Seven Steps to a Limited Monarchy

Seventeenth Century

Period: Jan 1, 1600 to Jan 1, 1700

Forced Loans and Outdated Taxes

Jan 1, 1627

Wiki CommonsCharles I, in an attempt to fund a war with Spain, had been collecting outdated taxes, making new tariffs and duties, and forcing English property owners to “loan” the monarchy money to be repaid at a later date (in theory). If they would comply with his demands, he imprisoned them. This challenged the power of the nobles and landowners, starting the buildup of tension that would lead to nobles and landowners in parliament taking a more forceful role in the ruling of England.

Petition of Right

Jun 7, 1628

Wiki CommonsWhen parliament convened in 1628, it passed the Petition of Right, which, if Charles I had truly recognized it, would have allowed him to get more funds for war if he consulted parliament on the issues of taxation and forced loans. Charles I dissolved parliament a year later. This perpetuated the animosity between the monarch and nobles and landowners which would eventually lead to parliament “developing a consciousness” and gaining power for itself.

Short Parliament

Jan 1, 1640

Wiki CommonsCharles I convened Parliament to try and get funds to put down the Scottish rebellion. However, Parliament refused unless they could get their list of grievances addressed. Instead, Charles I just disbanded this “Short Parliament.” This shows that parliament was gradually getting fed up at the Kings refusal to concede that they possessed power; they were still quite subordinate to the King but starting to recognize the apparent injustice of it.

Battle of Newburn/Long Parliament

Aug 28, 1640

Wiki CommonsAfter he lost the Battle of Newburn, Charles I recalled parliament in November 1640 (the Long Parliament). Though Charles I hoped to get money to fund his war against the Scottish, parliament refused, fearing his catholic influence. However, it did resolve to reconvene every 3 years regardless of the king’s wishes and passed the Militant Ordinance after. As a result of this battle, the Long Parliament gained power that would allow it to fight and win the English Civil War.

Charles I's Execution and Accompanying Parliamentary Measures

Jan 30, 1649

Wiki CommonsAfter executing Charles I, Parliament abolished the monarchy, the Anglican Church, and the House of Lords. Only after Parliament had gained enough power to abolish the monarchy completely could it hope to build a constitutional monarchy to keep the monarch’s power in check.

The Restoration

May 29, 1660

Wiki CommonsWhen Charles II took the thrown in the Restoration, he did so with a more powerful, efficacious parliament, one he had to cooperate with rather than push aside. The contrast of this situation with pre-civil war times despite the supposed “reset” of the monarchy back to this time shows that parliament was gaining power. This would lead to it being able to form the English Constitutional monarchy.

The Declaration of Indulgence of 1687

Feb 12, 1687

Wiki CommonsJames II issued the second Declaration of Indulgences which permitted free worship (and therefore worship by Catholics) and suspended religious test requirements to hold office. When seven Anglican bishops refused to publicize this, James II had them arrested. This blatant display of catholic sympathies, as well as the birth of a catholic heir to the throne, led members of Parliament to retaliate against what they saw as an attack on their power by inviting William III and Mary II to rule.

(Concluding Event-the Result of the Seven Shown Here) Failure of Absolutism; William and Mary Rise to the Throne

Feb 13, 1689

Wiki CommonsWilliam III and Mary II became the first constitutional Monarchs of England as a result of the gradual shift from monarchial rule to parliamentary rule.