History and Culture: The Monarchy
You'll find a word reference box with the meaning of some words at the end of the page
The two parties
Between 1642 and 1649 there were bloody battles between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians. It was a struggle between the tyranny represented by Royalists and liberty represented by Parliament.
The aristocratic landowners supported the king and Stuart's absolutism. On the other hand the middle class of merchants, artisans and the small gentry sided with the Puritans and the Parliament.
The two parties were regionally different: The Royalists were concentrated in Wales, Cornwall and the west of England while the Parliamentarians were concentrated in the city of London, the sea ports and the eastern part of England. The army that sided with the Parliament was called New Model Army and it was stronger than the other army because it was composed of professional soldiers and it had a cavalry. The commander was a Member of the Parliament (MP) called Oliver Cromwell.
Did you know? The so-called Rump Parliament was composed of 121 very radical members.
Charles I was captured in 1648 and brought to London. The king was condemned to death and his execution took place in 1649.
The Commonwealth
The Rump Parliament abolished monarchy and declared a republic instead. This republic was the Commonwealth. The House of Lords was abolished and censorship was introduced. Cromwell took the New Model Army to Ireland and it ended in a merciless slaughter. Charles II escaped to France and Cromwell gave himself the title of 'Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland'.
In 1655 Cromwell divided the country in eleven military regions controlled by major generals. Puritan rules were introduced, including the execution for adultery, abolition of games, dancing and theatre performances. Inns, pubs and theatres were closed down. Cromwell banned Christmas and Easter and replaced them with days of fasting.
In 1651 Parliament had passed the Navigation Acts. Cromwell died in 1658 at the age of 59. His son Richard held office for eight months before the Rump Parliament voted to end the protectorate. In 1660 the army invited Charles II to come back from France and the monarchy was restored.
Oliver Cromwell was a strong and religious man and he believed his mission was to free his land from superstition.
John Morrill explores a pivotal figure in British history.
