Rachel Evans
The Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 saw the overthrow of the Catholic King James II, who was replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange. The revolution was motivated by both political and religious concerns, and its impact on the treatment of Catholics in Britain was significant. The revolution resulted in a shift in power dynamics, with Parliament gaining more power over the monarchy and limiting the power of the monarch to suspend laws. The Bill of Rights, promulgated after the revolution, prohibited Catholics or those married to Catholics from claiming the throne, reflecting the deep-seated fear of 'popery' and Catholic conspiracies in Stuart England. The revolution's impact extended beyond politics, shaping religious and social life in Britain and influencing the 13 colonies in North America, where colonists were temporarily freed from anti-Puritan laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1688-1689 |
| Nature of the Event | Overthrow of the Catholic King James II |
| Replacement | Joint monarchy of his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange |
| Nature of Replacement Rule | Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy |
| Religious Conflict | Fear of Catholicism and the Catholic church |
| Religious Conspiracy Theory | Catholics were plotting the overthrow of church and state |
| Political Conflict | Conflict with Parliament |
| Bill of Rights | Prohibited Catholics from claiming the throne |
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What You'll Learn
The Bill of Rights
The Glorious Revolution of 1688–1689 replaced the Catholic King James II with the joint monarchy of his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange. The revolution was a response to James II's overt Roman Catholicism, his suspension of the legal rights of Dissenters, and the birth of a Catholic heir to the throne, which raised discontent among many, particularly non-Catholics.
The main principles of the Bill of Rights are still in force today and have been cited in legal cases. It was also used as a model for the US Bill of Rights, the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights.
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Catholic monarchs barred from the throne
The Glorious Revolution of 1688–1689 resulted in the deposition of King James II, who was a Catholic. James was replaced by his Protestant daughter, Mary II, and her husband, William III of Orange, who was also Protestant.
James II's overt Roman Catholicism, his suspension of the legal rights of Dissenters, and the birth of a Catholic heir to the throne, James Francis Edward Stuart, raised discontent among many, particularly non-Catholics. The birth of a Catholic heir alarmed many prominent Englishmen, who invited Mary's husband, William of Orange, to invade England. James's support dwindled, and he fled to France.
The Bill of Rights, promulgated after the Glorious Revolution, prohibited Catholics or those married to Catholics from claiming the throne. This prohibition was reiterated in the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013, which explicitly states that Catholics are "deemed to be dead" in terms of succession.
The exclusion of Catholics from the line of succession has been criticised by some as discriminatory and a reminder that Britain needs a secular head of state. Princess Alexandra of Hanover, a member of the royal family of Monaco, lost her place in the line of succession for being Catholic.
The prohibition on Catholics holding the throne is older than the recent amendments and can be traced back to the Glorious Revolution and the Act of Settlement of 1701. The monarch is the supreme governor of the Church of England and is legally required to "join in communion" with the Church.
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Religious and political conflicts
The Glorious Revolution of 1688–89 was a result of religious and political conflicts. The revolution led to the deposition of King James II, who was replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange.
James II was a Catholic king, and his overt Roman Catholicism put him at odds with the non-Catholic population. His support for freedom of worship for Catholics and appointment of Catholic officers in the army further alienated the non-Catholics. James's suspension of the legal rights of Dissenters and the birth of his son in June 1688, who was a Catholic heir to the throne, raised discontent among the people. This led to a widespread fear of "popery", reflecting a belief in a conspiracy theory that Catholics were plotting to overthrow the church and state. The birth of his son also changed the line of succession, and the Whigs, who opposed Catholic succession, were outraged.
Several prominent Englishmen invited William of Orange, a Protestant married to James's daughter Mary, to invade England. William assembled an armada and landed in Devon in November 1688. James, who had prepared for military attacks, left London to meet the invading army. He fled to France, and William and Mary were crowned joint rulers in April 1689.
The revolution had a significant impact on the distribution of power in the British realm. William and Mary agreed to more restrictions from Parliament than any previous monarchs, causing an unprecedented shift in power. The Bill of Rights, based on the Declaration of Rights accepted by the new monarchs, prohibited Catholics or those married to Catholics from claiming the throne. It also gave succession to Mary's sister Anne, abolished the crown's power to suspend laws, and declared a standing army illegal in peacetime. The revolution is considered a pivotal event leading to Britain's transformation from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy and the beginnings of a political democracy.
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The Gunpowder Plot of 1605
The plan was to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament on 5th November 1605, as a prelude to a popular revolt during which King James's nine-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, would be installed as the new head of state. The group began plotting as early as May 1603, and in June 1604, Percy's patron, the Earl of Northumberland, appointed him to the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, a mounted troop of 50 bodyguards to the King. This allowed Percy to seek a base in London, and a small property near the Prince's Chamber was chosen. Fawkes, using the pseudonym "John Johnson", posed as Percy's servant and took charge of the building.
In December 1604, Catesby recruited his servant, Thomas Bates, into the plot, after the latter accidentally became aware of it. The conspirators initially planned to execute their plan in February 1605, but the reopening of Parliament was delayed until October due to concerns over the plague. During this time, the group dug a tunnel from their rented house to the House of Lords, but they ceased their efforts when they heard a noise from above, which turned out to be the tenant's widow clearing out the undercroft directly beneath the House of Lords—the room where they eventually stored the gunpowder. By March 1605, three more conspirators had joined, and in May, the preparations were completed.
On 26 October 1605, an anonymous letter of warning was sent to a Catholic member of Parliament, William Parker, who immediately informed the authorities. During a search of the House of Lords on the evening of 4 November 1605, Fawkes was discovered guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder, and he was arrested. Most of the other conspirators fled London, and several were killed in a gunfight at Holbeche House. At their trial on 27 January 1606, eight of the surviving conspirators, including Fawkes, were convicted and sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered.
The Gunpowder Plot had significant consequences for the treatment of Catholics in England. After the plot was thwarted, laws against Roman Catholics were increased in severity, setting back the cause of religious toleration. Additionally, the Observance of 5 November Act 1605 was passed, which involved a special church service, bonfires, and fireworks to celebrate the failure of the plot and the king's deliverance. This tradition continued until 1859, and even today, celebrations and ceremonial searches for hidden explosives take place before the State Opening of Parliament.
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The birth of a Catholic heir
James II's support for freedom of worship for Catholics, his suspension of the legal rights of dissenters, and his close relationship with France further alienated the non-Catholic population and fuelled fears of an "elaborate conspiracy theory" that Catholics were plotting to overthrow church and state. The birth of his son and heir, therefore, served as the final straw for many, leading to whispers of revolt and an invitation for William of Orange, a Protestant married to James' eldest daughter Mary, to invade England.
William, who was already in the process of taking military action against England, assembled an armada and invaded in November 1688, the same month that James II fled the country. In January 1689, the Convention Parliament met and agreed to a joint monarchy, with William as king and Mary as queen. The new rulers accepted significant restrictions from Parliament, including a Declaration of Rights, which became the Bill of Rights, prohibiting Catholics from the throne and limiting the power of the monarchy.
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Frequently asked questions
The Glorious Revolution refers to the events of 1688–89 that saw King James II, a Catholic, deposed and succeeded by his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange.
The revolution was motivated by both political and religious concerns. James's overt Roman Catholicism, his suspension of the legal rights of Dissenters, and the birth of a Catholic heir to the throne raised discontent among many, particularly non-Catholics.
The treatment of Catholics after the Glorious Revolution was influenced by the anti-Catholic sentiment that had built up in the years leading up to it. The revolution itself was partly driven by a conspiracy theory that Catholics were plotting to overthrow church and state and establish a Catholic tyranny. After the revolution, Catholics were barred from the throne and subjected to continued persecution.
