Commonwealth of England: Map & History
Commonwealth of England is mapped in the atlas for 1645 CE – 1661 CE, with a peak mapped extent of about 341,676 km².
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Commonwealth of England, enlarged in 1653 as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, was the political structure during the period from 1649 to 1660 when the Kingdom of England was dissolved into a republic after the end of the Second English Civil War and the trial and execution of Charles I. The republic's existence was declared through "An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth", adopted by the Rump Parliament on 19 May 1649. Power in the early Commonwealth was vested primarily in the Parliament and a Council of State. During the period, fighting continued, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, between the parliamentary forces and those opposed to them, in the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and the Anglo-Scottish war of 1650–1652.
Modern Countries Once Part of Commonwealth of England
At its mapped extent, Commonwealth of England covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Commonwealth of England's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Commonwealth of England in Depth
History
The Rump was created by Pride's Purge of those members of the Long Parliament who did not support the political position of the Grandees in the New Model Army. Just before and after the execution of King Charles I on 30 January 1649, the Rump passed a number of acts of Parliament creating the legal basis for the republic. With the abolition of the monarchy, Privy Council and the House of Lords, it had unchecked executive and legislative power.
The English Council of State, which replaced the Privy Council, took over many of the executive functions of the monarchy. It was selected by the Rump, and most of its members were MPs. The Rump depended on the support of the Army with which it had a very uneasy relationship.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Commonwealth of England (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Commonwealth of England: Key Facts
| Capital | London |
|---|---|
| Official language | English |
| Form of government | commonwealth, parliamentary republic |
| Currency | pound sterling |
| Founded | 19 May 1649 |
| Dissolved | 1660 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q330362 (CC0).
Commonwealth of England Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 341,676 km² in 1656 CE.
Commonwealth of England: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Commonwealth of England exist?
Commonwealth of England is dated to 1645 CE – 1661 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of Commonwealth of England?
The capital of Commonwealth of England was London.
How large was Commonwealth of England at its peak?
At its peak in 1656 Commonwealth of England covered about 341,676 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Avarga
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi