February 13
William and Mary Proclaimed Joint Sovereigns of Britain
On February 13, 1689, William of Orange and his wife Mary formally accepted the English crown from a Convention Parliament at Whitehall Palace, resolving the succession crisis that followed James II’s flight from England.
Summary
Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, King James II fled England after Parliament invited his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange to intervene against his Catholic policies and perceived absolutism. A Convention Parliament drafted a Declaration of Rights outlining grievances and limiting royal power. On February 13, 1689, William and Mary formally accepted the Declaration and were proclaimed joint sovereigns of England at Whitehall Palace. This bloodless transfer established parliamentary supremacy and Protestant succession as core principles.
Context
James II ascended the throne in 1685 as a Catholic monarch in a predominantly Protestant kingdom, quickly alienating the political elite through policies that favored Catholics in the army, judiciary, and universities while suspending laws passed by Parliament. His efforts to pack Parliament and assert broader royal prerogatives revived long-standing fears of absolutism and renewed religious conflict after the Restoration settlement of 1660. The birth of a son to James and his second wife in June 1688 raised the prospect of a permanent Catholic dynasty, prompting seven prominent Protestant nobles to invite James’s daughter Mary and her husband, the Dutch stadtholder William of Orange, to intervene and safeguard the Protestant succession.
What Happened
William landed at Torbay on November 5, 1688, with an army of roughly 15,000 men; most of James’s forces deserted or refused to fight, allowing the prince to advance on London. James attempted to flee but was captured and then permitted to escape to France in December. In the resulting power vacuum, a Convention Parliament assembled at Westminster on January 22, 1689, to settle the throne. After weeks of debate between Whigs and Tories over whether James had abdicated or merely deserted the realm, the assembly declared on February 6 that the throne was vacant and resolved to offer the crown jointly to William and Mary.
Aftermath
On February 13 the Convention presented William and Mary with a Declaration of Rights at the Banqueting House in Whitehall Palace; they accepted the crown and were immediately proclaimed joint sovereigns of England. The Declaration was later enacted as the Bill of Rights in December 1689 after the Convention converted itself into a regular Parliament. William and Mary were crowned together in Westminster Abbey on April 11, swearing a revised oath to govern according to statutes agreed in Parliament rather than by ancient royal custom.
Legacy
The events of February 1689 established the principle that Parliament could determine the succession and place binding limits on royal authority, ending the Stuart claim to divine-right absolutism. The Bill of Rights secured parliamentary control of taxation and the standing army, prohibited cruel and unusual punishments, and barred Roman Catholics from the throne, shaping British constitutional practice for centuries. Its affirmation of parliamentary supremacy and enumerated liberties also served as a model for later documents, including the American Bill of Rights.
Why It Matters
The proclamation immediately resolved the succession crisis and enshrined the Bill of Rights as a foundational constitutional document that constrained monarchical authority. It influenced later British governance and served as a model for limited government in other nations, including the American colonies.
Related Questions
What was the Glorious Revolution?
The largely bloodless overthrow of James II in 1688–89 that installed William and Mary and strengthened parliamentary power.
Why were William and Mary made joint sovereigns?
Parliament sought to secure the Protestant succession while ensuring William’s military and political leadership; Mary refused to rule alone.
What was the Declaration of Rights?
A statement read to William and Mary on February 13, 1689, listing grievances against James II and affirming parliamentary liberties; it later became the Bill of Rights.
How did the events of 1689 affect royal power?
They established that monarchs rule with the consent of Parliament and cannot suspend laws or levy taxes without its approval.
Did the Bill of Rights immediately limit the monarchy?
The Declaration was presented in February, but the statutory Bill of Rights received royal assent only in December 1689.
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Sources
- William and Mary proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain, History.com. Accessed 2026-07-08.
- The Convention and Bill of Rights, UK Parliament. Accessed 2026-07-08.