the majority of both armies consisted largely of ill-equipped rabble, made them virtually invincible.
The Ironsides were Puritans who often attributed their glory in battle to God, whom they believed they were fighting for.
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