Cavalier Parliament

sat from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It followed the Convention Parliament. Like its predecessor parliament, it was overwhelmingly Royalist.

In December 1661, parliament was challenged by the Fifth Monarchists under the command of Vavasor Powell and Thomas Venner, who led a succession of revolts. These rebellions were initiated as an anticipation of the arrival of Jesus Christ to claim the throne.

On 24 January 24 1679, the seemingly interminable parliament was finally dissolved. A few weeks later, on 6 March, a new parliament was assembled, but it was prorogued before it could conduct its business.

Sources:

Jones, James Rees. Country and Court: England 1658–1714. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 1978.

Seaward, Paul. The Cavalier Parliament and the Reconstruction of the Old Regime, 1661-1667. Cambridge: Cambridge Universtiy Press. 1988.