Cromwellian Protectorate

The Cromwellian Protectorate (1653-1659) was a period when England was governed by Oliver Cromwell, who led a military-led government called the Protectorate after overthrowing the monarchy. It marked a shift from monarchy to a republican form of rule, with Cromwell serving as Lord Protector. The period emphasized strict Puritan morals, military discipline, and religious tolerance for Protestants, but not for Catholics. It also involved military campaigns abroad, including in Ireland and Scotland, and aimed to stabilize England after years of civil war. The Protectorate ended with Cromwell’s death, leading to the eventual restoration of the monarchy in 1660.