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Jun 15, 1215
Signing of the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was a pivotal document crafted due to a foreseeable civil war that would have occurred if King John did not follow the orders laid out. It laid out demands that limited the king's power and established the principle that even the king is subject to the law. However, it was nullified by the pope. Yet, it was a long-lasting principle developed, changed, and repurposed numerous times, being one of the early frameworks of the loss of power for the monarchy in England. -
Petition of Right is passed
The Petition of Right was a document that challenged the king's authority due to excessive taxation. The Petition of Right focused on what the King and Monarch had authority over. It laid out the idea that only Parliament could levy taxes and that no one should be imprisoned without cause. Before this, the monarch assumed oversight of the people in the territory. This document, taking power away from the monarch, was clearly essential in trimming royal power and giving more to parliament. -
Militia Ordinance
The Militia Ordinance was passed by Parliament in March 1642. It was in response to rising tensions with King Charles I. It allowed Parliament to raise its own military forces, directly challenging the king’s control over the army. This act marked a significant shift in power dynamics, affirming parliamentary authority over the king. By allowing Parliament to organize military resources, the ordinance set the stage for the English Civil War, a defining event in creating a limited monarchy. -
Execution of Charles I
With his reign being one of the overall causes of the English Civil War, King Charles I had an approach of complete authority. With many previous notions that monarchs would be held accountable for their actions, there weren't any ways to prove this. However, Charles I was executed when his side lost the civil war. This marked a definitive rejection of absolute monarchy in England, paving the way for a better balance of power, and limiting the monarchy. -
English Civil War Ends
This was a war that took place due to power dynamics, with some people supporting the monarchy of King Charles I, while others supported parliament, believing he was overstepping boundaries. The war resulted in a victory for parliament and a temporary overthrow of the monarchy. This led to forced reforms that were carried out in England, which resulted in the monarchy having much less power and cementing the fact that monarchs would never, legally and justly, hold supreme power in England. -
Glorious Revolution Ends
The Glorious Revolution was caused by political and religious tensions. It resulted in the overthrow of Catholic King James II and the ascension of William and Mary. While helping religiously, it also gave much more power to parliament and took power away from the monarchy. It established parliamentary sovereignty and solidified the shift towards a limited monarchy where the monarch’s powers were regulated by law, not completely above it, as previously exemplified by the Divine Right of Kings. -
English Bill of Rights
In order to instill William and Mary and the English rulers, they were forced to agree to the terms of the English Bill of Rights. This document outlined the rights of Parliament and individual citizens. It formalized the shift to a constitutional monarchy, ensuring no monarch could rule without Parliament’s consent. In doing this, it took power away from the monarchs, not allowing them to carry out tyrannical rules that oppressed English citizens and their fundamental human rights.