Cromwellian Occupation

The Cromwellian occupation of Scotland (1651-1660) followed the English Civil Wars and saw Scotland under military rule by the English Commonwealth, led by Oliver Cromwell. After the decisive Battle of Dunbar in 1650 and the subsequent Battle of Worcester in 1651, English forces occupied Scotland, integrating it into the Commonwealth and later the Protectorate. The period witnessed significant political, religious, and economic changes, including attempts to unify Scotland with England and Wales under a single government and legal system. Despite facing resistance and uprisings from Royalist factions and other Scottish groups, the occupation persisted until the restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660.