Oliver Cromwell - (1599-1658)
Un-Crowned King of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
After the Royalists' defeat, Parliament tried to persuade Charles to guarantee more rights for the people. Charles refused, and when it was discovered that he had made deals with Scotland which was preparing to invade from the North, all hope for a peaceful settlement evapourated...

In 1649 Charles I was put on trial, charged with treason, and on 30th Day of January he was executed. Britain became a republic under the control of Council of State and Parliament*. 

Oliver Cromwell was at this time, the most powerful man in Britain and wasted no time in protecting the New Order which was to follow. After consolidating the home counties, Cromwell left for Ireland, and the long standing rebellion was crushed in months. After that he swiftly destroyed a royalist revolt in Scotland...
The New Model Army was unassailable, Wales rolled over.

Cromwell then set about reforming the infrastucture of England, and Britain. Great Britain became a Commonwealth proper, and extended the empire and its influence more than ever before.

xOliver Cromwell was pronounced head of the state, the "Lord Protector"...
He was offered the crown, but refused it.

*Editor's Note: It needs to be explained that Civil War had again broken out as a result of Charles's two faced dealings, and it was for causing this that he was tried as 'that man of blood' and subsequently executed. The reason for Cromwell's abrupt return from Ireland was indeed a Scots invasion. The Scots had declared Charles II king - he promised to make England Presbyterian, but he lied as was his wont. Cromwell cleverly let the Scots army and its English royalists supporters progress through England, thereby over-extending their lines of supply and communications. They far outnumbered the Parliamentary army, so Cromwell picked his time and place to split them in two. After destroying one part, he then trapped the remaining half at Worcester and destroyed them. Charles II escaped, and it was during his journey to exile in France that the famous hiding in the oak tree (claimed by about 1,000 places!) took place.

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