The Protectorate

Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland
1653–1659
Top: Flag (1653–1658) Bottom: Flag (1658–1659) Coat of arms (1653–1659)
Motto: Pax quaeritur bello ("Peace is obtained through war")
The territory of the Commonwealth in 1659
Status	Republic
Capital	London
Common languages	English (official) Scots, Irish, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic, Norn, Yola, Fingallian
Religion	Protestantism
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic under a hereditary military dictatorship
Lord Protector
• 1653–1658	Oliver Cromwell
• 1658–1659	Richard Cromwell
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Other House (1658–59)
• Lower house	House of Commons (1654–55/1656–58/1659)
History
• Instrument of Government	16 December 1653
• Tender of Union	12 April 1654
• Humble Petition and Advice	25 May 1657
• R. Cromwell's resignation	25 May 1659
Currency	Pound sterling
Preceded by Succeeded by Commonwealth of England Kingdom of Scotland Commonwealth of England
Today part of	Republic 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 so-called Rump Parliament dismissed by Cromwell 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.