James II, who succeeded his brother Charles II in 1685, pursued policies that clashed with the English Protestant establishment and Parliament's authority. These policies included:
- Religious Intolerance: James II was a devout Roman Catholic and began promoting Catholicism at the expense of Protestantism. This alarmed many English Protestants, who feared the loss of their religious freedoms.
- Absolutist Tendencies: James II believed in the divine right of kings and sought to increase his power at the expense of Parliament. He prorogued Parliament, ignored its laws, and appointed Catholics to positions of power. This eroded Parliament's authority and raised concerns about the erosion of constitutional rights.
- Unpopularity: James II's actions, including his support for the Catholic cause in Europe, unpopularity among many English subjects, leading to a decline in his legitimacy.
Invitation to William of Orange:
In 1688, a group of English nobles and politicians invited William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands and James II's son-in-law, to invade England and depose James II. William agreed, landing with an army in Torbay, Devon, in November 1688.
The Glorious Revolution:
As William advanced, James's support crumbled, and he eventually fled to France. William and his wife, Mary (James's daughter), were proclaimed joint sovereigns by Parliament in February 1689. The events that led to James II's deposition and William and Mary's ascension became known as the Glorious Revolution.
Constitutional Changes:
The Glorious Revolution brought about significant constitutional changes that cemented Parliament's power and established the principles of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary sovereignty. These changes included:
- The Bill of Rights (1689): This landmark legislation affirmed Parliament's powers and guaranteed basic rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to petition the king.
- Supremacy of Parliament: Parliament established its supremacy over the monarchy, ensuring that future kings would rule according to Parliament's laws and could not override them.
The Glorious Revolution marked a pivotal moment in English history, securing Protestant ascendancy, limiting the powers of the monarchy, and establishing the foundation for the modern constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy in the United Kingdom.