The Commonwealth of England, enlarged in 1653 as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, was the political structure from 1649 to 1660 when the Kingdom of England dissolved into a republic following the Second English Civil War and the execution of Charles I. The republic's existence was declared through An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth, adopted by the Rump Parliament on 19 May 1649, and power was vested primarily in Parliament and a Council of State. In 1653, after dissolving the Rump Parliament, Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector under the Instrument of Government, inaugurating the Protectorate period; following Cromwell's death and his son Richard's brief rule, the Protectorate Parliament dissolved in 1659, the Rump was recalled, and the monarchy was restored in 1660.
Facts
Government type (class) Classification
Status (Extant or Former) FAQs
Did the Commonwealth of England last until 1653 or until 1660?
Some historians date it 1649 to 1660, others stop at Cromwell taking power in 1653, after which the period is usually called the Protectorate.
It depends on which historians you follow. The Commonwealth of England was declared in 1649 after the execution of Charles I, and the monarchy was restored in 1660. Some writers use the word Commonwealth for the whole period from 1649 to 1660, which some also call the Interregnum. Other historians limit the term to the years before 1653, when Oliver Cromwell formally took power as Lord Protector under the Instrument of Government. The years after 1653 are then usually called the Protectorate. This page dates the polity from 1649 to 1660, so it covers both phases.
Connections
Caused By
Additional Source Wikipedia: Commonwealth of EnglandLead section (edge: caused-by Charles I of England)
In Era
Source Wikipedia: Commonwealth of England
Ruled By
Additional Source Wikipedia: Commonwealth of EnglandLead section (edge: ruled by Oliver Cromwell)
In the Other Atlases
Government Type
Also in Society and Culture Atlas: the government type of this subject.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Commonwealth of England
WikipediaLead section
The Commonwealth of England, enlarged in 1653 as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, was the political structure during the period from 1649 to 1660 when the Kingdom of England was dissolved into a republic after the end of the Second English Civil War and the trial and execution of Charles I.
Infobox (established)
1649
Infobox (restoration)
1660
Commonwealth of England: Status
The Commonwealth of England, enlarged in 1653 as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, was the political structure during the period from 1649 to 1660 when the Kingdom of England was dissolved into a republic after the end of the Second English Civil War and the trial and execution of Charles I.
- Wikipedia lead paragraph, official name/state form (w-bbfill-history3-0927)
Ruled By: Oliver Cromwell, Lead section (edge: ruled by Oliver Cromwell)
In 1653, after dissolution of the Rump Parliament, the Army Council adopted the Instrument of Government, by which Oliver Cromwell was made Lord Protector of a united "Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland", inaugurating the period now usually known as the Protectorate.
Caused By: Charles I of England, Lead section (edge: caused-by Charles I of England)
Just before and after the execution of King Charles I on 30 January 1649, the Rump passed a number of acts of Parliament creating the legal basis for the republic.
In Era: The Early Modern Period, lead paragraph and infobox, existence dates
The Commonwealth of England, enlarged in 1653 as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, was the political structure during the period
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