Crom ‧ well, Ol ‧ i ‧ ver /ˈkrɒmwel $ ˈkrɑː-, ˈɒləvəʳ $ ˈɑːl-/ BrE AmE
(1599–1658) an English military and political leader who led the army of Parliament against King ↑ Charles I in the English Civil War. After defeating the King, he made a ↑ republic (=a country without a king or queen) called ‘the Commonwealth’, and ruled as Lord Protector until his death.