ROYALIST REACTION

After the execution of the king the royalist

started a rebellion in Ireland and in Scotland.
They were defeated by Cromwell’s troops at
Drogheda in Ireland in 1649.
The following year they were stopped in
Scotland. initially at Dunbar and then at
Worcester.
 THE PROTECTORATE
In 1653 Oliver Cromwell became Lord protector of England, Ireland and Scotland. Afterward he
ruled as a dictator until 1657.

During his reign him and the Puritans Parliamentary soldiers wanted to create a godly society
in which theatres were considered immoral and freedom of press was denied. The only
activities that weren’t forbidden even on sunday were prayer and worship.

In 1657 Cromwell was succeeded by his son Richard, who was an incompetent leader, who
abdicated eight months later.

In this period the republic fell apart and the Presbyterians favoured the ascent of the Stuarts on
condition shouldn’t rule without Parliament.
 THE RETURNS OF THE STUARTS
When Charles II became king, the first thing he did was to
exhume Cromwell’s body, since he was responsible for his
father death, and was subjected to a posthumous execution.

During the government of Charles II London was hit by two

terrible events:

1. The great Plague, which killed more than 100.000

citizens
2. The great Fire, which destroyed the majority of the city,
such as the St Paul’s cathedral
 Restoration
The cavalier parliament wanted to restore both
king and Parliament to prevent an autocratic
government.

Furthermore , after the Test Act of 1673, the

official religion becomes Protestantism and the
king becomes the head of english church.

All Catholics were excluded from public offices.