Daniel Axtell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daniel Axtell
Born	1622 Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England
Died	19 October 1660(1660-10-19) (aged 37–38) Tyburn, London
Resting place	His Head Set Up on Westminster Hall
Occupation	Soldier, Cromwellian, Roundhead
Known for	Pride's Purge, Regicide

Colonel Daniel Axtell lived from about 1622 to 1660. He was a grocer and a very religious man from Hertfordshire, England. He joined the Parliamentarian army during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which were big wars in England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Daniel Axtell was in charge of security when King Charles I was put on trial in 1649. Because of his role in the trial, he was later punished when the king's family came back to power in 1660. He was executed for treason, which means betraying his country, on October 19, 1660.

Who Was Daniel Axtell?

Daniel Axtell grew up in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. He was a Baptist, which is a type of Christian faith. He learned to be a grocer, selling food and supplies. Later, he joined the New Model Army, which was the main army for Parliament. He started as a regular soldier and worked his way up to become a colonel, a high-ranking officer.

A Soldier in the English Civil War

Axtell became an important figure in the English Civil War starting in 1643. He fought as an infantryman, which means a foot soldier. He was part of many important events. These included the sieges of Lindon and York in 1644. He also fought in the famous Battle of Marston Moor.

Daniel Axtell was a strong Puritan, a group of very strict Protestants. In 1646, he and other Puritan soldiers began preaching in churches in Oxford. At that time, only qualified clergymen were allowed to preach. So, Axtell and his group sometimes had to make the local clergymen step aside.

He also helped in an event called Pride's Purge in December 1648. This was when some members of Parliament were removed by the army. It was a very unusual event in English history. Axtell then commanded the guards at the trial of King Charles I in 1649. This trial took place at Westminster Hall in London.

Axtell's Time in Ireland

Daniel Axtell also played a big role in the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. This was when Oliver Cromwell's army took control of Ireland.

The Siege of Drogheda

Axtell was part of the attack on the town of Drogheda. After the Parliamentarian soldiers broke through the town's walls, the Royalist governor, Arthur Aston, and others went to a strong fort called Windmill Mount. This fort was very well protected.

It was said that Axtell had promised to spare the lives of the defenders on Mill Mount. However, Oliver Cromwell himself gave direct orders to kill the unarmed prisoners. So, the promise was broken, and the prisoners were killed.

Granny Castle and Meelick Island

Axtell also helped capture Grannagh castle in Ireland. This castle was held by soldiers loyal to the King. Colonel Axtell, who was governor of Kilkenny at the time, sent soldiers to take the castle. When they failed, Axtell himself went with two cannons. He told the castle to surrender or face a harsh attack. The castle had no hope of help, so its defenders gave up.

On October 25, 1650, Axtell led the Parliamentarian army to victory at the The Battle of Meelick Island. This battle happened on an island in the River Shannon. The Irish army was camped there. Axtell launched a surprise attack at night. After fierce fighting, Axtell's soldiers won. They killed many Irish soldiers and took their weapons.

However, after this battle, it was claimed that many Irish soldiers were killed even after they had been promised safety. Because of this, Axtell was put on trial by a military court. He was then sent back to England. Some people think Axtell might have been blamed unfairly. Cromwell had done similar things in other towns like Drogheda and Wexford. It's possible that the Parliamentarian leaders in Ireland wanted to use less harsh tactics, and Axtell's actions went against that plan.

The End of His Life

After the government called the Protectorate ended in 1659, Axtell briefly returned to Ireland. He was a colonel under Edmund Ludlow. But he was soon sent back to England to help John Lambert against an uprising. Axtell was among the soldiers who tried to stop the King's family from returning to power in April 1660. He escaped from a fight where Lambert was captured. But Axtell himself was arrested soon after.

His Trial and Execution

Daniel Axtell was put on trial for treason. This was because of his actions during the King's trial. His defense was that he was just obeying orders as a soldier. However, several witnesses said that Axtell had been rude to the King. They said he encouraged his soldiers to mock or shout at the King when he tried to speak.

The court decided that obeying a traitor's command was also treason. So, his defense was not accepted.

On October 19, 1660, Daniel Axtell was executed in London. His head was later put on display at Westminster Hall. His commanding officer, Colonel Francis Hacker, was also executed. Axtell faced his execution without regret. He famously said, "If I had a thousand lives, I could lay them all down for the [Good Old] Cause." This was what he called the Parliamentarian cause.

In 1678, Axtell's son, also named Daniel Axtell, moved to Carolina in America. This happened after his house was searched for rebellious writings. He died in 1687.

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  Colonel Daniel Axtell