Lord Protector

The Lord Protector was a title used in 17th-century England for someone who governed the country on behalf of the monarch, often during a period of regency or political instability. The most notable was Oliver Cromwell, who served as Lord Protector from 1653 to 1658 after the English Civil War, effectively ruling as a de facto leader but without being king. The role combined executive authority similar to a head of state, overseeing government and military matters, during a time when traditional monarchy was temporarily abolished.