-
Period: to
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver was born at Huntingdon, near Cambridge.
Due to sickness, grief and age, he died at Whitehall. His body was -
Period: to
Richard Cromwell
Born in Huntingdon. Died in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire under Queen Anne's reign. -
Declaration of the Commonwealth
England and its dominions were declared a ‘Commonwealth and
Free State’. Almost a year after the king’s death, the adult male
population was obliged to take ‘an Engagement’ of loyalty to the
Commonwealth as it was then established. Denial of the
‘supreme authority’ of the Commons was made a treasonable
act. -
Monarchy is abolished
The House of Lords, judged to be ‘useless’ as well as
dangerous, was similarly dismissed. A Council of State, elected
annually, comprising no fewer than thirteen members and no
more than twenty-one (in fact it actually never exceeded eigh-
teen), was to inherit the executive powers of monarchy. -
Toleration Act
Dissenters were no longer obliged to attend their parish church, though the parish system itself, always a target of the religiously radical, was maintained. -
Navigation Act
Sought to curb the trading activities of the Dutch, who despite their Protestantism were a naval and mercantile threat. But the Rump was much less united on domestic matters and would remain so. -
Period: to
Anglo-Dutch War
The Treaty of Westminster secured peace in 1656 with the States General of the United Netherlands. They agreed to salute English ships by lowering their ensign and dipping the topsail when encountering them. -
Dutch alliance with Denmark
The Dutch were able to follow up the advantage which they had gained by the Redemption Treaty, and succeeded in concluding a treaty of alliance with Denmark in I653. By this treaty Denmark was bound not only to forbid the passage of English war vessels through the Sound during the continuance of the war, but also to attack the English fleet. In consequence of this treaty, Denmark detained twenty-two English ships and seized the goods therein. -
Dissolution of the Rump's Parliament
Oliver backed up by soldiers entered to a parliamentary session and dissolved its members due to their failure in restoring order and peace. The Rump had been unable ‘to answer those ends which God, his people, and the whole nation expected from them’. -
First Meeting of the Nominated Assembly
Around 140 men represented England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, they were selected by the army and its friends on the basis that they were deemed godly, were sympathetic to reform and would advance the type of godly reformation which the army was seeking. This body, known variously as the Nominated Assembly, the Barebones Parliament, the Little Parliament or the Parliament of Saints. It was opened by Cromwell, acting in his capacity as Lord General of the army. -
Oliver and the Instrument of Government are installed
The title of king was presented to him but he rejected it, so they came with a "Protector". -
Western Design
Preparations begin from official authorities. -
First Protectorate Parliament
He swore to uphold the Instrument of Gov-
ernment, and made a speech that was short by his standards, in which he prepared his
followers for the heavy weather ahead. Cromwell declared that the purpose of Parlia-
ment was ‘that this ship of the commonwealth may be brought into a safe harbour; which I assure you it will not well be, without your counsel and advice’. -
Jamaica
Conquest of Jamaica from the Spanish -
Reach of Barbados
William Penn's naval army reached Barbados. General Robert Venables was to command the land army. -
Readmission of the Jews
Though not formalised, it is dated to 1656. -
Second Protectorate Parliament
‘I will tell you
the truth, that that which hath been our practice since the last Parliament, hath been to
let all this nation see that whatever pretensions be to religion, if quiet, peaceable, they
may enjoy conscience and liberty to themselves, so long as they do not make religion
a pretence for arms and blood.’ -
Fleetwood should be Commander-in-Chief
Fleetwood published an address, signed by around 200
officers, more radical path for the regime. Vigorous debate among junior officers at their barracks in St James, many Independents of radical bent, reminiscent of those who gathered at Putney. Never well paid at the best of times, the junior officers’ wages were in arrears and even when they had money in their pockets it did not go far, as bread prices rose to a decade-long high thanks to poor harvests. -
Thurloe decides on succession
Thurloe went to Oliver to insist on the matter. He believed that to mean that Richard was the nominated successor and the eleven members of the Council present agreed. Whether they were acting on the deathbed wishes of Cromwell or their own briefly considered
judgement is unknown. -
Richard calls a Council of Officers
6 - petitioned Parliament to oppose Royalists and sort out their arrears of pay.
7 - presented that the army was owed almost £900,000 in arrears, the state had debts of £2.5 million and the annual shortfall in revenue was approaching £350,000. -
Third Protectorate Parliament / Richard's First
Finance -
Beginning of the Coup
When Parliament forbade the council to meet without Richard’s permission, the council seized power and forced Richard to dissolve Parliament. -
End of Richard
The army summoned the surviving members of the old Rump Parliament back to Westminster and Richard’s great seal as Protector was formally destroyed in the House of Commons
