Not Just the Tudors: "Why Cromwell's Republic Failed"
Host: Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb
Date: February 5, 2026
Panel: Prof. Ronald Hutton, Dr. Jonathan Healey, Dr. Miranda Maylands
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode examines the dramatic eleven-year experiment of republican government in 17th-century England following the execution of Charles I (1649–1660), focusing on the rise and eventual collapse of Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate and the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II. Panelists discuss the immediate circumstances of the Republic’s foundation, inherent contradictions, and its enduring legacy on British political life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Setting the Scene: The Unthinkable Overturn
- The execution of a king and abolition of monarchy (02:21–06:40)
- England as a commonwealth: “For 11 extraordinary years, England experimented with a new vision of power...” (Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb, 02:50)
Why Did Cromwell's Republic Fail?
Two Explanations for Failure
- Lack of popular support: “Most of the English and Welsh didn’t want it.” (Prof. Ronald Hutton, 07:36)
- Internal factionalism: “The people in charge… fall out among themselves. And the moment that happens, then they're doomed.” (Hutton, 07:36)
Minority Rule & Legitimacy
- The majority of parliamentarians had not originally set out to kill the king or abolish monarchy.
- The Republic had to “retrospectively legitimize itself and has to put out the arguments to support its position.” (Dr. Miranda Maylands, 09:26)
Nature of the Revolution—‘Not Revolutionary Enough’?
- Social order left intact; landed elites retained power.
- “You get rid of the House of Lords, but you leave the Lords… You break the power of the wealthy gentry and merchants, and yet you leave them with the cash.” (Hutton, 13:13)
- Echoes of tyranny: was the Republic “almost as tyrannical as the king they’ve replaced?” (Host, 12:05)
The Army, Parliament, and the Difficulty of Rule
- Severe tension between Parliament and the army, especially regarding religious toleration and the “will of the people.”
- “We're not looking at a modern liberal democracy. We're looking at people who say all the right things about freedom and the popular will, but dare not actually trust them.” (Hutton, 15:51)
- Levelers’ revolt as a challenge from the Left (12:22)
The Three Kingdoms and Imperial Violence
- England, Ireland, and Scotland: differing relationships, with the Republic violently subjugating Ireland and conquering Scotland (18:01–23:32)
- “The overturning of the traditional social order in Scotland and Ireland is revolutionary on a scale never attempted in England.” (Hutton, 21:53)
- Cromwellian massacres left intergenerational trauma in Ireland (24:19–26:33)
- “Slaughtering Catholic or Protestant Irish simply upped Cromwell’s credibility in the eyes of most of the English.” (Hutton, 25:38)
- “Ireland probably lost about 20% of its population…” (Healey, 24:19)
- The conquest shaped future relations and set a precedent retained even after Restoration.
Foreign Wars and Financial Instability
- Anglo-Dutch Wars offered temporary prestige but strained finances (29:01–31:51)
- “It bolsters the reputation of the Republic abroad… but the finances never recover.” (Hutton, 30:33)
- War as a policy tool: “We've got this navy, what do we do with it?” (Healey, 31:51)
- Satirical insight: decisions for new wars were “meat headed” and economically disastrous (Hutton, 32:01)
The Protectorate: Cromwell as 'Monarch'?
- Cromwell’s 1653 coup ended the parliamentary republic; Protectorate established (32:48–43:09)
- Protector's role: “sovereign power is vested in Oliver Cromwell as a single person, but acting with Parliament and acting with his council.” (Maylands, 40:45)
- “He is head of State… has the old protectorate livery… his head’s on the coins… but it is a slightly different [from monarchy].” (Maylands, 41:20)
- Written constitution (Instrument of Government) and limits on the Protector’s power signified a break with past monarchy, though many still saw autocracy.
Intractable Problems: Legitimacy, Succession, and Collapse
- Parliament’s resistance to army-imposed reforms, frustration with protectorate ordinances lacking efficacy.
- Cromwell’s coalition-style leadership compared to earlier monarchs, notably Elizabeth I and Henry VIII.
- Succession: Cromwell's failure to train or designate Richard adequately (48:36–52:45)
- “Oliver does three fatal things that are going to doom his son’s protectorate…” (Hutton, 50:51)
- Richard Cromwell’s inexperience and the army's lack of loyalty led to rapid regime collapse.
Final Collapse and Restoration
- Post-1658 turmoil: “A series of very, very quick changes of government”—people desired stability (Healey, 58:02)
- Restoration wasn’t a popular groundswell but a pragmatic choice amidst chaos.
- “Charles II is actually very lucky… he’s the beneficiary of that chaos.” (Maylands, 59:04)
- Centrality of former Cromwellian supporters in facilitating the Restoration.
The Army’s Role and the Unfinished Legacy
- The true drivers (or enemies) of the Republic were the army’s ordinary soldiers—its loss of cohesion undermined all (Hutton, 64:10)
- “Once these ordinary troopers and rankers of the republican army are disempowered, the republic can disintegrate.” (Hutton, 65:44)
- The monarchy which returned was fundamentally changed—“the monarchy that returns in 1660 isn’t the same beast” (Maylands, 67:31)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the Republic’s origins and flaws:
- “The republic has not [been] established by a popular uprising, it’s established by a military coup d’état. And the people of England and Wales never quite forgive it for that.” – Ronald Hutton (10:19)
- “They say all the right things about freedom and the popular will, but dare not actually trust them.” – Ronald Hutton (15:51)
- “If you take away such a fundamental piece of the structure which is the monarchy, then in a sense everything’s up for debate.” – Miranda Maylands (14:56)
On the violence in Ireland:
- “It’s the war that finished Ireland… The bloodshed in my lifetime can be traced directly to those events. So there’s nothing good that can be said about it from the Irish point of view.” – Ronald Hutton (25:38)
- “Cromwell who really finishes the job [of English conquest of Ireland], if you like, from a British point of view.” – Jonathan Healey (24:19)
On the Protectorate as a semi-monarchical system:
- “He is head of State… has the old protectorate livery and lifeguard and barge and carriage… his head’s on the coins and on all the regalia. But it is a slightly different. It isn’t a monarchy.” – Miranda Maylands (41:20)
On the Restoration:
- “We have this notion that Charles II comes back on this wave of popular desire, but it’s not really the case at all, actually.” – Miranda Maylands (58:50)
- “Charles II and Henry VII are two of the luckiest monarchs in our history.” – Ronald Hutton (59:32)
On legacy and historical memory:
- “It did all right to last as long as it did… given the sheer novelty in an English context.” – Jonathan Healey (66:41)
- “Much of the future success story of the British depends upon that short-lived republic.” – Ronald Hutton (68:07)
- “There is this state-sponsored amnesia which I think to an extent we’re still living with and we’re still battling with today.” – Miranda Maylands (70:13)
- “The republic is not so much a failure as unfinished business.” – Ronald Hutton (73:08)
Timeline: Important Segment Timestamps
- Introduction and radical nature of the republic – 02:21–07:29
- Foundational flaws and lack of a popular base – 07:29–11:29
- Role of the army and legitimacy struggles – 11:29–15:51
- Three Kingdoms and conquest of Ireland/Scotland – 18:01–23:47
- Cromwellian violence in Ireland – 24:19–28:20
- Anglo-Dutch Wars and international context – 29:01–32:48
- Transition to Protectorate and Cromwell’s rule – 32:48–46:43
- Succession crisis, Richard Cromwell, and regime collapse – 48:17–55:23
- Restoration, role of former Cromwellians, aftermath – 58:02–64:10
- Final thoughts: Success, legacy, and the struggle for memory – 66:41–74:31
Tone & Language
The conversation blended deep scholarly analysis with vivid, accessible storytelling and a wry historical perspective on the motives and contradictions of all actors. There’s a consistent effort to clarify complexity, skewer simplistic narratives, and challenge “Tudor-centric” myths with examples from Irish, Scottish, and continental history.
Conclusion
The failure of Cromwell’s republic stemmed from its root in military force rather than popular uprising, the inability to forge stable coalitions or reforms that satisfied both its army and civilian leaders, and fundamental tensions between radical ideals and conservative realities. Although the experiment ended, its legacy was profound: shaping British constitutional development, establishing precedents for later democratic reforms, and leaving a legacy of division, debate, and innovation that shaped future centuries.
Memorable closing thoughts:
“The Republic is not so much a failure as unfinished business.” – Prof. Ronald Hutton (73:08)