History of England XVII century - a time of unrest and severe shocks.To this period belongs and "Glorious Revolution" in 1688.Many researchers believe this is a major event in the history of Great Britain.
History of England: a brief on the situation on the eve of the revolution
After the restoration of the Stuart dynasty to the 1685 Regulations in England of Charles II.After his death, he ascended to the throne of James II, the younger brother of the king.Karl did not leave an heir, since he had no legitimate children.James II was the last English king-Catholic.
In 1677, the eldest daughter of the future king of Mary was given, contrary to his wishes, for William of Orange.It was presumed heir to the throne because of childlessness Charles II.
Himself Jacob parliamentary Liberal Party tried to deprive of the right to the throne because of his adherence to the Catholic Church.He was suspected of involvement in a Catholic conspiracy, and he was forced to flee the country.But the attempt to deprive the Duke of York's claim to the throne caused a protest of his supporters against the Liberal Party of Parliament (Whig), and younger brother of Charles II was able to freely ascend to the throne after the death of the king.
Board of James II
To better understand what a "glorious revolution", it is necessary to consider the reign of James II.When the new king majority in parliament have become a Tory (Conservative Party members), its adherents.James II did not cause sympathy from the British because he was a devout Catholic.
his reign he had to start with the suppression of the uprising, which organized the illegitimate son of Charles II, James Scott.He lived in the Netherlands, which the new English king hated, and was a Protestant.After the execution of Charles I, James Scott and his mother was forced to go into exile.Especially for him was created the title of Duke of Monmouth.
landed on the coast of Great Britain, Scott said his right to the English throne.Scottish joined him Marquess of Argyll.In the battle with the royal army conspirators were defeated and beheaded.But the king and his judges suppressed the uprising with such ferocity that the perturbation of his actions has been one of the reasons for the expulsion of the monarch, and resulted in a coup, won the historiography of England following the name - Glorious Revolution.
vain hope
last years of the reign of Charles II - is the reaction time, when Parliament is not convened, and the opposition in the face of the Whigs was scattered and disorganized king.Although the Duke of York is also spoken of as a reactionary opposition had hoped to change the situation in the country and the termination of the reaction.
hopes were in vain.James II after the suppression of the rebellion, self-confident, began to gather an army on a permanent basis under the pretext of counter-insurgency.On all the key government posts he put adherents of the Catholic faith.In the year of his accession to the throne, he dissolved parliament and more during the board is not going to never.Opposition and criticism of their actions can not accept the king and immediately dismisses dissatisfied.James II to take all steps for one goal - the establishment of the country's Catholic absolute royal power.As a result, many members of the opposition were forced to flee to the Netherlands.Extremely dissatisfied with the actions of the King, turned away from him and faithful followers - the Tories, who feared gain power of the Catholic Church in the country.
immediate cause of the overthrow of James II
«Glorious Revolution" that took place in England, had a good reason for its inception.The king, who ascended the throne in the elderly age, had no children.James II's wife of 15 years was considered sterile.So dissatisfied with the policy pursued by the king was hoped that after the death of the throne will pass to his eldest daughter Mary, who took the Protestant faith and was married to William of Orange.
Unexpectedly for all the elderly King in 1688 was born the heir.Immediately rumors that it is someone else's child, who was secretly carried to the royal palace.These conversations were caused by the fact that the birth of the Crown Prince attended only by representatives of the Catholic faith, and even younger daughter Anna was not allowed to the mother.
Revolution
After the birth of the heir to the throne of England hope to change the situation in England, the opposition has no choice.Together, the Tories and the Whigs, as well as part of the army officers organized a conspiracy.His goal was the removal of the King from power and replacing it with his own daughter-in-law with - the Prince of Orange and Mary.Prominent British politicians, seeing no other way out, the Prince wrote a secret message urging him to invade England and depose of his father from the throne.The message states that the population would support a coup, and everyone will be glad to see at the head of the Protestant king of England.
After the message was sent, the part of the rebels dispersed throughout the country in search of money and allies.
James II could not help seeing the preparations, and the conspirators decided to make concessions, yet the actions of his opponents do not go too far.But to stop the uprising it was impossible.
«Glorious Revolution" began November 15, 1688, when men landed the Prince of Orange on the English coast.The army, which he had gathered was impressive and almost entirely composed of Protestants.Were there representatives of the opposition who have fled the country because of persecution of Jacob.
Total Revolution in England: the overthrow of the king and the accession of William III
appearance of the army of William of England has meant that most of the commanders of James II immediately took the side of his son in law.The daughter of the King, Anna, also left him and went to the camp of the Prince of Orange.
Left without an army, Jacob tried to enter into negotiations with the conspirators, and then desperately tried to flee to France, where the pre-sent his wife and son.On the way, he was captured and returned to London.Later, with the help of William, who arranged his escape, King James II was able to leave England.
«Glorious Revolution" ended in 1689, when William and Mary were proclaimed rulers of the Parliament of England.
After Maria's death a few years later her husband ruled the country under the name of one of William III.According to historians, it has proved a wise ruler and a reformer.That's when it started growing influence of England and its transformation into one of the world's strongest powers.During the reign of William III was a "Bill of Rights", forever eliminating the possibility of establishing absolute monarchy in England.
