Glorious Revolution

The Glorious Revolution was a major political shift in 1688. It involved the removal of King James II from the English throne.

This event changed how power worked in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It moved the country away from absolute monarchy. Instead, it established the primacy of Parliament over the Crown. This meant the king could no longer rule without the consent of Parliament.

James II became king in February 1685. At first, he had widespread support from many people. Most leaders in England and Scotland were Protestant. Even in Ireland, many Protestants supported him. They accepted his Roman Catholic faith if he protected their churches. However, James began to use the Royal Prerogative to bypass Parliament. This is the power of a monarch to act without legislative consent. He used this power to suspend laws like the Test Acts. These acts were meant to protect the established Protestant churches.

James's policies soon caused deep unrest among the landed gentry. The gentry were the wealthy landowners who held significant local influence. James attempted to create a "King's party" of Catholics and others. This move alienated his original Protestant supporters. He also replaced many local officials with people who were loyal to him. This created an obedient electoral machine for his own use. In April 1688, he ordered his Declaration of Indulgence to be read in churches. When seven bishops refused to follow this order, they were arrested for seditious libel.

Two specific events turned this political tension into a full crisis. First, the birth of James Francis Edward Stuart on 10 June 1688 changed everything. Before this, many expected a Protestant succession through James's daughters. The birth of a son meant a Catholic dynasty could continue for generations.

Second, the acquittal of the Seven Bishops in June showed James was losing control. His domestic opponents felt they had no choice but to seek outside help. They issued an "Invitation to William" to ask for Dutch support.

William III of Orange was a Dutch leader and the husband of Mary. Mary was the Protestant daughter of James II.

The Dutch States General and William were worried about French power. They feared James might support France in the Nine Years' War. William landed his forces in Devon on 5 November 1688.

As William marched toward London, the military support for James began to fail. James fled to France on 23 December 1688.

In April 1689, Parliament declared William and Mary as joint monarchs.

A similar settlement was reached in Scotland in June 1689. This revolution was significant because it settled the role of the monarchy. It ended the idea of the "divine right of kings." This was the belief that monarchs received their authority directly from God. Now, the law and Parliament held the highest authority in the land.

William III also changed how England interacted with the world. He remained the Dutch stadtholder while serving as the British monarch. This created a powerful alliance between England and the Dutch Republic. Both nations worked together to resist the expansion of France. This partnership lasted for much of the 18th century. Even after Mary died in 1694, William continued to rule alone until 1702. The revolution left a lasting legacy on the political systems of the British kingdoms.