Restoration of Charles II

Richard Cromwell’s rule

• became Lord protector in 1658 - power vacuum between the presbys, independents, republicans and army

• royalist influence increased as well after OC dies

RC as protector

• had an uneasy relationship with the army and therefore relied on civilian advisors - e.g Walley

• deep resentment within the army due to them being owed £900,000 in arrears but parliament was in £2,500,000 debt so RC had to call parliament to raise money

third protectorate parliament jan-april 1659

• majority were pro-protectorate conservatives, however the minority of republicans were successful in voicing their problems + attacked the legitimacy of the protectorate

• MPs attempted to decrease the influence of the army by putting local militia under parliament control rather than army control

• led to Richard having to dissolve parliament to prevent army insurrection

• power more in the hands of the army, who decided to recall the rump - pleased republicans

end of the protectorate

• RC failed as protector due to: inability to reduce army power

• financial problems of the gov

• strength of anti protectorate republicans

the restoration of the rump 1569

• claimed legitimacy and expected army support - but refused to vote for the NMA’s arrears

• rump believed to be too radical - rumours of levellers reorganising and the church being under threat from radicalism

booth’s rising - aug 1659 George booth held areas of Cheshire in opposition to the rump - he wanted a free parliament instead - uprising failed when Spanish troops never arrived

rising crushed by Lambert - supported an army petition that wanted ton reduce the power of the rump by creating a senate - became the hero of the army

rump forcibly dissolved by army troops in oct 1659 - unliked by Haselrig who was a republican

committee of safety 1659 - interim army gov made from the army temporarily after the dissolution of the rump

path to restoration

the role of Monck - he protested against the dissolution of the rump - negotiated with the expelled rump members to bring his army south - army sent Lambert’s troops to counteract this but they were scattered

opposition - many areas including London and Bristol had protests against the committee of safety - people disliked the economic circumstances, the tyranny of the army and the desire for stability through a free parliament or return to monarchy

Rump recalled again dec 1659

• happened due to Monck’s actions in dissolving the committee of safety

• Lambert/fleetwood etc dismissed by the rump and Monck was made commander in chief - strengthened the position of the rump

• however the rump decided to purge the army - removed half the serving officers etc instead of tackling the grievances e.g the economy - led to refusal of merchants to pay taxes

• Monck insisted that MPs that had been excluded during pride’s purge could return

path to restoration part 2

the restoration of the long parliament 1660

• the return of the excluded MPs made the gov less republican/ decreased Haselrig’s influence

• the existence of the committee of safety and the rump depended on the legitimacy of pride’s purge - this legitimacy was challenged through allowing the secluded members to return

• parliament then excluded the republicans - allowed for restoration of the monarchy

path to restoration

• Monck was careful to not push royal restoration too early and maintain his status as commander in chief

• parliament appointed Montague as fleet commander - two leading commanders favoured royal restoration

• Lambert tried to save the republicans at edgehill but had no support from Fleetwood/ haselrig etc and army didnt want to challenge Monck so Lambert was defeated

convention parliament - 60 monarchists took seats in the new house - HOL reconvened

negotiations for the restoration

• Charles II did nothing so that he’d avoid giving the impression that he wanted to impose himself on the nation

• declaration of Breda - Charles’ promises to fix the grievances of the country - allow religious toleration, army to be paid etc

Charles II as king

• 1660 - both houses voted to accept the declaration and England stopped being a republic and became a monarchist state

• restoration settlement - wanted to move past and obliterate all that had happened - Charles II executed surviving regicides and dug up and hung Cromwell

• most people felt relived at Charles II’s return as it meant there would be stability in England after 20 years of turmoil

• widespread popularity of the return of the monarchy