A premixed-charge compression-ignition engine, and a control system (10), is provided which effectively initiates combustion by compression-ignition and maintains stable combustion while achieving extremely low nitrous-oxide emissions, good overall efficiency and acceptable combustion noise and cylinder pressures. The present engine and control system (10) effectively controls the combustion history, that is, the time at which combustion occurs, the rate of combustion, the duration of combustion and/or the completeness of combustion by controlling the operation of certain control variables providing temperature control, pressure control, control of the mixture's auto-ignition properties and equivalence ratio control. The combustion control system (10) provides active feedback control of the combustion event and includes a sensor (16) for detecting an engine operating condition indicative of the combustion history, e.g. the start of combustion, and generating an associated engine operating condition signal (18).