Stuarts & Interregnum

Who were the Stuarts?

The Stuarts ruled England from 1603, when James VI of Scotland became James I of England, until Queen Anne’s death in 1714. Their era included the Gunpowder Plot, the Civil War, the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London.

What was the Interregnum?

The Interregnum was the period from the execution of Charles I in 1649 to the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, when England had no monarch. It included the Commonwealth and Oliver Cromwell’s rule as Lord Protector.

Did Oliver Cromwell really cancel Christmas?

Partly. Parliament banned Christmas celebrations in 1647, before Cromwell became Lord Protector, but he’s usually given the blame. The ban was unpopular and Christmas returned openly after the Restoration in 1660.