Independents - English spelling: Independents

As a religious party, it was the Congregationalists who advocated an independent church system in 17th century England, but politically it was a faction of the Parliamentarians who supported the Congregationalists and various Christian denominations during the Puritan Revolution.

Within the Parliamentarians, the Presbyterians, who had a strong influence in Parliament and advocated the establishment of a strict Presbyterian Church system, held an overwhelming advantage until the Civil War. However, as a result of the Civil War, a faction emerged that represented the interests of the military, making its power clear. These were the Independence faction. With the strong influence of Puritanism within the military as a backing, the Independence faction advocated complete freedom of religion, while at the same time representing the interests of landowners, they rejected the political reforms advocated by the Levellers. The leaders were military officials such as O. Cromwell and Ireton, and the period of the Lord Protectorate can be seen as a period in which the Independence faction's political leadership was almost fully implemented. However, the Independence faction was unable to gain the support of local influential figures, and with Cromwell's death, its support base collapsed and its rule came to an end. (Book version, 1987)
[Toru Koizumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

宗教上の党派としては、17世紀イギリスにおいて独立教会制度を提唱した会衆派をさすが、政治的には、ピューリタン革命において会衆派およびキリスト教諸教派を支援母体とした議会派の一党派をさす。インディペンデンツともいう。

　議会派においては、内戦に至るまでは、議会に強固な勢力をもち厳格な長老教会制度の確立を主張する長老派の勢力が、圧倒的な優位にたっていた。しかし内戦の結果、その力を明らかにした軍の利害を代表する党派が現れた。これが独立派である。独立派は、軍隊内部に強かったピューリタニズムの影響力を背景に、信仰における完全な自由を主張しつつ、他方、土地所有者の利害を代表して、レベラーズ（平等派または水平派ともいう）の主張する政治改革を退けた。指導者はO・クロムウェル、アイアトンら軍幹部で、護国卿(ごこくきょう)政権時代を、ほぼ独立派の政治指導が貫徹していた時期とみなすことができる。しかし独立派は在地の有力者層の支持を得ることができず、クロムウェルの死とともに支持基盤が崩壊し、その支配も終わりを告げた。（書籍版　1987年）
［小泉　徹］

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