 English
Republic
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first
England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660.
Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and
Ireland.
After the English Civil War and the execution of Charles I, the republic's
existence was initially declared by "An Act declaring England to be a
Commonwealth" adopted by the Rump Parliament, on 19 May 1649.
Executive power had already been entrusted to a Council of State. The
government during 1653 to 1659 is properly called The Protectorate and took
the form of direct personal rule by
Oliver Cromwell and, after his death, his son Richard, as Lord
Protector; this arrangement led to the state being labelled a "crowned
republic".
The term Commonwealth is, however, loosely used to describe the system of
government during the whole of 1649 to 1660, when England was de facto, and
arguably de jure, a republic (or, to monarchists, under the English
Interregnum).
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