View source for Commonwealth of England




 <p> The ‘Commonwealth of England’ “[t]ook its origins from a vote by the Rump Parliament on 4 January 1649, ‘That the people are, under God, the original of all just power’” (Oxford Dictionary 165). The Commonwealth was no longer reigned by a king since monarchy was abolished by the High Court of Justice and the [[House of Commons]] became the Parliament of England, since the [[House of Lords]] was abolished as well. <br> The Commonwealth was not only concerned with political issues but did also follow a certain religious belief. At that time “Roman [[Catholicism]] was an element of the feudal, hierarchical systems of medieval Europe and, particularly in England, a new class was emerging, managed by enterprise and endeavour, rather than birthright” (Bradford 9).  <br> In 1653 Rump Parliament was expelled by [[Oliver Cromwell]], since its bills did not satisfy the army and it “gave way to the Cromwellian Protectorate” on 16 December of the same year (Oxford Dictionary 165). The Cromwellian republic was founded on the belief that the nation would organise itself not depending on a king but on its own conceptions of God’s will (Bradford 45). The ideal idea was to focus on the individuals of the country and to abandon [[absolutism]]. Unfortunately, “Cromwell himself, who had begun his political and military career as the representative of a collective endeavour, was becoming a dictator” (Bradford 45). <br> [[Richard Cromwell]] replaced his father after his death in 1658 but the nation would be determined by [[General George Monck]] who commanded the army at that time. In 1659 the Rump Parliament tried to gain power again but new quarrels between the officers of the army and the Rump “soon exposed the political bankruptcy of both” (Oxford Dictionary 165). <br> “In 1660 [[Charles II]], after twelve years of exile, rode into London as the new King” (Bradford 46). This event is the end of the Commonwealth and known as the [[Restoration]] of England. <p>

== '''Sources and further reading''' ==
The Oxford Dictionary of British History. Oxford, 2001. <br> Bradford, Richard. The Complete Critical Guide to John Milton. Routledge, 2001.