Click to image above to enlarge
Leveller Women in the English Revolution 1647
The English Revolution / English Civil War (1640 to 1660) overthrew the monarchy of Charles I. The Levellers were one of the larger groups and movements that worked for an extension of the franchise, religious tolerance, an elected judiciary and many other reforms. This image is inspired by an account of a meeting of Levellers with supporters of Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army at an encampment near Malton in North Yorkshire. Taking advantage of the revolution’s temporary assault on patriarchal authority, women claimed the right to be heard. This was an act of political and physical bravery in which they risked torture and execution. Meetings like these took place throughout England in 1647 to debate the direction of the revolution.