England of the Restoration

England was in a state of chaos when Rochester was born. The monarchy had been abolished in favor of parliament. Parliament had fought a long war with Charles I and in 1646, only a year before Rochester was born, the Parliamentarian army had finally defeated the Royalists. Two years after Rochester's birth, Charles I was executed and in 1653, Oliver Cromwell was appointed Lord Protector for life.

When Cromwell died in 1658 his son assumed the position of Lord Protector. Richard Cromwell abdicated in the second year of his rule and England was left without a leader. Faced with the possibility of anarchy or military rule, Parliament decided to invite the son of Charles I back to England. In the spring of 1660, Charles II returned triumphant to his realm.

This period in English history has been dubbed the Restoration.