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Cromwell dissolving the English Parliament
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Cromwell dissolving the English Parliament
This illustration shows Cromwell asserting his authority in dissolving the English Rump Parliament on 20 April 1653. He is shown ordering the removal of the golden mace from Parliament.
1653
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Media ID 23035246
© Mary Evans Picture Library/Tom Gillmor
1650s 1653 Authority Away Commons Crisis Cromwell Dissolves Dissolving Frustrated Frustration Mace Members Oliver Ordering Parliament Removal Removes Removing Rump Shown Speaker Taking Interregnum
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this striking illustration from the 1650s, Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, asserts his authority in dissolving the English Rump Parliament on 20 April 1653. The frustration and frustration of the parliamentary members, also known as MPs, are palpable as Cromwell orders the removal of the golden mace from the table of the House of Commons. The golden mace, a symbol of the Speaker's authority, was a crucial element in the ceremonial opening and closing of each parliamentary session. Its removal signified the end of this parliament and the beginning of a new constitutional crisis. Cromwell's decision to dissolve the Rump Parliament was a result of growing tensions between the military leadership and the parliamentary members over the issue of the Second Protectorate Parliament. The members had refused to pass the necessary legislation to support Cromwell's rule, leading to a deadlock in government. In response, Cromwell took matters into his own hands, asserting his authority and bypassing the parliamentary process. This illustration captures a pivotal moment in English history during the Interregnum, a period between the execution of King Charles I in 1649 and the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The dissolution of the Rump Parliament marked the end of the Short Parliament, which had also been dissolved by Cromwell earlier that year due to its failure to pass the necessary legislation. The events of 1653 set the stage for the establishment of the Barebones Parliament, a short-lived assembly of religious leaders and other prominent figures, before the eventual establishment of the Protectorate under Cromwell's rule.
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