The Protectorate

Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland
1653–1659
Motto: Pax quaeritur bello
("Peace is obtained through war")
The territory of the Commonwealth in 1659
The territory of the Commonwealth in 1659
CapitalLondon
Common languagesEnglish (official)
Scots, Irish, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic, Norn, Yola, Fingallian
Religion
Protestantism
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency under a military dictatorship
Lord Protector 
• 1653–1658
Oliver Cromwell
• 1658–1659
Richard Cromwell
LegislatureParliament
Other House
(1658–59)
House of Commons
(1654–55/1656–58/1659)
History 
16 December 1653
12 April 1654
25 May 1657
• R. Cromwell's resignation
25 May 1659
CurrencyPound sterling (England)
Pound Scots (Scotland)
Irish pound (Ireland)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Commonwealth of England
Kingdom of Scotland
Commonwealth of England
Today part ofRepublic of Ireland
United Kingdom

The Protectorate, officially the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, was the English form of government lasting from 16 December 1653 to 25 May 1659, under which the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with their associated territories were joined together in the Commonwealth of England, governed by a Lord Protector. It began when Barebone's Parliament was dissolved, and the Instrument of Government appointed Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. Cromwell died in September 1658 and was succeeded by his son Richard Cromwell.

Richard resigned in May 1659 due to his inability to control either the Army or Parliament. He was replaced by the English Committee of Safety, which dissolved the Third Protectorate Parliament, and reseated the Rump Parliament dismissed by his father in April 1653. This marked the end of the Protectorate, with the Rump acting as the legislature and the English Council of State as the executive.