Richard Cromwell

Reign: 1658 – 1659
Life: 1626–1712

Succeeded his father as Lord Protector for less than a year before the Protectorate collapsed.

Following his father's death in 1658, Richard became Lord Protector, but he lacked authority. He tried to mediate between the army and civil society, and allowed a Parliament that contained many disaffected Presbyterians and Royalists to sit. Suspicions that civilian councillors were intent on supplanting the army peaked in an attempt to prosecute a major-general for actions against a Royalist. The army made a threatening demonstration of force against Richard, and may have had him in detention.

During Richard Cromwell's reign, Louis XIV of France ruled France, Mehmed IV ruled Ottoman Empire, and Aurangzeb ruled Mughal Empire.

Want to learn more? Further reading

A Short History of England by Simon Jenkins

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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A Short History of England

Simon Jenkins

A brisk, readable survey of English history from the Romans to the present.

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