Timeline to Limited Monarchy in England

By a.grube
  • 1215

    Parliament

    Parliament
    The first official English Parliament convened with the creation of the Magna Carta. There were earlier forms of Parliament, such as the Witan and the Great Council, but Parliament was the first group to establish the right of barons to advise the king. Over the next centuries, Parliament increasingly challenged the monarchy and eventually made it possible for England to have a constitutional monarchy.
  • Jun 15, 1215

    Magna Carta

    Magna Carta
    The Magna Carta was incredibly important because it was the first written document to try to restrict exploitation of royal power. It declared that the king was not above the law, and that the law itself was a power. The document was distributed widely and became well known. The Magna Carta laid the foundation for Parliament, limited monarchy, and greater emphasis on the rights of the people.

  • Petition of Right

    Petition of Right
    The Petition of Right was a complaint against King Charles I for violating the law. Parliament demanded no taxation without their consent, no arrests without cause, no forced quartering of soldiers with subjects, and no martial law during peacetime. The Petition of Right (1628) was another document that chipped away at royal power and exploitation, and gave more protection to citizens.

  • English Civil War

    English Civil War
    The English Civil War was a period of conflict between Parliamentarians and Royalists, mainly caused by issues with governance and religious freedom. After the execution of Charles I, England became a republican Commonwealth under Cromwell for a short time. Though Charles II ultimately returned to the throne, the relationship between Parliament and the monarchy changed and Parliament demonstrated the power that they had.

  • Execution of Charles I

    Execution of Charles I
    During the civil wars, King Charles I was put on trial by Parliament and declared guilty of trying to be a tyrant and violating the rights of the people. He was condemned to death and beheaded. This demonstrated the power of Parliament and their growing intolerance of too-powerful monarchs.

  • Abdication of James II and Crowning of William and Mary

    Abdication of James II and Crowning of William and Mary
    The reign of James II saw more tension between the monarchy and Parliament as James II attempted to establish an absolute monarchy. Parliament opposed and deposed him, an extreme show of power. Parliament chose William III and Mary II to become King and Queen as joint rulers. William and Mary were very cooperative with Parliament, which set the stage for a constitutional monarchy.

  • Bill of Rights

    Bill of Rights
    William and Mary signed the Bill of Rights, which outlined the rights of subjects and greatly limited the power of the monarchy. The monarchy should not only abide by these rights, but protect them. This document firmly established the constitutional monarchy, restricted the monarchy, strengthened Parliament, and protected the English subjects.