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Fairly simple question, I think. I'm writing an AH story set in London in 1666, and I'm just wondering if there's a simple way to keep the Protectorate of England running to about that year (the story mostly dealing with the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, and destabilization of the Protectorate Government). I'm not looking to do a whole TL here, just a few stories happening 1665-1670 or so.

I have no great knowledge of the English Civil War, however. Wikipedia's (hey, I think it's decent for preliminary research, as is AH.com...) telling me that Cromwell may have died of Malaria, and that his son became the next Lord Protector, but had no power base, and was forced to give up his power.

"Cromwell is thought to have suffered from malaria (probably first contracted while on campaign in Ireland) and from "stone", a common term for urinary/kidney infections. In 1658 he was struck by a sudden bout of malarial fever, followed directly by an attack of urinary/kidney symptoms. A Venetian physician tracked Cromwell's final illness, saying Cromwell's personal physicians were mismanaging his health, leading to a rapid decline and death, which was also hastened by the death of his favourite daughter Elizabeth Cromwell in August at age 29. He died at Whitehall on 3 September 1658, the anniversary of his great victories at Dunbar and Worcester." -- Wikipedia

So, let's *handwave* away his malaria and "stone," making him a bit more healthy. Or, no, better yet, let's not. Let's not have his physicians "mismanage his health," and have him have a nonterminal brush with illness. During this period, he'll realize not just the fragility of his own life, but of all the Protectorate. He's still pushing sixty, so he must have thought of this. I don't know his character in history, but in my story I'm thinking of him like a bit of a Lenin-analogue -- genuinely interested in the good of the people, but also genuinely interested in his own power and willing to go to vicious lengths to achieve both of those things. So, he grooms a successor -- likely his own son, Richard. So, when Oliver finally passes away in 1662, Richard is ready to take over control of the government, and, well, for the purposes of my story, he only needs to stay in power for four years or so -- bonus points if there's open warfare again in England in 1666, between Charles II and Richard Cromwell (who, hopefully, has retained some of his father's strategic insight).

So, how plausible is this? What effect would it have on the Anglo-Dutch Wars?
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