All questions of Glorious Revolution for UPSC CSE Exam

The monarch who was deposed during the Glorious Revolution was King James II.

The Glorious Revolution refers to the events that took place in England in 1688-1689, when King James II was overthrown and replaced by William III and Mary II. It is considered "glorious" because the revolution was relatively bloodless and resulted in a peaceful transfer of power.

King James II's reign was marked by growing tensions and conflicts between him and various political and religious groups in England. He was a Catholic monarch in a Protestant country, which caused concern among the Protestant majority. Additionally, his policies, such as appointing Catholics to positions of power and issuing religious toleration, further alienated many Protestants.

The Glorious Revolution can be understood in the following key points:

1. The Birth of an Heir: One of the main reasons for the Glorious Revolution was the birth of James II's son, who was raised as a Catholic. This alarmed the Protestant nobles and politicians who feared a Catholic succession, as it could potentially lead to a return to Catholicism and the suppression of Protestantism.

2. The Invitation to William of Orange: A group of Protestant nobles and politicians, known as the "Immortal Seven," sent a letter to William of Orange, the Protestant stadtholder of the Dutch Republic and husband of James II's Protestant daughter, Mary. They invited him to invade England and promising support in overthrowing James II.

3. William's Invasion: In November 1688, William of Orange landed in England with a fleet and army. He was initially met with little resistance, as many of James II's supporters defected to William's side. The English army also refused to fight against William, and many Catholic officers were dismissed.

4. James II's Flight: Realizing that he had lost support and faced the imminent threat of capture, James II fled to France in December 1688. This effectively ended his reign as king of England.

5. Declaration of Rights and the Joint Reign: In February 1689, the English Parliament declared that James II had abdicated the throne by fleeing the country. They offered the crown to William and Mary jointly, with certain conditions outlined in the Declaration of Rights. This document established the principles of constitutional monarchy, limited the powers of the monarch, and affirmed the rights of Parliament and the Protestant subjects.

In conclusion, the Glorious Revolution resulted in the deposition of King James II and the establishment of William III and Mary II as joint monarchs. This event marked a significant turning point in English history, as it solidified the supremacy of Parliament and laid the foundations for constitutional monarchy.