Stuart Restoration

The Stuart Restoration was the period when the monarchy was restored in England after years of civil war and republican rule. It began in 1660, when Charles II returned to England and became king. A restoration means the return of something that had been removed. In this case, it meant bringing back the Stuart royal family and the system of kingship.

Before the Restoration, England had gone through the English Civil War and the Commonwealth of England. King Charles I had been defeated by Parliament and executed in 1649. After this, England had no king. The country was ruled first by Parliament and later by Oliver Cromwell, who became Lord Protector. This period lasted more than ten years.

After Oliver Cromwell died in 1658, his son Richard Cromwell became Lord Protector. He did not have strong support from the army or Parliament. The government became unstable, which means it could not control events well. Different groups argued about how the country should be ruled. Many people wanted a clear and lasting government.

In 1660, Parliament decided to invite Charles II, the son of Charles I, to return from exile. Exile means living outside one’s own country. Charles II agreed to work with Parliament and respect the law. He entered London in May 1660 and was soon crowned king. This peaceful return marked the beginning of the Stuart Restoration.

After the Restoration, the monarchy, the House of Lords, and the Church of England were restored. Laws passed during the Commonwealth were reviewed, and many older systems were brought back. England was again ruled by a king, but Parliament continued to play an important role in making laws and approving taxes.

The Stuart Restoration ended the period of rule without a monarch. It shaped how England would be governed in the future, with power shared between the king and Parliament. Charles II ruled until his death in 1685, and the Stuart family continued to rule England after the Restoration.