Andronicus, or the Unfortunate Politician

work by Fuller

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June 17, 2026

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Andronicus, or the Unfortunate Politician is a satire written by Thomas Fuller in 1646. The work is a critique of Oliver Cromwell and was published during the English Civil Wars. Fuller was a prolific 17th-century British scholar and preacher known for his witty writing style and extensive historical works.

The title Andronicus likely refers to Andronicus II Palaeologus, a Byzantine emperor whose reign (1282–1328) saw the Byzantine Empire decline significantly. He is described as an intellectual and theologian rather than a statesman or soldier, and his decisions led to a weakening of the empire's military and economic stability.

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Thomas Fuller
…London in 1646 and wrote Andronicus, or the Unfortunate Politician (1646), a satire against Oliver Cromwell. In 1649 he was given the parish of Waltham Abbey, Essex, where he became a friend of the other leading biographer of the age, Izaak Walton.
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…London in 1646 and wrote Andronicus, or the Unfortunate Politician (1646), a satire against Oliver Cromwell. In 1649 he was given the parish of Waltham Abbey, Essex, where he became a friend of the other leading biographer of the age, Izaak Walton.
Read More