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After a decade of republican rule and the turmoil of the Civil War, Charles II, son of the executed Charles I, triumphantly returns to England. Parliament proclaims him King, marking the beginning of the Restoration era. -
Seeking national reconciliation, Parliament passes an act that pardons most crimes committed during the Civil War. However, those directly involved in the execution of Charles I are excluded from this amnesty. -
An outbreak of bubonic plague ravages London, claiming the lives of an estimated quarter of the city's population. The city descends into chaos and fear, streets are deserted, and victims are buried in mass graves. -
A massive fire erupts in London, consuming much of the medieval city. The fire rages for days, leaving thousands homeless and destroying historic buildings. However, it also paves the way for the city's reconstruction with wider streets and brick buildings, reducing the risk of future fires.
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Charles II enters into a secret treaty with King Louis XIV of France. In exchange for financial support, Charles II promises to convert to Catholicism and support France in a war against the Dutch. This treaty causes discontent in England, where anti-Catholic sentiments run high. -
Concerned by the King's secret dealings and the growth of Catholic influence, Parliament passes the Test Act. This law prohibits Catholics from holding public office and serving in the military.
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Titus Oates, a former Anglican priest, fabricates a conspiracy about an alleged Catholic plot to assassinate Charles II and establish Catholic rule. His false accusations ignite anti-Catholic hysteria and lead to a series of trials known as the "Popish Plot". -
Charles II dies, and his brother James, an openly Catholic king, ascends to the throne. This sparks deep anxiety among the Protestant majority, who fear the restoration of Catholicism in England. -
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A group of influential Protestant lords, known as the "Immortal Seven", secretly invite William of Orange, the Stadtholder of the Netherlands and husband of Mary, James II's daughter, to invade England and take the throne. -
Parliament declares James II to have abdicated the throne and offers the crown to William and Mary. -
England enters into war with France, which supports James II in his attempts to regain the throne. -
Parliament passes the Bill of Rights, which limits the power of the monarch, guarantees civil liberties, and establishes the principle of parliamentary sovereignty. This document becomes a cornerstone of the English constitutional monarchy. -
Mary II dies of smallpox, leaving William III to rule alone. -
Parliament passes the Act of Settlement, which determines the line of succession to the throne and excludes Catholics from inheriting the English crown.
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William III dies without an heir. According to the Act of Settlement, the crown passes to Anne, the Protestant daughter of James II.