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'''The Glorious Revolution''' or '''Bloodless Revolt''', also known as the '''Revolution of 1688''', was a coup d'etat that took place in [[England]], replacing the [[Catholic]] [[King]] of England, [[James II]], with the [[Anglican]] [[William and Mary|William of Orange and his wife Mary]], who was James's daughter. Despite the often used title of "Bloodless", there was some fighting and loss of life, though none of it took place in England itself.  

'''The Glorious Revolution''' or '''Bloodless Revolt''', also known as the '''Revolution of 1688''', was a coup d'etat that took place in [[England]], replacing the [[Catholic]] [[King]] of England and [[Ireland]], [[James II]] (known as James VII as King of [[Scotland]]), with the [[Anglican]] [[William and Mary|William of Orange and his wife Mary]], who was James's daughter. Despite the often used title of "Bloodless", there was some fighting and loss of life, though none of it took place in England itself.  

The cause of the overthrow was a combination of two battles taking place in England at the time; one was a battle between [[Protestantism]] and Catholicism, the other between the fledgling democracy of [[Parliament]] and the "Divine Right" of the King. James was unpopular with many politicians due to his Catholicism. However attempts to exclude him from becoming King had been unsuccessful.  William and Mary went on to become a popular and peaceful rulers.

The cause of the overthrow was a combination of two battles taking place in England at the time; one was a battle between [[Protestantism]] and Catholicism, the other between the fledgling democracy of [[Parliament]] and the "Divine Right" of the King. James was unpopular with many politicians due to his Catholicism. However attempts to exclude him from becoming King had been unsuccessful.  William III and Mary II went on to become a popular and peaceful rulers.

==Events of 1688==

==Events of 1688==

In 1685 [[James II]] became king of England and alarmed many leaders by his pro-Catholic policies. William let it be known he was available if invited by a very broad spectrum of English political leadership. Unrest escalated with the birth of a son to James by his wife, Mary of Modena, a Catholic, on June 10, 1688. Within a few days, an invitation, signed by seven prominent personages, was taken over to William with an assurance of military support if he effected a landing in England. William issued a "Declaration of Reasons", which immediately won widespread acceptance by the English elite as a statement of his policy.<ref> However Claydon (1996) argues that James's supporters did try to refute it. Once king, the "Declaration" was used to limit William's ambitions. Tony Claydon "William III's Declaration of Reasons and the Glorious Revolution." ''Historical Journal'' 1996 39(1): 87-108. Issn: 0018-246x Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2639941 in Jstor]</ref>  With 50 men-of-war and 14,000 men William landed on November. 5, 1688, and marched on London. There was no opposition as James' army melted away and the political leadership welcomed William. James in late December fled the country, thereby abdicating the throne. James received protection in France from King [[Louis XIV]] and began plotting schemes for the invasion of England with French and "Jacobite" military help. ("Jacobites" were the English and Scottish supporters of James and his sons.)

In 1685 James became king of England, Scotland and Ireland, alarming many leaders by his pro-Catholic policies. William let it be known he was available if invited by a very broad spectrum of English political leadership. Unrest escalated with the birth of a son to James by his wife, Mary of Modena, a Catholic, on June 10, 1688. Within a few days, an invitation, signed by seven prominent personages, was taken over to William with an assurance of military support if he effected a landing in England. William issued a "Declaration of Reasons", which immediately won widespread acceptance by the English elite as a statement of his policy.<ref> However Claydon (1996) argues that James's supporters did try to refute it. Once king, the "Declaration" was used to limit William's ambitions. Tony Claydon "William III's Declaration of Reasons and the Glorious Revolution." ''Historical Journal'' 1996 39(1): 87-108. Issn: 0018-246x Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2639941 in Jstor]</ref>  With 50 men-of-war and 14,000 men William landed on November. 5, 1688, and marched on London. There was no opposition as James' army melted away and the political leadership welcomed William. James in late December fled the country, thereby abdicating the throne. James received protection in France from King [[Louis XIV]] and began plotting schemes for the invasion of England with French and "Jacobite" military help. ("Jacobites" were the English and Scottish supporters of James and his sons.)

William insisted he would rule England as king and not merely as his wife's consort; accordingly, in February, 1689, Parliament offered the crown to William and Mary, each to have full sovereign rights. A similar offer was made by the Parliament of Scotland. The first stage of the English Revolution, with its advance toward constitutional monarchy and responsible government was complete with their double coronation on April 11, 1689, and their acceptance of the "Bill of Rights" (1689). It sharply limited royal power, prescribed the line of succession, and gave Parliament control of finances and of the army.  Parliament was now supreme.

William insisted he would rule England as king and not merely as his wife's consort; accordingly, in February, 1689, Parliament offered the crown to William and Mary, each to have full sovereign rights. A similar offer was made by the Parliament of Scotland. The first stage of the English Revolution, with its advance toward constitutional monarchy and responsible government was complete with their double coronation on April 11, 1689, and their acceptance of the "Bill of Rights" (1689). It sharply limited royal power, prescribed the line of succession, and gave Parliament control of finances and of the army.  Parliament was now supreme.