republic · British Isles

Commonwealth of England

1649 CE – 1660 CE · capital London

The republic that replaced the monarchy after the execution of Charles I in 1649, the only period without a king in English history.

Origins

After Parliament's victory in the Civil Wars, Charles I was tried and executed in January 1649. The Rump Parliament abolished the monarchy and the House of Lords and declared England a Commonwealth governed without a king. Cromwell then conquered Ireland and Scotland, which were joined to it.

Rule and society

Power lay with the Rump, its Council of State and the New Model Army. The regime passed the Navigation Act of 1651, fought the First Anglo-Dutch War and allowed some religious toleration while repressing Levellers and royalists. Cromwell expelled the Rump in 1653, and the nominated Barebone's Parliament failed, leading to the Protectorate.

Decline and legacy

After the Protectorate collapsed in 1659 the restored Rump briefly revived the Commonwealth. General George Monck marched from Scotland, the Convention Parliament invited Charles II back, and the monarchy was restored in May 1660 in the Kingdom of England.

Lineage

Kingdom of England 927 CE – 1707 CEThe Protectorate 1653 CE – 1659 CECommonwealth of EnglandKingdom of England 927 CE – 1707 CEThe Protectorate 1653 CE – 1659 CE

Connections (3)

More states of British Isles →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Commonwealth of England. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/commonwealth-of-england
MLA
“Commonwealth of England.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/commonwealth-of-england. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Commonwealth of England.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/commonwealth-of-england.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Commonwealth of England’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/commonwealth-of-england (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻