12 March 1655
Penruddock's Rising

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Following plotting by a royalist group called the Sealed Knot, this small Wiltshire rising by John Penruddock, a local royalist, is poorly supported and easily put down. Penruddock is executed, and Cromwell responds to such disorder by introducing the rule of the major-generals, each of whom is responsible one of the 11 military districts into which England is divided. Deeply resented by county gentry, the major-generals attempt to govern with Puritan zeal. However, when Cromwell is forced to summon it to raise money, Parliament terminates the rule of the major-generals in January 1657.

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