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Period: to
Seventeenth Century
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July 25, 1603: James I coronated as King of England
James I's assension to the throne of England marked the first step towards a limited monarchy in England. His rule was marked by his assertion of the Divine Right of Kings, which in turn undermined the authority of a willing Parliment.
Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:James_I_of_England_by_Daniel_Mytens.jpg -
2 Feb. 1625: Charles I coronated
Charles I's coronation marked the beginning of his reign on the throne. His reign was not a popular one, marked by a continuation of his father's assertion of Divine Right, undermining Parliment, which was becoming increasingly displeased with Charles's more flexible policies towards Catholics. Charles I would eventually dissolve Parliment, only to call them back because of a need for funds due to war.
Inage Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:King_Charles_I_by_Antoon_van_Dyck.jpg -
22 Aug. 1642: Start of English Civil War
With tempers flaring between Parliment and Charles I, a fever point was reached on this date. After Parliment argued that they should be in charge of the army, which the king could not reasonably command, a civil war broke out between an army of supporters of the king (the Cavaliers), and an army of supporters under parliment (the roundheads). Parliment, with the help of fervent Puritan army leader Oliver Cromwell, won the war. Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Naseby. -
30 Jan. 1649: Charles I executed
Despite attempting to regain some sort of power after defeat, Charles I eventually met the executioner's blade, being beheaded on this date. Despite showing Parliment's power, a limited monarchy with Parliment in control still did not exist in England, for the following decade would see Oliver Cromwell attempting to establish a Puritan regime under his control.
Image Source: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://d8kyhhndkm363.cloudfront.net/8/148838/King_Charles_I_1628_AD.jpg&imgref -
23 Apr. 1685: James II coronated
By now, Cromwell's Puritan regime had fallen to bits and the Stuart monarchs were back on the throne. James II was openly sympathetic towards Catholics, being Catholic himself, and from the beginning of his rule undermined a more enpowered Parliment to achieve his own ends. When it became known that a Catholic heir to the throne would take James's place, Parliment decided to take action.
Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:James_II_by_Peter_Lely.jpg -
1 Jan. 1688: The Glorious Revolution
Hoping to not see James II's Catholic son become king, Parliment voluntarily invites Holland's William of Orange, a Protestant, to invade England. He does so (the picture depicts his arrival by sea to England), prompting James II to summarily flee England, leaving the throne open to William and his wife Mary.
Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_of_Orange_engraving_by_William_Miller_after_Turner_R739.jpg -
16 Dec. 1689: English Bill of Rights
On this date, under William and Mary, Parliment passes the English Bill of Rights, which increases the power of the representative Parliment, decreases the monarch's power, and insures the civil liberties of many citizens in England. Thus, the transition to a limited monarchy was complete.
Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:English_Bill_of_Rights_of_1689.jpg
