Isabella Carter
William III and Mary II were proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain on February 13, 1689, marking a significant shift in English governance and the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament. William, a Dutch prince, and Mary, the daughter of the future King James II, were married in 1677 and ascended to the throne during the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689. Their joint monarchy arose in response to fears over James II's attempts to bolster royal authority and restore Catholicism, culminating in a crisis following the birth of his son, which threatened to establish a Catholic dynasty. William and Mary's reign laid the foundation for a constitutional monarchy by ensuring Parliament's supremacy in legislation and taxation and broadening constitutional law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of rule | Joint monarchy |
| Relationship | First cousins |
| Religion | Protestants |
| Legislation | Parliament's supremacy in legislation and taxation |
| War | Required parliamentary consent to engage in war |
| Judges | Held office on good conduct, not royal pleasure |
| Judicial independence | Established |
| Religious freedom | Limited religious freedom to Protestant dissenters |
| Political parties | Encouraged the evolution of political parties |
| Religious liberty | Expansion of religious liberty |
| Political liberty | Expansion of political liberty |
| Governance | Encouraged the evolution of governance |
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What You'll Learn
The Bill of Rights
William III and Mary II were proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain on 13 February 1689, following the so-called 'Glorious Revolution'. William and Mary were first cousins, and their marriage was the product of lengthy political machinations. Mary was the daughter of King James II, who was overthrown and militarily defeated by a union of English Parliamentarians led by William III of Orange.
The Glorious Revolution, the ascension of William and Mary, and their acceptance of the Bill of Rights were decisive victories for Parliament in its long struggle against the crown. The Bill of Rights greatly limited royal power and broadened constitutional law, granting Parliament control of finances and the army, and prescribing the future line of royal succession. It also declared that no Roman Catholic would ever be sovereign of England, and that the Sovereign was required to swear to maintain the Protestant religion.
The reign of William and Mary marked a significant shift in English governance and the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament. Their joint monarchy arose in response to fears over James II's attempts to bolster royal authority and restore Catholicism. William's invasion of England was supported by key figures in Parliament, leading to the swift abdication of James II. Upon their coronation, William and Mary accepted a Declaration of Rights, which laid the foundation for constitutional monarchy by ensuring Parliament's supremacy in legislation and taxation. Their governance encouraged the evolution of political parties and initiated key reforms, such as the establishment of the Bank of England.
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The Act of Settlement
Under the Act, parliamentary consent had to be given for the Sovereign to engage in war or leave the country. Judges were to hold office based on good conduct, not royal pleasure, thus establishing judicial independence. The Act reinforced the Bill of Rights, strengthening the principle that government was undertaken by the Sovereign and his or her constitutional advisers (i.e. Ministers), not by the Sovereign and any personal advisers.
The Act also provided guarantees against the abuses of power committed by James II and the Stuart Kings before him. It required the Sovereign to swear to maintain the Protestant religion, and later, after 1707, the Church of Scotland. No Roman Catholic, or anyone married to a Roman Catholic, could hold the English Crown.
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The Declaration of Rights
The reign of William III and Mary II, which began with their ascension to the throne during the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689, marked a significant shift in English governance and the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament. William and Mary were proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain on 13 February 1689.
Upon their coronation, William and Mary accepted a Declaration of Rights, which laid the foundation for a constitutional monarchy by ensuring Parliament's supremacy in legislation and taxation. The Declaration of Rights, later known as the Bill of Rights, greatly limited royal power and broadened constitutional law. It granted Parliament control of finances and the army, and prescribed the future line of royal succession, declaring that no Roman Catholic would ever be sovereign of England. The Act also excluded all Roman Catholics from the throne, as it was found to be "inconsistent with the safety and welfare of this Protestant kingdom to be governed by a papist prince". The Sovereign was required to swear to maintain the Protestant religion.
The Bill of Rights added further defences of individual rights. The King was forbidden to establish his own courts or to act as a judge himself, and the courts were forbidden to impose excessive bail or fines, or cruel and unusual punishments. The Act of Settlement further restricted the powers and prerogatives of the Crown. It required parliamentary consent for the Sovereign to engage in war or leave the country, and established judicial independence by requiring judges to hold office on good conduct and not at royal pleasure.
The reign of William and Mary saw the development of England's system of constitutional monarchy, an expansion of political and religious liberty, the creation of the Bank of England, and the modernization of governmental bureaucracy. Their governance encouraged the evolution of political parties and initiated key reforms. Ultimately, their time on the throne is remembered as a pivotal moment in British history, influencing the development of modern democratic principles and the structure of government.
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The Glorious Revolution
In 1685, the Protestant James II ascended to the English throne. His religious policies, including his attempt to grant freedom of religion to non-Anglicans, were unpopular, and his wife had converted to Roman Catholicism. After the birth of his son in 1688, it seemed that an English Catholic dynasty was now a possibility. This prospect was intolerable to most of the king's subjects, and seven high-ranking members of Parliament (known as the Immortal Seven) invited William of Orange, a Dutch prince and husband of James' daughter Mary, to invade England and defend Protestantism.
William landed at Torbay in Devonshire with an army of 15,000 men and advanced to London, meeting no opposition from James' army, which had deserted the king. James himself was allowed to escape to France, and in February 1689, Parliament offered the crown jointly to William and Mary, on the condition that they accept the Declaration of Rights (later the Bill of Rights), which greatly limited royal power and broadened constitutional law. The Act of Settlement further restricted the powers and prerogatives of the Crown, requiring parliamentary consent for the sovereign to engage in war or leave the country, and establishing judicial independence.
The reign of William and Mary marked a significant shift in English governance and the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament, with Parliament now holding control of finances, legislation, taxation, and the army. Their governance encouraged the evolution of political parties and initiated key reforms, such as the establishment of the Bank of England.
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The balance of power
The reign of William and Mary marked a significant shift in the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament. Their joint monarchy arose in response to fears over King James II's attempts to bolster royal authority and restore Catholicism. James's daughter, Mary, and her husband, William III of Orange, were invited to invade England by key figures in Parliament, leading to James's abdication.
Upon their coronation, William and Mary accepted a Declaration of Rights (later a Bill of Rights), which greatly limited the sovereign's power and broadened constitutional law. The Bill of Rights granted Parliament control of finances and the army, prescribed the future line of royal succession, and declared that no Roman Catholic would ever be sovereign of England. The Act of Settlement further restricted the powers and prerogatives of the Crown, requiring parliamentary consent for the sovereign to engage in war or leave the country.
The reign of William and Mary set a precedent for a more balanced and constitutional monarchy, influencing future British governance. Their partnership, both personal and political, defined their reign. While William focused on military and foreign affairs, Mary managed domestic governance, ensuring stability. Their combined strengths made their joint rule effective and harmonious.
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Frequently asked questions
William and Mary's coronation followed the so-called Glorious Revolution of 1688, during which King James II, Mary's father, was overthrown and militarily defeated. William, who was married to Mary, invaded England with the support of key figures in Parliament, leading to James II's abdication.
William and Mary's reign laid the foundation for constitutional monarchy by ensuring Parliament's supremacy in legislation and taxation. They accepted a Declaration of Rights, which greatly limited royal power, broadened constitutional law, and granted Parliament control of finances and the army.
The Declaration of Rights provided guarantees against the abuses of power committed by James II and the Stuart Kings before him. It also excluded Roman Catholics from the throne and required the Sovereign to swear to maintain the Protestant religion.
William and Mary were the only joint sovereigns in English history. Their joint monarchy significantly altered the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament. Mary was a reigning queen with equal authority to William, and their combined strengths made their joint rule effective and harmonious.
