What type of government was established by Oliver Cromwell after the execution of Charles I?

After the execution of King Charles I in 1649, Oliver Cromwell established a government known as the Commonwealth. This was a significant change from traditional monarchy as it aimed to create a republican form of governance where power rested with the people and their elected representatives. Cromwell, as the leader of the New Model Army and a key figure in the Parliamentarian movement during the English Civil War, sought to eliminate the monarchy and its associated authority.

The Commonwealth was structured with a council, but Cromwell’s leadership soon took on a more authoritarian flavor, especially with his role as Lord Protector beginning in 1653. Although many argue that Cromwell's rule resembled a dictatorship, the initial idea was to create a government based on the principles of a commonwealth, emphasizing governance by the people rather than by a king. This period is characterized by significant political and social change in England, culminating in a government that was distinct from both absolute monarchy and the parliamentary democracy that followed later.