The end of Republican rule

Richard Cromwell

• Cromwell died ‘58 - chooses son Richard to replaces him

• called parl ‘59 - tensions

  • army pressures R to dissolve parl + then recalls survivors of rump parl (need institution to vote tax money for their wages)

• R forced to dissolve parl bc army officers seize power in coup

• R formally resigns bc army republicans insist on reinstating pre Protectorate Commonwealth govt

Why was Richard unable to command support?

father (success) vs son (failure) →

• able to control army

  • R lacked army background - unable to count on loyalty of leading army commanders

  • x viewed army as central in maintaining authority

• respected, popular

  • R seen as weak leader

  • strongly criticised by royalists

  • failed to win conservative support

• managed conflicting demands of position (kept balance between radicals/conservatives + civilian/military groups)

  • R lacked diplomatic pol skills

Richard Cromwell

• Cromwell died ‘58 - chooses son Richard to replaces him

• called parl ‘59 - tensions

  • army pressures R to dissolve parl + then recalls survivors of rump parl (need institution to vote tax money for their wages)

• R forced to dissolve parl bc army officers seize power in coup

• R formally resigns bc army republicans insist on reinstating pre Protectorate Commonwealth govt

Why was Richard unable to command support?

father (success) vs son (failure) →

• able to control army

  • R lacked army background - unable to count on loyalty of leading army commanders

  • x viewed army as central in maintaining authority

• respected, popular

  • R seen as weak leader

  • strongly criticised by royalists

  • failed to win conservative support

• managed conflicting demands of position (kept balance between radicals/conservatives + civilian/military groups)

  • R lacked diplomatic pol skills

Rump parl restored

• series of conflicts between rump + army

• general monck threatened to bring his army from scotland to support parl

  • general lambert then prepared to take forces north to deal w monck (army = divided)

• lots soldiers deserted as lambert moved army towards scotland (worried x be paid)

• england on verge of 3rd civil war → ppl began wanting monarchy back

• army attempted to remove rump → riots → Jan ‘60 monck’s troops entered London (aimed to restore order)

  • he then enabled purged members of long parl to return (allowed parl to dissolve itself)

  • newly elected assembly formed (convention parl)

convention parl

• Charles II presented parl w the Declaration of Breda (advised by Hyde + Monck)

Overall how did the army contribute to the failure of the Republic?

• failed to support Richard resulting in his resignation and there being no successor: ultimately led to Rump being reinstalled

• divisions within army: Lambert and Monck: increase desire for monarchy

• lack of co-operation with the Rump: want more power

What were the causes of the failure of the republic?

• Richard

• army

• unpopularity

• Charles II