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.