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Jun 15, 1215
June 15th 1215: Creation of the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was a charter that resulted from the failure of the King John II to defeat the nobles that rebelled against his power. . This charter provided a list of liberties that the governed have and a series of promises between the King and his people that guaranteed he would rule in accordance with feudal law. This was the first attempt of the nobility to limit the absolute power of a king, representing the initial part of this movement towards limited rule. -
Dec 14, 1264
Establishment of English parliament
The English Parliament was established in 1215, but only came to establish the main two houses that would become significant by 1264. Both the House of Commons and House of Lords, were initially established to advise the kings in his decision making process. However, these two houses would later become decisive in overturning the absolute rule of the king and working to establish England as a limited monarchy. -
Petition of Right
This document was passed through Parliament due to the abuse's of power by Charles I, who acted with impunity. This document limited many powers of the King, including the power to tax without Parliament's permission, to provide housing to and control troops and to imprison the people of England without fair trial. The direct purpose of this document was limiting the king's power, and in doing so this petition worked to lead towards limited monarchy. -
The Execution of Charles I
This event, occurred a result of, but not before the conclusion of the English Civil War. This event demonstrated the way in which the English people refused absolute Monarchy the same as Parliamentary forces. The English people overthrew the King regardless of his supposed divine right, as they demanded the protection of their rights. This set a precedent for future rulers that to rule with absolute power would mean a revolt by the people, further encouraging this shift to limited monarchy -
Conclusion of the English Civil War
During the English Civil War, Parliament was in a direct military conflict with the Royalists who supported the authority of the King. At the conclusion of this conflict, Parliamentary forces won, directly leading to a decrease in the monarchy's total power and an increase in Parliament's shared power. This would become an instrumental aspect of the shift of England's Monarchs authority. -
The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution occurred as Parliament took control of the throne and overthrew the absolute rule of King James II, nonviolently. This revolution directly resulted in William and Mary taking over the throne and began the era of England's official limited monarchy. This event marks the final refusal of the English people and parliament to be ruled by absolute Monarchs, and the ultimate push to instill limitations within the sitting Monarchs. -
The English Bill of Rights
William and Mary signed this document together which worked to greatly limit their powers as King and Queen, in exchange for their placement onto the throne by parliament after the Glorious Revolution. This document also resulted in the protection of individual rights and completely ended the possibility of absolute monarchy. This document represents the final step, as after it was passed absolute Monarchy became impossible, and a limited Monarchy went into effect that persists to this day.
