AD 1625. After the death of James I, Charles I became King of the Three Crowns. However, he sought to implement an unlimited monarchy, which led to a war between him and the English Parliament in 1639. The Parliamentarian forces were led by Oliver Cromwell, a parliamentarian. After a long period of civil wars, Charles I was defeated and executed in 1649. With him, the monarchy known as the ‘Union of the Crowns’ also ended.
Oliver Cromwell, who brought the English Parliament under his control, established a republic called the ‘Commonwealth of the People’. However, the countries of Scotland and Ireland supported the monarchy by accepting Charles I’s son, Charles II, as their king. Subsequently, Cromwell’s forces defeated Charles II and removed the monarchy from those countries as well. The three countries were reunited under Cromwell’s leadership. The Commonwealth of England was born as a new republic.
During this period when the monarchy was completely abolished, the traditional ‘Royal Arms’ shield with lions representing the royal family was completely abandoned. A new republican shield was put forward by combining only the flags of the three countries.
Cromwell, who established the first Commonwealth Republic of Britain, tried to introduce democratic practices several times during his reign. However, he did not get any results. Moreover, the parliaments formed during his time did not function successfully. Since his supporters were unable to establish a well-functioning republic, he was forced to run a dictatorial regime. Cromwell’s government moved with the support of the army. At the same time, he refused to accept the crown when it was offered to him, and ruled Britain from 1653 to 1658 with the title of ‘Lord Protector’.
Although he ruled with the help of the army, during this 5-year period, Cromwell gave Britain a general good taste. He reformed the uneven administrative system and established a uniform administrative system. Many harsh laws were also reformed. He supported education. Cromwell, who was a deep believer in religious tolerance, allowed the Jews who had been expelled from England by King Edward I three centuries earlier to settle in England and practice their religion freely. He also implemented successful foreign policies.
Cromwell never hesitated to accept the crown or establish a permanent dictatorial rule, considering the rare opportunity presented. His rule was mostly neutral and conciliatory. As a result of Cromwell’s contributions in various ways, democracy in England emerged and flourished.
Britain today functions as a successful federal republic. But it needs a strong foundation, a model of government, and a future Cromwell is credited with creating the trust. Throughout his reign from 1653 to 1658, the three flags featured a white lion on a black background, representing him and his reign.
The restored monarchy and the Royal Arms
Cromwell’s death opened the door to the throne for Charles II, who had fled Britain. In 1660, he became king again and restored the monarchy in all three British territories. The Royal Arms, the symbol of the monarchy, were restored. The lions of England and the lion of Scotland combined to become the lions of Great Britain.
At the same time, Oliver Cromwell’s body was exhumed from his grave and hanged on a stake. Charles II’s attempt to avenge the execution of his father, Charles I, by Cromwell, was a major setback for the struggle for an absolute monarchy. Realizing this, Charles II was forced to accept the right of Parliament to rule without opposition. As a result, a new form of government called “Constitutional Monarchy” was established in England. According to this, the king became strictly subordinate to Parliament. In addition, the policy of religious tolerance became one of the main policies of the government.
Bill of Rights
January 1689. Parliament met. After considerable pressure from William, Parliament agreed to a joint monarchy. William was crowned king and James’s daughter Mary was crowned queen.
At the same time, both new rulers accepted more restrictions from Parliament than any previous monarch. This led to a major shift in the division of powers that had never been seen before throughout the British Empire. The King and Queen signed the Declaration of Rights, which became known as the Bill of Rights. This document agreed to a number of new principles for the constitution. Notable among these were the formal rights to parliament, free elections, and freedom of speech in parliament. It also banned Catholics from the throne of England. Many politicians believe that the Bill of Rights was the first step towards the emergence of a constitutional monarchy in England.
The Legacy of the Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution is considered by many historians to be one of the most important events in Britain’s transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. This was because after this event, the monarchy in England never again assumed absolute power.
The Bill of Rights defined, wrote down and limited for the first time the powers of foreigners who could become kings of England, such as William III.
In the years following the Glorious Revolution, the function and influence of Parliament changed dramatically. On the one hand, the power of Parliament continued to increase, while on the other hand, the influence of the monarchy continued to decrease. This important event undoubtedly helped to set the stage for the current political system and government of the United Kingdom.
Like William III, George I was a foreigner who became King of Great Britain on his father’s side. A prince of Hanover, one of the most famous royal families in Europe, he became King of Great Britain under the Act of Settlement, which stated that only Protestants could rule Britain because Queens Mary and Anne had no heirs. During his reign, the powers of the monarchy were reduced and Britain began to transition to a modern form of cabinet government headed by a prime minister.
About the Author
