The Fall

Why did Englands one experiment in republican rule fail? Oliver Cromwells death in 1658 sparked a period of unrivalled turmoil and confusion in English history. In less than two years, there were close to ten changes of government; rival armies of Englishmen faced each other across the Scottish border; and the Long Parliament was finally dissolved after two decades. Why was this period so turbulent, and why did the republic, backed by a formidable standing army, come crashing down in such spectacular fashion? In this fascinating history, Henry Reece explores the full story of the English republics downfall. Questioning the accepted version of events, Reece argues that the restoration of the monarchy was far from inevitableand that the republican regime could have survived long term. Richard Cromwells Protectorate had deep roots in the political nation, the Rump Parliament mobilised its supporters impressively, and the country showed little interest in returning to the old order until the republic had collapsed. This is a compelling account that transforms our understanding of Englands short-lived period of republican rule.