Protectorate, the

Period of English history, 1653–59, when England was ruled by a Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell (1653–58) and his son Richard Cromwell (1658–59).

After the failure of the Barebones Parliament in 1653, a group of moderates, led by General John Lambert, met and formulated a document called the Instrument of Government. England was to be ruled by a Lord Protector, but he was to be restricted by a Council of State, and a Parliament was to be called every three years.

Oliver Cromwell accepted the position of Lord Protector in December 1653. Cromwell quarrelled with both his Parliaments, and for a time the country was under the military rule of eleven major‐generals. Strict Puritan laws were enforced, including the abolition of Christmas, but Jews were allowed to re‐enter England, and people were allowed to worship as they wished in private. Cromwell built up a strong navy, which, in 1655, captured Jamaica from Spain.

On Oliver Cromwell's death in 1658, his son Richard took over, but he was not a strong enough ruler to control the country. In 1660 Parliament invited Charles II to return, resulting in the Restoration of the British monarchy.