The Rule of the Major-Generals from August 1655 – January 1657, was a period of direct military government during Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate.
Contents
England was divided into ten regions each governed by a major-general who answered to the Lord Protector.
Policies
Cromwell appointed the Major Generals soon after he had news of the defeat of the expedition to Hispaniola (commanded by William Penn and Robert Venables), reached London in late July 1655. He felt that this defeat was God punishing him for not trying to make England a more religious, godly place.
Like Cromwell, the Major Generals were committed Puritans (Congregationalist reformers with Calvinist leanings). Part of their job was to try to make England more godly. They clamped down on what they considered to be rowdy behaviour (such as heavy drinking, music, dancing and fairs). They even tried to stop Christmas celebrations. Not surprisingly, the rule of the Major Generals was not popular.
The Major-Generals and their regions
There were ten regional associations covering England and Wales administered by major-generals. Ireland under Major-General Henry Cromwell, and Scotland under Major-General George Monck were in administrations already agreed upon and were not part of the scheme.