What if Oliver Cromwell had died in 1650?

[gaitskellitebevanite]

A long-dead ancient thread on this site discusses the prospects for the Commonwealth had Cromwell died during the Conquest of Ireland: Saving the Commonwealth after the death of Oliver Cromwell | alternatehistory.com

Henry Ireton, who succeeded Cromwell as commander of the Parliamentary armies in Ireland in OTL succumbed to disease a year later, and considering the incredibly high death toll due to famine and illness its not hard to imagine a situation where Cromwell could have died - perhaps Charles II is forced to postpone his landing in Scotland, with Cromwell remaining in Ireland for longer as a consequence.

What are the prospects for the Commonwealth without Cromwell? 1650-51 is far too early for a royalist restoration such as OTL, and without Cromwell assuming the Lord Protectorship Richard and Henry Cromwell would both fade into obscurity. What would a Commonwealth without Cromwell look like?

 

[gaitskellitebevanite]

Who would fill the Cromwell shaped hole in Commonwealth politics? Would the collective leadership of the Council of State be maintained for longer, or would another figure (maybe Fleetwood? or Lambert?) become the Cromwell-esque 'caudillo' of the Commonwealth?

 

[Derek Pullem]

A long-dead ancient thread on this site discusses the prospects for the Commonwealth had Cromwell died during the Conquest of Ireland: Saving the Commonwealth after the death of Oliver Cromwell | alternatehistory.com

Henry Ireton, who succeeded Cromwell as commander of the Parliamentary armies in Ireland in OTL succumbed to disease a year later, and considering the incredibly high death toll due to famine and illness its not hard to imagine a situation where Cromwell could have died - perhaps Charles II is forced to postpone his landing in Scotland, with Cromwell remaining in Ireland for longer as a consequence.

What are the prospects for the Commonwealth without Cromwell? 1650-51 is far too early for a royalist restoration such as OTL, and without Cromwell assuming the Lord Protectorship Richard and Henry Cromwell would both fade into obscurity. What would a Commonwealth without Cromwell look like?

Could Fairfax have crossed over to the Royalist side Cromwell had died in Ireland? If he did would some or all of this troops followed him? IOTL he resigned his commission leading the New Model Army rather than fight the Scots who he regarded as allies under the covenant. And his wife at least was vocal in defence of Charles I who in this scenario has only been dead for a year.

In the power vacuum without Cromwell might the 3rd Civil War have overturned the results of the first two?

 

[herkles]

Might this allow the fifth monarchists to take power?

 

[VVD0D95]

Could Fairfax have crossed over to the Royalist side Cromwell had died in Ireland? If he did would some or all of this troops followed him? IOTL he resigned his commission leading the New Model Army rather than fight the Scots who he regarded as allies under the covenant. And his wife at least was vocal in defence of Charles I who in this scenario has only been dead for a year.

In the power vacuum without Cromwell might the 3rd Civil War have overturned the results of the first two?

I think it's possible, whilst there are commanders who are good in the New Model Army, if Fairfax becomes an out Royalist, that's a huge blow. I would not be surprised if Monck decides to turn sides also.