Back to the video list: History of the British Isles

 

The monarchy was abandoned in England with the execution of Charles I in 1649. Firstly, England became a republic; then Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector. After Cromwell's death Charles II returned to London and the monarchy was restored. The Interregnum meant that parliament and democracy are sustainably strengthened on the British Isles.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 30 Jan 1649 – 29 May 1660
  • Location: England, Scotland & Ireland
  • Start: Execution of Charles I
  • End: Charles II returns to London & ascends to the throne

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • Oliver Cromwell (1599 – 1658)
  • Charles I (1600 – 1649)
  • Charles II (1630 – 1685)

 

Background

  • 1625 – 1649: Charles I believes in the Devine Right of Kings
  • The society is religiously divided into:
    • Anglicans
    • Presbyterians
    • Catholics
    • Puritans
  • The society is politically divided into:
    • Absolute royalists
    • Moderates (constitutional monarchy)
    • Extreme parliamentarians / republicans
  • The parliamentarians win the (1st & 2nd) English Civil War & the Puritans around Cromwell (deputy commander of the New Model Army) are the most powerful group

 

History

  • Aug 1642 – Jan 1649: The New Model Army of the parliament win the 1st & 2nd civil war against royalist forces
  • Dec 1648: Coup d'état of New Model Army (“Pride‘s Purge“) which removes all of the royalist & moderate members from parliament
  • 30 Jan 1649: King Charles I is executed for treason
  • Feb – May 1649: The rump parliament abolishes the monarchy & establishes republic
  • 19 May 1649: The rump parliament passes the Act Declaring England to Be a Commonwealth
  • 1649 – 1651: Cromwell & the New Model Army suppress royalist uprisings in Ireland & Scotland
  • 20 Apr 1653: Cromwell dissolves the rump parliament & establishes a military dictatorship
  • 04 Jul – 12 Dec 1653: Cromwell’s Parliament of Saints fails to agree on a constitution & dissolves itself
  • 16 Dec 1653: The Instrument of Government is the 1st written English constitution which makes Cromwell Lord Protector for life
  • Cromwell’s Main Objectives:
    • “Healing & settling“
    • Religious & moral reform of the society according to the Puritan rules
  • Sep 1654 – Jan 1655: The 1st parliament of the Protectorate convenes without results & is dissolved by Cromwell
  • Aug 1655 – Jan 1557: After a royalist rebellion Cromwell divides the country in military districts (Rule of the Major-Generals)
  • Sep 1656 – Feb 1658: The Major-Generals pressure Cromwell to convene the 2nd parliament of the Protectorate which rejects tax laws favouring the military & with it bring an end to the Rule of the Major-Generals
  • 23 Feb 1657: The 2nd parliament of the Protectorate presents Cromwell the Humble Petition and Advice as 2nd constitution & asks him to be king which Cromwell rejects on 08 May
  • 25 May 1657: The modified Humble Petition takes effect & extents the rights of the Lord Protector who can now determine his successor
  • 03 Sep 1658: Cromwell dies & his son Richard succeeds him
  • Jan – Apr 1659: R. Cromwell convenes the 3rd parliament of the Protectorate because of financial problems
  • Apr – May 1559: The New Model Army reinstates the rump parliament after growing tensions between forces, parliament & Cromwell
  • 25 May 1659: R. Cromwell resigns under the pressure of the parliament
  • May 1659 – Feb 1660: Unstable relations between army & parliament
  • Oct 1659 – Apr 1660: General Monck marches from Scotland to London, restores the powers of the parliament & contacts Charles II
  • 04 Apr 1660: Charles issues the Declaration of Breda (amnesty, religious tolerance & security for the forces)
  • 08 May 1660: Das Conventional Parliament (Apr – Dec) asks Charles to return to England
  • 29 May 1660: “His Majesty‘s Return to his Parliament“

 

Consequences & Impact

  • The restoration begins with the coronation of Charles II (1660-1688):
    • King & parliament return to work
    • The Church of England is re-established as the leading denomination in the realm
    • Over night the the society changes from an austere lifestyle under the Puritans to “English/British” openness
  • The English Civil War & Interregnum strengthen the parliament & therefore are an important step towards the constitutional monarchy in Great Britain / the United Kingdom
  • Interregnum & Oliver Cromwell controversially evaluated - Example:
    • Before World War I the First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill plans twice to name a battleship HMS Oliver Cromwell
    • Both attempts are vetoed by King George V