The republican government of England between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the restoration of Charles II in 1660. The Rump Parliament claimed to ‘have the supreme power in this nation’, and ruled through a nominated 40-man Council of State. In 1650 an ‘Engagement’ to be faithful to the Commonwealth was imposed on all adult males. While Oliver Cromwell was eliminating Royalist resistance in Ireland and then Scotland (1649–51), the Rump disappointed expectations of radical reform. Unpopular taxes were raised to finance the army’s expeditions. Furthermore, the Navigation Acts sparked off the much-resented Anglo-Dutch War of 1652–54.

Cromwell expelled the Rump in April 1653. He hoped to reach a political and religious settlement through the Barebones Parliament (July–December 1653), but in December he accepted the necessity of taking the headship of state himself. The period of Cromwellian rule is usually known as the Protectorate.