The Glorious Revolution began on 5 November 1688 when William of Orange landed at Torbay with a Dutch fleet. This pivotal event in Stuart Britain was precipitated by growing political and religious tensions under the reign of James II, whose policies had alienated many within the political establishment. As William’s forces advanced, support for the King collapsed, leading to James II’s eventual flight to France. This departure was interpreted by many as an abdication, creating a power vacuum that necessitated a fundamental shift in the governance of the nation.

Following the departure of James II, the throne was offered jointly to his daughter Mary II and her husband, William III. Their accession marked the beginning of a new constitutional settlement that fundamentally altered the relationship between the Crown and the legislature. By accepting the conditions set out by the Convention Parliament, the new monarchs acknowledged that their authority was derived from a parliamentary mandate rather than an absolute divine right. This transition established the framework for a constitutional monarchy, ensuring that the sovereign could no longer govern or legislate without the consent of Parliament.

The revolution had several lasting consequences for the British political landscape:

• The establishment of a constitutional monarchy that limited royal prerogative.
• The formal strengthening of Parliament’s authority over taxation and legislation.
• The removal of James II and the subsequent accession of William III and Mary II.
• The creation of a new legal framework that defined the rights and duties of the monarchy.
• A significant shift in the balance of power that shaped the future of the British state.

This period of upheaval effectively ended the struggle for supremacy between the Crown and Parliament that had characterised much of the seventeenth century. By securing the role of the legislature, the Glorious Revolution laid the groundwork for the modern parliamentary system. The settlement ensured that future monarchs would be required to work within the confines of the law, marking a definitive end to the era of absolute royal authority in Britain.