Charles i was dead, and Britain was now a Commonwealth. This meant that it was not ruled by a monach. However no-one
knew how the country should be governed. Oliver Cromwell was the most powerful person in the country.
First of all, Cromwell faced threats of Invasion from Ireland and Scotland. The Irish catholics were shocked and Charle's
execution, and rose to support the royalists. In September 1649, Cromwell arrived in Ireland with the New Model Army to crush
the rebels. His troops killed thousands f Catholics.
In June 1650, Cromwell had to dash to Scotland. The dead king's son Charles II was leading an army which was
about to invade England. Though defeated at Dunbar, the royalist army marched south. It was not until September 1651
that Cromwell finally destroyed the Scots at Worcester. Charles II fled to France.
Cromwell and the army had made the republic safe. But they thought that the government was unfair. After quarrels with
the remaining MP.s Cromwell closed Parliament in April 1653. Later that year, a parliament was created that was
made up of 140 godly (religious) men, chosen from the independent churches. People mockingly called it Barebone's
Parliament, after one of the members, Praisegod Barebone. It was suggested changes to the laws and church that were impractical.
The army commanders decided that Cromwell should be head of the government in their place.
Cromwell was appointed Lord Protector in December 1653. He was to rule with a council of state and a new Parliament.
One of the first things he did was make a peace treaty with the Dutch, in 1654. Thus ended years of trade wars between the
two countries and helped expand the British overseas empire. But Cromwell did not get on well with parliament, or with the
rule by 11 puritan Major generals that followed. In 1657, he took control again, he died a year later.
