O L I V E R   C R O M W E L L

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Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England

In the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell—then the Lord Protector of England—had far-reaching objectives that blended religious fervor, strategic military planning, and economic ambition.

Cromwell’s Vision and the Western Design

Cromwell saw the Caribbean not just as a distant sea but as the key to undermining Spanish dominance in the Americas. His vision, later dubbed the “Western Design,” was built on several pillars:

Religious and Ideological Motives: Cromwell and many of his contemporaries viewed Catholic Spain as a perpetual enemy. In the eyes of the Puritans, waging war against Spain was a righteous endeavor—a battle not just for territorial gains but also for the defense of Protestant values.

Military Strategy: At a time when Spain dominated vast swathes of the Americas, the idea of seizing Spanish Treasure fleets was tantalizing. Cromwell believed that by attacking these ships, he could cut off a crucial source of wealth that funded Spain’s global empire—weakening them economically and militarily.

Economic and Colonial Ambitions: Beyond the ideological and military reasons, there were practical financial benefits. The Caribbean was a treasure trove of gold and silver, and capturing even a portion of this wealth could help finance England’s wars at home and abroad. It would also establish a commercial foothold for English expansion, setting the stage for further colonization.

Thus, Cromwell’s Caribbean venture was not a spur-of-the-moment raid but a carefully calculated move to rebalance power in Europe by bleeding the Spanish empire dry of its treasures.

The Fate of the Stolen Gold

Once the expedition set sail in 1654, the hopes were high that intercepting Spanish treasure ships would yield a vast influx of wealth. However, the practicalities of the mission proved more complicated than theory:

Mixed Success on the High Seas: Initial moves—like the attempted assault on Hispaniola—met with limited success. Redirecting efforts toward Jamaica, Cromwell’s forces managed to secure a foothold. But even then, the promise of enormous riches didn’t instantly materialize in the form of neatly accumulated treasure piles.

Disbursement and Use of Spoils: The gold and silver captured were expected to offset the immense costs of maintaining large armed forces and funding future military campaigns. Some lost treasure undoubtedly flowed into the English treasury, helping to finance further imperial adventures and subsidize the Commonwealth's military spendings. At the same time, a portion of the loot was distributed among the privateers and crews who took tremendous risks at sea. This distribution not only enriched individuals—setting the stage for legendary figures such as Henry Morgan—but also served as an incentive for continued privateering against Spanish interests.

The Uncertain Journey of Treasure: Maritime warfare is capricious. Not all the intercepted riches made it back untouched. Some of the gold was likely lost overboard in the chaos of battle, hidden to avoid recapture, or embroiled in the turbulent politics and disputes that followed each successful raid. This ambiguity in the fate of the treasure is part of the enduring mystique surrounding Cromwell’s Caribbean adventures, illustrating that even the best-laid plans at sea can yield scattered spoils rather than a decisive, unified windfall.

The Wider Legacy

Ultimately, Cromwell’s Caribbean strategy was a blend of high aspiration and gritty reality. His Western Design paved the way for a new era in which privateering became both a state-sanctioned enterprise and a path to personal advancement. The gold, although not an inexhaustible fountain of wealth, fueled further colonial ambitions and provided the economic underpinnings for expanding English influence in the New World. It also indirectly set in motion the rise of daring privateers like Henry Morgan, whose exploits would eventually reshape not only maritime practices but also the political landscape of the Caribbean sea.

Sir Henry Morgan comes into the frame as a trainees of Cromwell, learning his trade as a future privateer from the Parliamentarian, before England reinstated a King to govern the British isles, well before Blackbeard came into the frame.

Only gold, silver and gemstones were worth anything to captains of old. The currency was easy to trade and did not corrode, so ideal to be secreted in the most inhospitable environments.

CAST OF - "TREASURE ISLAND: BLACKBEARD'S CURSE & PIRATES GOLD"

Draft scripts for Kulo-Luna and Cleopatra The Mummy are published with 'Treasure Island'.

  CAPTAIN SIR HENRY MORGAN HID THE SPANISH GOLD HE STOLE AND TOOK THE SECRET LOCATION WITH HIM TO HIS GRAVE - TREASURE ISLAND - THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN STORM

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The rights of Jameson Hunter and Cleaner Ocean Foundation to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. This website and the associated Treasure Island artwork is Copyright © 2025 Cleaner Ocean Foundation and Jameson Hunter. This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the authors' imaginations, and any resemblance to any person, living or departed, is entirely coincidental.