The existence of The Commonwealth of England,…
May 1649 CE
The existence of The Commonwealth of England, the republic that rules England and Wales, is initially declared by An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth by the Rump Parliament, on May 19, 1649.
Executive power has already been entrusted to a Council of State.
Robert Blake, who had begun his military career on the side of the parliamentarians despite having no substantial experience of military or naval matters, had gained fame for his exploits at the Siege of Bristol (July 1643), Siege of Lyme (April 1644), Siege of Taunton (1645) and the Siege of Dunster (November 1645).
At Taunton he had famously declared that he would eat three of his four pairs of boots before he would surrender.
He is now promoted to General at Sea (a rank corresponding to Admiral).