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Parliament forces Charles I to recognize the Petition of Right
Unable to raise funds by himself, Charles I was forced to resort to asking Parliament for funds. They agreed to grant him what he wished if he recognized the Petition of Right stating that loans and taxation could not be implemented without the consent of parliament, with mentions of habeas corpus and quartering acts. Charles beguilingly agreed, but this was the beginning of the limitations to the English monarchy imposed by Parliament. After this Charles did not call on parliament until 1640 -
Defeat of the English army at the Battle of Newburn
When the Scottish surprisingly defeated the English at the Battle of Newburn, after the Scottish rebellion against Charles I's new religious policies, such as prayer book similar to the Common Prayer book of the Anglican Church, Charles I was forced to end his 11 years of personal rule. He was in desperate need for war funds, and the defeat made his needs grow even more. Charles had no other choice than to reconvene parliament for a long and fateful amount of time. -
Outbreak of the English Civil War
After Charles I invades a parliament session looking for traitors a civil war breaks out between supporters of the Monarchy, Cavaliers and Supporters of Parliament, Roundheads. Parliament allied themselves with Scotland, a known enemy of the English crown, and they managed victory under Oliver Cromwell's military genius. This fighting was a tangible and physical example of the tension between both powers as it finally erupted. Parliament gained ultamate power, weakening the Crown in England -
The Execution of Charles I
Parliament ruled for the execution of the former king after Parliament gained control over the nation and voted Charles as a public enemy after a brutal civil war. After Charles I's death, the monarchy was abolished for the first time in England, as well as the house of Lords and the Anglican church. This demonstrates the power parliament had over the monarchy and begins the period of the Puritan republic under Oliver Cromwell. -
Charles II issues the Declaration of Indulgence
In order to stay in alliance with France, King Charles II had promised to publicly convert to Catholicism. All though he never announced his conversion, he issued the Declaration of Indulgence which suspended all laws of prosecution against Any catholic non-protestants. In an angered reaction, Parliament issued the Test Act stating that all public officials had to swear against the doctrine of transubstantiation, something Catholics could not do. This began another fight between the powers. -
Test Act Passed in Parliament
The test act stated that all military and civil officers of the Monarchy and to swear an oath against the doctrine of transubstantiation. A catholic could not do this, or else it would go against their faith, meaning the Parliament found a very manipulative way to keep Catholics out of government business. Parliament aimed this mainly at the King's brother, James, who would become James II of England, much to Parliament's chagrin. This was just another effort to gain more control of the Monarchy -
William III and Mary II assume the throne and Begin the Glorious Revolution
After William III of Orange arrived well received with troops, James II fled the country and instated his Protestant daughter Mary II and William III as the new monarchs of England. This began the glorious revolution, as William and Mary recognized the English bill of Rights and agreed to a limited monarchy and civil liberties, as well as created specific meetings for Parliament (every 3 years). This event marks the beginning of constitutional monarchy in England.
