Lord Protector

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(Redirected from Lord Protector of the Commonwealth)

Lord Protector is a particular British English title for Heads of State, with two meanings (and full styles) at different periods of history.

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Feudal royal regent

The title of Lord Protector was originally used by royal princes or other nobles exercising an individual regency (i.e. not merely member of a collegial regency council) while the English monarch was still a minor or otherwise unable to rule. Notable examples of this are:

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who was ‘Lord Protector of the Realm’ during the nominal reign of Edward V (one of the ‘Princes in the Tower’) before usurping the throne himself;
Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, who was Lord Protector during the early years of the reign of the young Edward VI.

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Cromwellian republic

The Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland was the title of the head of state during the Protectorate of the Interregnum, following the first period of the Commonwealth under Council of State government. It was held by Oliver Cromwell (December 1653–September 1658) and his son Richard Cromwell (September 1658–May 1659) during what is now known as the Protectorate.

The 1653 Instrument of Government stated that

Oliver Cromwell, Captain-General of the forces of England, Scotland and Ireland, shall be, and is hereby declared to be, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the dominions thereto belonging, for his life.

The replacement constitution of 1657, the pseudo-monarchical Humble Petition and Advice, gave ‘his Highness the Lord Protector’ the power to nominate his successor. Cromwell chose his eldest surviving son, the politically inexperienced Richard. This non-representative and de facto dynastic mode of succession, the royal connotations of both styles awarded, even a double invocation 16 Dec 1653 - 3 Sep 1658 "By the Grace of God and Republic Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland" and many other monarchic prerogatives, such as awarding knighthood, and the authoritarian traits of the whole militarized regime meant that the regicidal civil war, alledgedly to uphold parliament against 'royal tyranny' and protestantism against 'Stuart papacy', had in fact produced a repressive crowned republic, fatally unable to bring peace and prosperity back.

The younger Cromwell, who succeeded on his father's death in September 1658, held the position for only eight months before resigning in May 1659, being followed by the second period of Commonwealth rule until the Restoration of the exiled hier to the Stuart throne Charles II in May 1660.