The Commonwealth 1649-53
General outline: click on year for detailed view
| Jan 30 |
Execution of Charles I. |
| Mar 17 |
The Rump Parliament abolishes the Monarchy. |
| Mar 19 |
Abolition of the House of Lords. |
| Feb 14 |
Council of State appointed. |
| Mar 28 |
Arrest of Leveller leaders for sedition. |
| May 2 |
Royalists murder Dr Dorislaus, Commonwealth envoy in The Hague. |
| May 14 |
Suppression of the Army Levellers at Burford. |
| May 19 |
England declared a "Commonwealth and free state", with the House of Commons as supreme authority in the land. |
| Aug 15 |
Cromwell arrives in Ireland. |
| Sep 4 |
Act for the support of impoverished prisoners passed. |
| Sep 20 |
Act outlawing the publication of unlicensed books, pamphlets and newsbooks passed. |
| Oct 9 |
Publication of the first issue of Parliament's official newsbook. |
| Oct 26 |
John Lilburne acquited of charges of sedition. |
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| Jan 2 |
Engagement Act passed: all adult males to declare loyalty to the Commonwealth. |
| Feb 22 |
Parliament appoints the Commission for the Propagation of the Gospel in Wales. |
| Mar 26 |
A new High Court of Justice set up with powers to condemn to death anyone acting against the interests of the Commonwealth. |
| Apr 19 |
Parliament passes an Act enforcing strict observance of the Lord's day. |
| May 1 |
Charles II signs the Treaty of Breda, securing an alliance with the Scottish Covenanters. |
| May 10 |
Parliament passes the Adultery Act: the death penalty imposed for adultery (never applied in practice). |
| May 27 |
Royalists murder Anthony Ascham, the Commonwealth ambassador in Madrid. |
| Jun 20 |
The Council of State resolves to mount a pre-emptive invasion of Scotland against Charles II and the Covenanters. |
| Jul 11 |
Militia Act passed: property holders to contribute proportionately to defence costs. Lords Lieutenant of counties replaced by Commissioners appointed by Parliament. |
| Jul 17 |
Treason Act passed: any claim that the House of Commons was not the supreme authority becomes an act of high treason. |
| Aug 9 |
Parliament passes the Blasphemy Act, aimed at suppressing radical religious sects. |
| Sep 3 |
Battle of Dunbar: Cromwell defeats the Covenanters. |
| Sep 27 |
Toleration Act passed: compulsory attendance at parish churches abolished. |
| Oct 3 |
Act prohibiting trade with the Royalist colonies Virginia, Bermuda, Barbados and Antigua. General-at-Sea Ayscue to be sent to recover Barbados. |
| Dec 26 |
Spain formally recognises the Commonwealth of England. |
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| Jan 1 |
Charles II crowned at Scone; the Commonwealth recognises him only as "the King of Scots". |
| Mar 25 |
Opening of negotiations for an alliance between the Commonwealth and the United Provinces of Holland. |
| May 23 |
Sir John Grenville surrenders the Scilly Isles to General-at-Sea Robert Blake. |
| Jun 18 |
Failure of negotiations for an alliance with the United Provinces. |
| Aug 5 |
Charles II and the Scots invade England. |
| Sep 3 |
Battle of Worcester: final defeat of the Royalist cause on the British mainland. |
| Oct 9 |
Navigation Act passed, introducing measures aimed at hampering Dutch trade. |
| Oct 15 |
Charles II escapes to France. |
| Oct 29 |
Parliament's declaration for incorporation of Scotland into a single Commonwealth with England. |
| Nov 7 |
Death of Henry Ireton at Limerick. |
| Dec 12 |
Blake and Heane capture Jersey for the Commonwealth. |
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| Jan 11 |
The Assembly of Barbados submits to the Commonwealth. |
| Jan 17 |
Parliament appoints commissioners to investigate reform of the legal system. |
| Jan 23 |
Parliament decrees that judges are to be paid by a fixed salary rather than by fees and perquisites. |
| Feb 24 |
Act of Pardon and Oblivion passed, aiming to win the support of former Royalists. |
| Mar 12 |
The colony of Virginia submits to the Commonwealth. |
| Mar 18 |
Act for the Union of England and Scotland presented at Westminster. |
| Mar 29 |
The colony of Maryland submits to the Commonwealth. |
| May 12 |
Surrender of Galway. Articles for surrender of last remaining Irish forces signed at Kilkenny. |
| May 19 |
First Anglo-Dutch war begins; Blake's fleet clashes with Tromp in the Channel. |
| Jul 9 |
Charles Fleetwood appointed commander-in-chief in Ireland. |
| Aug 2 |
Petition of Army officers calls for religious and financial reforms, the dissolution of the present Parliament and elections for a new representative. |
| Aug 12 |
Parliament passes the Act for the Settlement of Ireland. |
| Aug 19 |
The Marquis of Argyll accepts the authority of the Commonwealth in Scotland and undertakes to live peaceably under the new government. |
| Nov 30 |
Battle of Dungeness: Admiral Tromp defeats Blake's fleet. |
| Dec 2 |
Navy commissioners led by Sir Henry Vane begin a thorough review of naval tactics and administration. |
| Dec 21 |
France formally recognises the Commonwealth of England. |
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| Jan 28 |
The Council of Officers appeals to the Army for support in ensuring political and religious reform. |
| Feb 18 |
Battle of Portland: the English fleet regains command of the Channel. |
| Apr 20 |
Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament. |
| Jul |
Beginning of Glencairn's Uprising against the Commonwealth in Scotland. |
| Jul 4 |
The Nominated Assembly (Barebones Parliament) assembles. |
| Jul 13 |
John Lilburne brought to trial for felony at the Old Bailey. |
| Jul 31 |
Battle of Scheveningen: last battle of the Anglo-Dutch war; death in action of Admiral Tromp. |
| Aug 20 |
John Lilburne imprisoned despite being found Not Guilty of the charges against him. |
| Dec 12 |
The Nominated Assembly surrenders its powers to Cromwell. |
| Dec 16 |
Cromwell installed as Lord Protector. |
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David Plant, Timeline: The Commonwealth 1649-53, British Civil Wars and Commonwealth website
http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/timelines/commonwealth.htm
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License
Text updated: 20 February 2007
