Oliver Cromwell’s death in 1658 marked the end of his strange and tumultuous rule over England. Though he had successfully governed as Lord Protector, his reign had been fraught with controversy, and without his firm leadership, the fragile structure of the Protectorate quickly began to crumble. His son, Richard Cromwell, attempted to succeed him, but he lacked his father’s political and military authority. Within months, his rule was challenged, and in 1659, he was forced to resign, leading to a period of uncertainty and instability.
With no clear government in place, the New Model Army briefly took control of England. However, divisions within the army led to further chaos, and soon it became clear that military rule alone could not provide stability. Amidst the growing disorder, General George Monck, a respected officer and former Royalist who had served under Cromwell, emerged as a key figure. Recognizing the country’s desperate need for order, Monck marched his forces to London in early 1660 and took control of the government.
Realizing that England could not continue under military rule indefinitely, Monck convened a gathering of leading statesmen, nobles, and influential figures to determine the nation’s future. After considerable debate, they concluded that England needed a return to monarchical rule to restore stability and legitimacy. Many of those who had supported Cromwell and the republic now saw the restoration of the monarchy as the only viable path forward.
With this decision made, a message was dispatched to France, where the exiled son of King Charles I, Charles Stuart, had been living since the execution of his father in 1649. Charles had spent years in exile, moving between France, the Netherlands, and other European courts while waiting for an opportunity to reclaim his birthright. Now, with the invitation extended, he accepted the offer to return.
In May 1660, Charles landed in England to a hero’s welcome, marking the beginning of what would be known as the Restoration. Soon after, he was crowned as King Charles II, restoring the Stuart monarchy and officially ending England’s brief experiment as a republic. The return of the king signaled the end of the Cromwellian era and the Protectorate, ushering in a period of relative political stability—though Charles II’s reign would come with its own share of challenges.
Thus, the monarchy was reestablished, and England once again became a kingdom under royal rule, proving that despite a decade-long attempt at republican governance, the English people ultimately preferred the familiar structure of monarchy over military or parliamentary rule.
