England as a republic

1. England as a republic • After the execution of King Charles I, England became the unthinkable, a republic, a country without a king, for 11 years • But although this was the case, there was always a perception that it was just a temporary measure • And although the king in the meantime, was gone, there was little doubt about the fact that according to ancient right, Charles’ son, the Prince of Wales, was the heir to the throne if it ever was reclaimed

2. Charles, the Prince of Wales • Throughout this time, Charles was always a menacing presence lurking on the horizon • He was a thorn in the Puritans and Cromwell’s side • At times, he was fighting somewhere in the British Isles to regain his lost throne, at other times in Europe in exile trying to raise money for his cause • He always cast a shadow on the Cromwell’s republican government • Those that had killed the king feared the terrible retribution that would occur if he ever returned

3. The Commonwealth • During this “kingless” period, England was referred to as the Commonwealth • Immediately after the execution of the Charles I, Parliament formally abolished the monarchy and the House of Lords • To the right is the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth

4. Rump Parliament • During the early phase of the Commonwealth, England was run by the Puritan Rump Parliament • It turned out, however, to be a very ineffective government • With only 80 Puritan members they could not truly claim to represent the people of England • They had not faced re-election in over 20 years and refused, even when prompted by Cromwell, to go to the electorate again • They were, however, initially supported by the Puritan Army, and the army as Cromwell said “was the true source of power in England” • But with or without support, the government of England was somewhat imperiled • Much of this threat came from the North and West

5. Troubles in Scotland and Ireland • In fact, there was much support for the monarchy and the return of Charles, the Prince of Wales in Scotland and Ireland • Rebellions begin to break out in these outlying regions • First in Ireland in 1649 and then in Scotland in 1650

6. Who ya gonna call? Oliver Cromwell

7. Oliver Cromwell • No ordinary man • At this point in history, the most powerful man in England • The champion of the common man • A master soldier and brilliant military tactician along the same lines as a Julius Caesar or an Alexander the Great

8. Irish Campaign • Cromwell led a Parliamentary invasion of Ireland from 1649–50 • Cromwell's hostility to the Irish was religious as well as political. • He was passionately opposed to the Roman Catholic Church

9. Siege of Drogheda 1649 • Cromwell was, in fact, seething with anger after the Irish Rebellion of 1641 when “innocent” protestants were massacred • After surrounding the Irish city of Drogheda, Cromwell asked them to surrender but they refused • According to the contemporary laws of war at the time then, the lives of the defenders of the city, that is the soldiers, were forfeit

10. A Massacre • Because of the refusal to surrender Cromwell ordered that no prisoners be taken • 4,000 Irish were massacred, including civilians, soldiers, and Catholic priests. • Cromwell justified his actions by stating that it was ‘a righteous judgment of God upon these barbarous wretches’ • The merciless killing contributed to Catholic Irish hatred of English rule in Ireland that still resonates today

11. Cromwell Heads to Scotland • During the Irish campaign, word reached Cromwell that Charles, the Prince of Wales, has landed in Scotland in 1650 and that Scotland has proclaimed him King • Cromwell left his army in Ireland and returned to England to prepare an army to invade Scotland • It would take another three years after Cromwell left for English forces to completely conquer and crush the Irish

12. Why the Irish hate the English 1649 • Ireland was divided into two hostile groups: - Irish Catholics who sought outright independence - English Protestants who settled in the North and wanted to remain as part of England • Catholic schools and churches were closed and Irish Priests were outlawed • Catholics were forbidden to become tradesmen, run for public office or become professionals 1828 • Catholics were allowed to run for public office 1923 • Irish free state was created in the south (Catholic) • Northern Ireland was created in the north (Protestant) 1949 • Republic of Ireland, a completely independent nation was created • Northern Ireland remained a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain

14. Subduing the Scots • Cromwell was much less hostile to the Scots who he saw as “misdirected Protestants” because they were Presbyterians and not Puritans • Cromwell appealed to the Scots to reject the kingship of Charles but they refused • Cromwell defeated the Scots in two major battles: the Battle of Dunbar and the Battle of Worchester • At the battle of Dunbar, Cromwell was trapped by a much larger Scottish force, but defeated the Scots easily

15. Escaping the Field • A defeated Charles barely escaped with his life after the Battle of Worchester • He hid in an oak tree was able to allude Cromwell’s troops • After six weeks of narrow escapes he managed to flee England landing in Normandy on October 16, 1651 • He would remain in France in exile and not return to England until invited nine years later

16. An Ineffective Government • Meanwhile the Rump Parliament was finding it increasingly difficult to rule England • At one point they even offered the Crown to Cromwell as way of trying to garner support with the English public • But England, with all its religious and political division, was almost impossible to govern • Furthermore, Rump Parliament members, in spite of Cromwell’s urging, refused to stand for re-election • This just further lessened their credibility with the people of England

17. The Power of the Army • Indeed, the real power in England at this time was the was not political but rather military • The Puritan Roundhead Army was the true basis of power in England at this time • Sensing this, they sought more power and better pay • And fact most soldiers wanted Cromwell to shut down Parliament and create a military state • Cromwell eventually agreed and sent in troops into Parliament, and just like the king more than a decade before, shut down Parliament on April 23, 1653

18. Lord Protector • After shutting Parliament down, Cromwell assumed the title of “Lord Protector” • He tried a series of appointed Parliaments but none of them worked very well and in the end, Cromwell shut all of them down • Eventually he divided England into separate military districts run by Major-Generals • Cromwell was offered the crown several times during this period and did seriously consider the offer • The main problem was not so much whether Cromwell would have been a worthy and acceptable king, it was more whether Cromwell’s heirs would have been acceptable, particularly his oldest son, Richard

19. Not a fun place to be • England would not have been a fun place to live during this time • A strong Puritan ethic pervaded the land • No drinking, gambling, theater, sports, and horse racing • Christmas was banned because it was considered to be a “Pagan Roman Ceremony”

20. The Passing of Cromwell • In the latter part of Cromwell’s reign he suffered from ill health and some historians suggest that it even affected his mind • The question of who would succeed Cromwell became a burning question: • Should it be one of Cromwell’s sons or should it be another major Puritan figure? • Cromwell died suddenly in 1658 and the Protectorship was passed to his son Richard

21. Tumble Down Dick • A great deal of controversy surrounded Richard’s appointment • He was not the man his father was and was often dubbed as “Tumble Down Dick” or “Queen Dick” • Richard faced two major problems: • The army questioned his leadership and generally did not support him • The country was deeply in debt • Richard called a Parliament to deal with the crisis but the army demanded that it be shut down • Eventually Richard was forced to resign and fled to France • The following year, Charles, Prince of Wales, would be invited to return to England to become King, a period now known as the Restoration