British Interregnum facts for kids
| 1649/1651–1660 | |
.svg)
Coat of arms of the Protectorate
|
|
| Preceded by | Caroline era |
|---|---|
| Including | Third English Civil War |
| Followed by | Restoration |
| Leader(s) | |
The Interregnum was a special time in the British Isles. It means "between reigns." This period started when King Charles I was executed in January 1649. It ended in May 1660. That's when his son, Charles II, became king.
During the Interregnum, there was no king or queen. Instead, the country was run by a new government. It was called the Commonwealth of England. This change affected England, Scotland, and Ireland differently.
Contents
Why the Interregnum Started
After a big fight called the Second English Civil War, the army was very upset with King Charles I. They felt he had not been honest with them. The army leaders believed the King had secretly planned another war.
In April 1648, the army's top leaders met. They decided that King Charles I needed to be held responsible. They felt he was to blame for the fighting and problems.
The army and their supporters then removed members from Parliament. These were members who did not agree with them. They then set up a special court. This court was to put King Charles I on trial.
The court found King Charles I guilty. They said he was a "tyrant" and a "traitor." This meant he had acted against his own country. He was then beheaded on January 30, 1649. This event shocked many people. It began the Interregnum period.
Life During the Interregnum
The Interregnum was a time of big changes. The way people lived and were governed changed. These changes were different in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
England and Ireland
In England and Ireland, the new government worked to set up its power. Many old rules and ways of life changed.
Scotland and the Commonwealth
After King Charles I was executed, Scotland declared his son, Charles II, their new king. England did not agree with this. Oliver Cromwell, an English general, led an army into Scotland.
The Scottish army lost two major battles. These were at Dunbar in 1650 and Worcester in 1651. These defeats allowed England to take control of Scotland.
In 1652, Scotland became part of the Commonwealth. This meant it was joined with England and Ireland. Scotland gained 30 members in the new Parliament. But these members often had little power. Many important jobs went to English officials.
The government tried to reduce the power of the rich noble families. They wanted to give more power to ordinary people. Later, a new council was formed. It tried to work with the traditional landowners.
The new government built many forts in Scotland. This was very expensive. The Scottish legal system was stopped for a while. But some courts slowly started again. The government was good at keeping law and order. They stopped many bandits.
There was a big uprising in the Highlands. This was from 1653 to 1655. It was led by Earl of Glencairn and John Middleton. The uprising had some early success. But it eventually failed after a defeat in 1654.
The government allowed Protestants to practice their religion freely. This included smaller religious groups. The main church in Scotland, the Kirk, was divided. Some members worked with the new government. Others did not. The government often favored those who did not cooperate.
Scotland had to pay high taxes. But it also gained access to English markets. Some people remember this time as prosperous. But not everyone benefited from the economic growth. There was also an attempt to create new national symbols. This included bringing back the union flag.
The End of the Interregnum
After Oliver Cromwell died, his son Richard took over. But Richard's government did not last long. General George Monck was the military leader in Scotland. He marched his army south into England.
General Monck helped bring back the monarchy. In June 1660, Charles II became king. This event is known as the Restoration. It marked the end of the Interregnum.
See also
