The
Commonwealth was the republican government which ruled first
England and then the whole of
Britain and
Ireland during
1649 -
1653 and
1659 -
1660. The term is also loosely used to describe the system of government during the whole of 1649 - 1660, the years of the
Interregnum[?], although during 1653 - 1659, the government is properly called
The Protectorate and took the form of direct personal rule by
Oliver Cromwell, the
Lord Protector.
The Commonwealth was followed by the Restoration.