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Top 10 Facts about the Glorious Revolution

Glorious Revolution is the sequence of events leading to the deposition of King James II  of England and Scotland in November 1688, and his replacement by his daughter Mary II and her husband and James’s nephew William III of Orange, the de facto ruler of the Dutch Republic.

The event brought a permanent realignment of power within the English constitution. The new co-monarchy of King William III and Queen Mary II accepted more constraints from Parliament than previous monarchs had, and the new constitution created the expectation that future monarchs would also remain constrained by Parliament.

While the Revolution was quick and relatively bloodless, pro-Stuart revolts in Scotland and Ireland caused significant casualties.

Let鈥檚 look at the top 10 Facts about The Glorious Revolution

1. The revolution mainly stemmed from Religious Tension

Despite his personal Catholicism, a religion opposed by the Protestant majority in England and Scotland, James became king in February 1685 with widespread support in both countries.

Many tolerated him, thinking that the throne would eventually pass to his eldest child, Mary, who was Protestant because the king was still childless in his second marriage.

However, this changed with the birth of a male heir,  which displaced Mary and for the first time created the prospect of a Catholic dynasty. Alarmed, a broad coalition of English politicians, soldiers, and religious leaders invited William to intervene militarily to protect the Protestant religion.

2. The Glorious Revolution brought new Constitutional Order

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Following the Glorious Revolution, the deal was struck between Parliament and the royal couple that Parliament would support the war against France, while the monarchy would accept new constraints on their authority.

The initial constitutional settlement was worked out in 1689 in the English Bill of Rights, the Toleration Act, and the Mutiny Act which collectively committed the monarchs to respect Parliament and Parliament鈥檚 laws. 

3. It is known as the Bloodless Revolution

The Glorious Revolution is sometimes dubbed the Bloodless Revolution, although this description isn鈥檛 entirely accurate. While the Revolution was quick and relatively bloodless, pro-Stuart revolts in Scotland and Ireland caused significant casualties.

Catholic historians typically refer to the Glorious Revolution as the 鈥淩evolution of 1688,鈥� while Whig historians prefer the phrase 鈥淏loodless Revolution.鈥� The term 鈥淕lorious Revolution鈥� was first coined by John Hampden in 1689.

4. The Glorious Revolution ended an absolute Monarchy in England

William and Mary – Photo Source:

Many historians believe the Glorious Revolution was one of the most important events leading to Britain鈥檚 transformation from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. After this event, the monarchy in England would never hold absolute power again.

With the Bill of Rights, the regent鈥檚 power was defined, written down, and limited for the first time. Parliament鈥檚 function and influence changed dramatically in the years following the revolution.

The event also had an impact on the 13 colonies in North America. The colonists were temporarily freed of strict, anti-Puritan laws after King James was overthrown.

5. King James’s regime Collapsed without offering any Resistance

Portrait of King James II- Image Source:

Although his veteran force had the capability of defeating the largely untested recruits of the Royal Army, William and his English supporters preferred to avoid bloodshed and allow King James’s regime to collapse on its own.

On his side, King James joined his main force of 19,000 at Salisbury, but it soon became apparent his army was not eager to fight and the loyalty of his commanders doubtful. Three regiments sent out on 15 November to make contact with William promptly defected, while supply problems left the rest short of food and ammunition. 

Despite his last ditch to try and save his regime by conceding to most of the protestants and parliament’s demands, James was forced to abandon his kingdom and flee to France where he lived in exile until his death.

6. King James II fled to France

When the invading army led by William arrived on 5 November 1688, many Protestant officers, including Churchill, defected and joined William, as did James’s own daughter, Anne. James lost his nerve and declined to attack the invading army, despite his army’s numerical superiority.

On 11 December, James tried to flee to France, first throwing the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames. He was captured in Kent; later, he was released and placed under Dutch protective guard.

Having no desire to make James a martyr, William let him escape on 23 December. James was received by his cousin and ally, Louis XIV, who offered him a palace and a pension.

7. The revolution ushered in the Joint Reign of  William and Mary

William and Mary – Image by James Brittain from

Following King James’s attempt to flee the country on 11 December 1688, the English Parliament passed the Declaration of Right, in which it deemed that by his action he had abdicated the government of the realm and that the throne had become vacant.

Parliament offered the Crown to William and Mary as joint sovereigns. The only precedent for a joint monarchy dated from the sixteenth century: when Queen Mary I married Philip of Spain, it was agreed that the latter would take the title of king, but only during his wife’s lifetime, and restrictions were placed on his power.

William, however, would be king even after his wife’s death, and “the sole and full exercise of the regal power [would be] executed by the said Prince of Orange in the names of the said Prince and Princess during their joint lives.”

8. The Dutch State played a big role in the Revolution

The involvement of the Dutch in the glorious revolution was put in motion by a group of English political and religious leaders when they invited  William III of Orange, de facto ruler of the Dutch republic to intervene militarily and protect the Protestant religion.

The Dutch army led by William landed in Devon and gained military control of southern England. The army totaled around 14,000-15,000 men, consisting of around 11,000 infantry, including nearly 5,000 members of the elite Anglo-Scots Brigade and Dutch Blue Guards, 3,660 cavalries, and an artillery train of twenty-one 24-pounder cannons.

Some 5,000 British exiles and Huguenot volunteers accompanied the fleet, while William brought weapons to equip another 20,000 men, although the subsequent and rapid collapse of James’ army meant the 12,000 local volunteers who joined by 20 November were eventually dismissed.

9. William allowed James to Flee

Following his defeat and William鈥檚 arrival, James tried to flee to France, first throwing the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames., but was captured in Kent. He later was released and William recommended he relocate to Ham, largely because he knew it was easy to escape from.

Having no desire to make James a martyr, William allowed him to escape to France where he was received by his cousin and ally, Louis XIV, who offered him a palace and a pension.

10. Many people believe the event was a Coup rather than a Revolution

Unlike the 1638 to 1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms, most ordinary people in England and Scotland were relatively untouched by the “Glorious Revolution”, the majority of the bloodshed taking place in Ireland.

As a consequence, some historians suggest that the Glorious Revolution at least more closely resembles a coup d’茅tat, rather than a social upheaval such as the French or Russian revolution which was a complete change of government and political system.