To prolong itself, the Protectorate needed Cromwell to be more of a Leviathan, more of a ruthless sovereign, than he could ever manage to stomach. This is both his exoneration and his failure.
To ensure its survival, the Protectorate required Oliver Cromwell to adopt a more authoritarian and domineering approach than he was comfortable with. The demands of the political landscape pushed him to act as a powerful ruler, akin to a Leviathan, enforcing strict measures to maintain control over the state.
This tension highlights a dual aspect of Cromwell's leadership; it ultimately serves as both a justification for his actions and a testament to his shortcomings. While he sought to navigate the complexities of power, Cromwell's reluctance to fully embody this ruthless role contributed to the challenges faced by the Protectorate.
